ba-diram na-Khariida huN-mirza Ghalib

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.

بہ درم نا خریدہ ہوں ۔ مرزا اسداللہ خاں غالبؔ

۱

خوں در جگر نہفتہ، نہ زردی رسیدہ ہوں

خود آشیانِ طائرِ رنگِ پریدہ ہوں

۲

ہے دستِ رد بہ سیرِ جہاں، بستنِ نظر

پاے ہوس بہ دامنِ مِژگاں کشیدہ ہوں

۳

میں چشمِ وا کشادہ و گلشن نظر فریب

لیکن عبث کہ شبنمِ خورشید دیدہ ہوں

۴

تسلیم سے یہ نالۂ موزوں ہوا حصول

اے بے خبر میں نغمۂ چنگِ خمیدہ ہوں

۵

پیدا نہیں ہے اصلِ تگ و تازِ جستجو

مانندِ موجِ آب، زبانِ بُریدہ ہوں

۶

سر پر مرے وبالِ ہزار آرزو رہا

یارب میں کس غریب کا بختِ رمیدہ ہوں

۷

میں بے ہنر کہ جوہرِ آئینہ تھا عبث

پاے نگاہِ خلق میں خارِ خلیدہ ہوں

۸

میرا نیاز و عجز ہے مفتِ بتاں اسدؔ

یعنی کہ بندہٌ بہ درم نا خریدہ ہوں

ब-दिरम ना-ख़रीदा हुं

ख़ूं दर-जिगर नहुफ़्ता, न ज़र्दी रसीदा हुं

ख़ुद आशियान-ए ता’एर-ए रंग-ए परीदा हुं

है दस्त-ए रद ब-सैर-ए जहां, बस्तन-ए नज़र

पा-ए हवस ब-दामन-ए मिज़्श्गां कशीदा हुं

मैं चश्म-ए वा कुशादा ओ गुल्शन नज़र फ़रेब

लैकिन अबस के शब्नम-ए ख़ुर्शीद-दीदा हुं

तस्लीम से ये नाला-ए मौज़ूं हुआ हुसूल

अए बे-ख़बर मैं नग़्मा-ए चंग-ए ख़मीदा हुं

पैदा नहीं है अस्ल-ए तग-ओ-ताज़-ए जुस्तजू

मानिंद-ए मौज-ए आब, ज़बान-ए बुरीदा हुं

सर पर मेरे वबाल-ए हज़ार आर्ज़ू रहा

यारब मैं किस ग़रीब का बख़्त-ए रमीदा हुं

मैं बे-हुनर के जौहर-ए आईना था अबस

पा-ए निगाह-ए ख़ल्क़ मे ख़ार-ए ख़लीदा हुं

मेरा नियाज़ ओ इज्ज़ है मुफ़्त-ए बुतां असद

या’नी के बंदा-ए ब-दिरम ना-ख़रीदा हुं

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869). I dare not write any introduction. On more than one occasion Ghalib has warned his readers that he needs no introduction or even address. I humbly comply. This Ghazal appeared in earlier publications of Ghalib’s divaan, but in the later versions, which have become “official” and more common, he, for whatever reason dropped it. This is dated 1816 in ‘nusKha-e raza’. This is one of three Ghazal composed in this zamin. Two are dated 1812 – 1816 (this one) and one is dated 1816.
1
KhuuN dar-jigar1 nahufta2, na zardi-rasiida3 huN
Khud aashiyaan4-e taa’er5-e raNg-e pariida6 huN   
1.in the liver/heart 2.hidden 3. fully developed paleness (rasiida – faarsi) 4.nest 5.bird 6.flown away
The blood that I bleed because of pain and sorrow is hidden deep in my heart. It does not show up as paleness of my face. I myself am like a nest/home of a bird whose colour (abilities, health) has flown away i.e., I have been stricken with sorrow and loss but I keep it hidden.

2
hai dast1-e rad2 ba-sair3-e jahaaN4 bastan5-e nazar6
paa7-e havas8 ba-daaman9-e mizshgaaN10 kashiida11 huN  
1.hand 2.rejection 3.looking at, sightseeeing 4.world 5.closed 6.eyes 7.feet 8.love, desire, lust 9.hem of the robe 10.eyelashes 11.to pull in, to carry
Eyelashes are like the apron/hem for the eyes. To carry/pull in/collect the “paa-e havas – feet of love” is like withholding love. (a) I close my eyes to this material world and pull the feet of desire back inside the apron/hem of the eyes, because I want to look for the spiritual (b) I reject/give up on the world because it has its eyes closed i.e., it does not see my real merit. So, I hold my desire/passion “within my eyelashes”. (c) I experience the hand of rejection, so I do not look at the world, close my eyes. I hold my desire/passion ‘within my eyelashes’. (d) To see the world with closed eyes is like rejecting it (or being rejected by it or by its creator). Here “closed eyes” can mean looking at it without seeing its “real (spiritual) beauty. I am afraid that I go through life withholding my passion/love for the divine (this may be a bit of introspection).

