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. Ghalib’s faarsi Ghazal recomposed in urdu by shahed (1944-still kicking) and also in English, maintaining the classical format in both.
1
nahiN hai intezaar¹ ki ab taab², dekhne ke liye aa
bahaana ab na bana, dil hi dukhaane ke liye aa    1.waiting 2.ability to bear
I cannot bear this separation any more. Come just to see my suffering. There is no need to make any excuses,come if only to spurn and make me sad.
2
mujhe na ek hi sheva¹-e sitam² se chayn³ mile
tujhe qasam hai har ek zulm⁴ tu Dhaane ke liye aa    1.style 2.cruelty 3.contentment, satisfaction 4.torture
I cannot be satisfied with just one style of cruelty (the poet/lover values the cruelty inflicted on him by the beloved, because he considers it a gift that she gives). I swear by my life, come to inflict every kind of torture.
3
raqeeb¹ par hi lagaata hai dil har ek ilzaam²
jalta hai rashk³ se, dil ki tasalli⁴ ke liye aa     1.rival 2.accusation 3.jealousy 4.consoling
Everytime you break your promise to me, my heart blames the rival. It is aflame in envy, come just to console my heart.
4
Ghuroor¹-e husn² ka sheva³ halaak⁴ karta hai
be-niyaazi⁵-e baad⁶-e bahaari⁷ hi dikhaane ke liye aa    1.pride, hubris 2.beauty 3.style 4.kill 5.indifference 6.breeze 7.spring
The spring breeze blows freely, whenever, wherever it wants, indifferent to what others need. That is used as an analogy. The style of hubris of beauty kills. If only to show your indifference, like spring breeze, come.
5
tark¹ kar ke mujhi se, kiya hai Ghair² se jo qaraar³
chand roza⁴ vo ahd⁵ toR, mujh se juRaane ke liye aa    1.stop, quit, break 2.rival 3.comfort, alliance 4.a few days 5.promise
You broke your relationship with me and made an alliance with the rival. Your commitments are of but a few days, easy to break. Break it off and to repair your relationship with me, come.
6
vid’aa¹ o vasl² judagaana³ lazzaten⁴ haiN ke phir
hai ek baar bichhaRna⁵ to sad-hazaar⁶ baar bhi milne ke liye aa    1.farewell, separation 2.union, meeting 3.separate, distinct 4.pleasures 5.separation, going away 6.hundred thousand
There is a distinct pleasure in both departing/separating and also in union. If you must depart once, come back and hundred thousand times.
7
tu saada-dil¹, raqeeb² maan’a³, janaaza⁴ bhi dekhne ke liye
tu phir mazaar⁵ pe hi faateha⁶ paRhne ke liye aa    1.trusting, unsuspecting 2.rival 3.forbidding 4.funeral bier, procession 5.tomb 6.ritual prayer/blessing
You are a trusting sould and the rival forbids you from even seeing the funeral bier/procession (for fear that she may have so much pity/sorrow that she will leave him). Then come at least to the tomb to read ritual prayers of redemption.
8
har ek meri tamanna¹ fusoon²-e naaz³ ki hai shikaar⁴
ummeedvaar huN phir bhi, pursish⁵ ke liye aa     1.desire 2.illusion, magic, fascination 3.coquetry, style 4.victim 5.to inquire about somebody’s well being
Every desire of mine has been a victim of my fascination with your coquetry. Still I cling to hope, come and ask about my well being (implying that he may be on his death bed).
9
hai teri Khu¹ bhi jo naazuk², to sabr³ mera hai naazuk-tar⁴
hai dil figaar⁵, qalam⁶ haath, dekhne ke liye aa     1.nature 2.delicate, sensitive 3.patience 4.more delicate 5.torn 6.cut off
Your nature is sensitive but my patience is also delicate. I have run out of patience and my heart is torn, and my limbs are useless as if they have been cut off. I cannot even place my hand on my heart to comfort it. Come to see me.
10
rivaaj¹-e dair² o haram³ hai nafas-parast⁴ na jaa hargiz⁵
hai maikade⁶ hi meN masti⁷, hosh⁸ meN aane ke liye aa      1.tradition 2.temple 3.mosque 4.self-indulgence 5.under no circumstance 6.tavern 7.intoxication, trance 8.senses
The tradition of temple and mosque is self-indulgence, do not go there under any circumstances. The tavern (symbolic of secular humanism) is the only place where you can find real intoxication (with the wine of love). Come here to regain your senses. The construction is beautiful in its irony and sarcasm. The irony is that people go to the tavern to get drunk. He is calling on them to come to get their senses back. The sarcasm is that you lose your sense in the mosque and them temple.
11
hisaar¹ amaaN² ki agar chaahta hai to Ghalib
rindaan³-e Khaaksaar⁴ ke halqe⁵ ki aafiyat⁶ ke liye aa     1.boundary, surrounding, abode 2.refuge 3.wine lovers 4.humble, low status 5.circle 6.protection
O, Ghalib, if you desire an abode of refuge, come into the protective circle of humble, lowly wine-lovers.

1
Unbearable, this pain of separation, if only to see, come
No need for any excuses, only to show your anger, come
2
An occasional bout of anger, not enough for me
I swear on my life, with all your stock of torture, come
3
My heart blames the rival when you stay away
Jealousy tears it apart, if only to console it once, come
4
The hubris of beauty, your indifference kills
Free spirit, like the morning breeze just to blow, come
5
Leaving me, you make alliance with the rival
A passing phase that, to renew this bond, come
6
Union and separation their own distinct pleasures
Depart if you must, but then, a thousand times come
7
You, a trusting soul, the rival forbids viewing the bier
If not at the funeral, to the tomb for prayers, come
8
Every desire a victim of illusions of being with you
Hope crushed still I cling, just for consoling, come
9
Fragile is your nature, my forbearance even more so
My heart rent asunder, arms limp, to see my plight, come
10
Self indulgence, the tradition of temple and mosque, never go there
Tavern, in a trance of universal love, to regain your senses, come
11
If you desire a sanctuary of love, O, Ghalib
In the circle of humble wine lovers for shelter, come