3
maiN chashm1-e vaa2 kushaada3 aur gulshan4 nazar-fareb5
laikin abas6 keh shabnam7-e Khurshiid-diida8 huN   
1.eyes 2.open 3.wide 4.garden, world 5.sight deceiving, illusory 6.useless 7.dew 8.that has seen the sun
(a) I have my eyes wide open but the sights of the world are illusory. Their attraction is useless, it has no effect of me, because I am like a dew drop that has seen the sun and I am drawn to its brilliance (b) The world is an illusion and I cannot see the real thing even though I have my eyes wide open. It is useless (to try to understand it) because I am like a dew drop that has seen the sun i.e., the dew drop will soon evaporate and cease to exist.

4
tasleem1 se ye naala2-e mauzooN3 hua husool4
aye be-Khabar5 maiN naGhma6-e chaNg7-e Khamiida8 huN   
1.acceptance, submission 2.wailing, crying 3.suitable, appropriate 4.obtained 5.unaware, ignorant 6.song, Ghazal 7.lute 8.bent, curved, bowed
‘chaNg-e Khamiida’ is a musical instrument with a curve carved into its neck. Ghalib is using this as a simile for the shaa’er with his head bowed to the glory of god (or the beauty of the beloved). Because I submit (to the beauty of the divine beloved) I have acquired this beautiful Ghazal, O you, who are unaware that I am like a ‘chaNg-e Khamiida’.

5
paida1 nahiN hai asl2-e tag-o-taaz3-e justajuu4
maanind5-e mauj6-e aab7, zabaan-e buriida8 huN   
1.visible, apparent, discernible (faarsi) 2.reality, purpose 3.run, struggle 4.search, seek 5. similar to, like 6.waves 7.water, river 8.cut off
The poet is running/struggling in search of something. It is not apparent what the real purpose of his search is, perhaps not even to himself. Thus, he is like the waves of the river which struggle (wave up and down) and run/flow not knowing their destination. The waves cannot speak, their tongue is cut off. I am like them (although he composed/recited exquisite Ghazal).

6
sar par mere vabaal1-e hazaar aarzu2 raha
yaarab3 maiN kis Ghariib4 ka baKht5-e ramiida6 huN   
1.calamity, curse, vexation 2.desires 3.god 4.destitute 5.fate 6.run away, escaped
I carry the burden/curse of a thousand (unfulfilled) desires on my head. O god, which destitute’s runaway/empty fate is mine.

7
maiN be-hunar1, keh jauhar2-e aaina tha abas3
paa4-e nigaah5-e Khalq6 meN Khaar7-e Khaliida8 huN   
1.without talent/skill 2.shine, brilliance 3.useless 4.feet 5.eyes 6.world 7.thorn 8.pricking
‘jauhar-e aaina’ – the brilliance/polish of a mirror cannot be called ‘be-hunar’. The ‘be-hunar’ is clearly meant to be sarcastic. I, with no talent was like the useless/unused polish of the mirror. Useless/unused because the world could not see the reflection/image of what he was trying to say. So, I ended up being a thorn in the feet of the eyes of the world. He is not only a thorn in the eyes of the present world but also those gone by …
deta huN kushtangaaN ko suKhan se sar-e tapish
mizraab-e taar-haa-e guluu-e bureeda huN

8
mera niyaaz1 o ijz2 hai muft3-e butaaN4 asad5
yaa’ni6 keh banda7-e ba-diram8 na-Khariida9 huN
1.devotional offering 2.submission 3.free, freely offered 4.beloved 5.penname of the poet 6.meaning 7.servant, devotee 8.by/with coin/money 9.not/cannot be bought
I (my verse) is a submission (to the will) devotional offering to the beloved (divine), freely (without expectation of compensation), O asad. That is, I am a devotee/servant who cannot be purchased with money/reward. Recall …
taa’at meN taa rahe na mai o aNgabiiN ki laag
dozaKh meN Daal do koii le kar behisht ko

mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869).  I dare not write any introduction.  On more than one occasion Ghalib has warned his readers that he needs no introduction or even address.   I humbly comply.  This Ghazal appeared in earlier publications of Ghalib’s divaan, but in the later versions, which have become “official” and more common, he, for whatever reason dropped it.  This is dated 1816 in ‘nusKha-e raza’.  This is one of three Ghazal composed in this zamin.  Two are dated 1812-1816 and one is dated 1867.
1
KhuuN dar-jigar1 nahufta2, na zardi-rasiida3 huN
Khud aashiyaan4-e taa’er5-e raNg-e pariida6 huN

1.in the liver/heart 2.hidden 3. fully developed paleness (rasiida – faarsi) 4.nest 5.bird 6.flown away

The blood that I bleed because of pain and sorrow is hidden deep in my heart.  It does not show up as paleness of my face.  I myself am like a nest/home of a bird whose colour (abilities, health) has flown away i.e., I have been stricken with sorrow and loss but I keep it hidden.
2
hai dast1-e rad2 ba-sair3-e jahaaN4 bastan5-e nazar6
paa7-e havas8 ba-daaman9-e mizshgaaN10 kashiida11 huN

1.hand 2.rejection 3.looking at, sightseeeing 4.world 5.closed 6.eyes 7.feet 8.love, desire, lust 9.hem of the robe 10.eyelashes 11.to pull in, to carry

Eyelashes are like the apron/hem for the eyes.  To carry/pull in/collect the “paa-e havas – feet of love” is like withholding love.  (a)  I close my eyes to this material world and pull the feet of desire back inside the apron/hem of the eyes, because I want to look for the spiritual (b)  I reject/give up on the world because it has its eyes closed i.e., it does not see my real merit.  So, I hold my desire/passion “within my eyelashes”.  (c) I experience the hand of rejection, so I do not look at the world, close my eyes.  I hold my desire/passion ‘within my eyelashes’.  (d) To see the world with closed eyes is like rejecting it (or being rejected by it or by its creator).  Here “closed eyes” can mean looking at it without seeing its “real (spiritual) beauty.  I am afraid that I go through life withholding my passion/love for the divine (this may be a bit of introspection).
3
maiN chashm1-e vaa2 kushaada3 aur gulshan4 nazar-fareb5
laikin abas6 keh shabnam7-e Khurshiid-diida8 huN

1.eyes 2.open 3.wide 4.garden, world 5.sight deceiving, illusory 6.useless 7.dew 8.that has seen the sun

(a) I have my eyes wide open but the sights of the world are illusory.  Their attraction is useless, it has no effect of me, because I am like a dew drop that has seen the sun and I am drawn to its brilliance (b) The world is an illusion and I cannot see the real thing even though I have my eyes wide open.  It is useless (to try to understand it) because I am like a dew drop that has seen the sun i.e., the dew drop will soon evaporate and cease to exist.
4
tasleem1 se ye naala2-e mauzooN3 hua husool4
aye be-Khabar5 maiN naGhma6-e chaNg7-e Khamiida8 huN

1.acceptance, submission 2.wailing, crying 3.suitable, appropriate 4.obtained 5.unaware, ignorant 6.song, Ghazal 7.lute 8.bent, curved, bowed

‘chaNg-e Khamiida’ is a musical instrument with a curve carved into its neck.  Ghalib is using this as a simile for the shaa’er with his head bowed to the glory of god (or the beauty of the beloved).  Because I submit (to the beauty of the divine beloved) I have acquired this beautiful Ghazal, O you, who are unaware that I am like a ‘chaNg-e Khamiida’.
5
paida1 nahiN hai asl2-e tag-o-taaz3-e justajuu4
maanind5-e mauj6-e aab7, zabaan-e buriida8 huN

1.visible, apparent, discernible (faarsi) 2.reality, purpose 3.run, struggle 4.search, seek 5. similar to, like 6.waves 7.water, river 8.cut off

The poet is running/struggling in search of something.  It is not apparent what the real purpose of his search is, perhaps not even to himself.  Thus, he is like the waves of the river which struggle (wave up and down) and run/flow not knowing their destination.  The waves cannot speak, their tongue is cut off.  I am like them (although he composed/recited exquisite Ghazal).
6
sar par mere vabaal1-e hazaar aarzu2 raha
yaarab3 maiN kis Ghariib4 ka baKht5-e ramiida6 huN

1.calamity, curse, vexation 2.desires 3.god 4.destitute 5.fate 6.run away, escaped

I carry the burden/curse of a thousand (unfulfilled) desires on my head.  O god, which destitute’s runaway/empty fate is mine.
7
maiN be-hunar1, keh jauhar2-e aaina tha abas3
paa4-e nigaah5-e Khalq6 meN Khaar7-e Khaliida8 huN

1.without talent/skill 2.shine, brilliance 3.useless 4.feet 5.eyes 6.world 7.thorn 8.pricking

‘jauhar-e aaina’ – the brilliance/polish of a mirror cannot be called ‘be-hunar’.  The ‘be-hunar’ is clearly meant to be sarcastic.  I, with no talent was like the useless/unused polish of the mirror.  Useless/unused because the world could not see the reflection/image of what he was trying to say.  So, I ended up being a thorn in the feet of the eyes of the world.  He is not only a thorn in the eyes of the present world but also those gone by …
deta huN kushtangaaN ko suKhan se sar-e tapish
mizraab-e taar-haa-e guluu-e bureeda huN
8
mera niyaaz1 o ijz2 hai muft3-e butaaN4 asad5
yaa’ni6 keh banda7-e ba-diram8 na-Khariida9 huN

1.devotional offering 2.submission 3.free, freely offered 4.beloved 5.penname of the poet 6.meaning 7.servant, devotee 8.by/with coin/money 9.not/cannot be bought

I (my verse) is a submission (to the will) devotional offering to the beloved (divine), freely (without expectation of compensation), O asad.  That is, I am a devotee/servant who cannot be purchased with money/reward.  Recall …
taa’at meN taa rahe na mai o aNgabiiN ki laag
dozaKh meN Daal do koii le kar behisht ko