bas ki dushwaar hai har kaam ka aasaa.N honaaa

bas ki dushwaar hai har kaam ka aasaa.N honaaa
aadamii ko bhii mayassar nahii.n insaa.N honaa

[dushwaar=difficult; mayassar=possible]

giriyaa chaahe hai Kharaabii mere kaashaane kii
dar-o-diivaar se Tapake hai bayaabaa.N honaa

[giriyaa=wiiping; kaashaanaa=small house; bayaabaa.N=wilderness]

waa-e-diiwaangii-e-shauq ke har dam mujh ko
aap jaanaa udhar aur aap hii hairaa.N honaa

jalvaa az_bas ke taqaaza-e-nigah karataa hai
jauhar-e-aaiina bhii chaahe hai mizaGaa.N honaa

[az_bas=intensely; jauhar=skill/knowledge, mizaGaa.N=eyelid]

ishrat-e-qatl_gah-e-ahal-e-tamannaa mat puuchh
iid-e-nazzaaraa hai shamashiir kaa uriyaa.N honaa

[ishrat=joy/delight, shamashiir=sword, uriyaa.N=naked/bare]

le gaye Khaak me.n ham daaG-e-tamannaa-e-nishaat
tuu ho aur aap ba_sad_rang-e-gulistaa. N honaa

[nishaat (or nashaat)=enthusiasm/happiness, sad_rang=hundred colours]

ishrat-e-paaraa-e-dil, zaKhm-e-tamannaa_Khaanaa
lazzat-e-riish-e-jigar Garq-e-namakdaa.N honaa

[ishrat=joy/delight; paaraa=fragment/piecek lazzat=taste]
[riish=wound; Garq=drown/sink; namakdaa.N=container to keep salt]

kii mere qatl ke baad us ne jafaa se taubaa
haaye us zod_pashemaa.N kaa pashemaa.N honaa

[zod=quickly; pashemaa.N=ashamed/embarrassed]

haif us chaar girah kapa.De kii qismat 'Ghalib'
jis kii qismat me.n ho aashiq kaa garebaa.N honaa

[haif=alas!; girah=one sixteenth of a yard; garebaa.N=collar]

be-aitadaaliyo.n se subuk sab me.n ham hue

be-aitadaaliyo.n se subuk sab me.n ham hue
jitane ziyaadaa ho gaye utane hii kam hue

[be-aitadaaliyo.n = intemperatness/immoderation]
[subuk = embarrassed]


pinhaa.N thaa daam saKht qariib aashiyaa.N ke
u.Dane na paaye the ki giraftaar ham hue

[pinhaa.N=concealed; daam=trap]


hastii hamaarii apanii fanaa par daliil hai
yaa.N tak miTe ke aap ham apanii qasam hue

[daliil=argument/example]


saKhtii_kashaan-e-ishq kii puuchhe hai kyaa Khabar
vo log raftaa-raftaa saraa_paa alam hue

[saKhtii_kashaan-e-ishq = problems of people in love]
[saraa_paa = from head to feet; alam = sorrow ]


terii vafaa se kyaa ho talaafii ki dahar me.n
tere sivaa bhii ham pe bahut se sitam hue

[talaafii = complaint; dahar = world; sitam = oppression]


likhate rahe junuu.N kii hikaayat-e-Khuu.N_chakaa.N
harcha.nd is me.n haath hamaare qalam hue

[junuu.N = ecstasy; hikaayat = story/narrative]
[Khuu.N_chakaaN = blood-drenched; qalam=cut]


allaah re! terii tundii-e-Khuu jis ke biim se
azzaa-e-naalaa dil me.n mere rizqe-ham hue

[tundii-e-Khuu = habit of aggressiveness; biim = terror]
[azzaa-e-naalaa = pieces of screams; rizq = subsistence]


ahal-e-havas kii fatah hai tark-e-nabard-e-ishq
jo paa.Nv uTh gaye vo hii un ke alam hue

[ahal-e-havas = greedy; tark = relinquishment]
[nabard = battle; alam = flag/banner]


naal-e-adam me.n cha.nd hamaare supurd the
jo waa.N na khi.nch sake so wo yaa.N aake dam hue

[naale = voice; adam = non-existence; dam = breath]


cho.Dii 'Asad' na ham ne gadaa_ii me.n dil_lagii
saa_il hue to aashiq-e-ahal-e-karam hue

[gadaa_ii = beggary; dil_lagii = amusement]
[saa_il = begger; ahal-e-karam =charitable person]

bahot sahii Gam-e-getii sharaab kam kyaa hai

bahot sahii Gam-e-getii sharaab kam kyaa hai
Gulaam-e-saaqii-e-kausar huu.N mujhako Gam kyaa hai

[Gam-e-getii=sorrows of the world]
[Gulaam-e-saaqii-e-kausar=servant of the person who serves drinks from 'kausar', a river which flows in heaven]

tumhaarii tarz-o-ravish jaanate hai.n ham kyaa hai
raqiib par hai agar lutf to sitam kyaa hai

[tarz-o-ravish=behaviour and character; raqiib=rival]
[lutf=benevolence; sitam=torture]

suKhan me.n Khaamaa-e-Gaalib kii aatash_afashaanii
yaqii.n hai hamako bhii lekin ab us me.n dam kyaa hai

[suKhan=poem; Khaamaa-e-Gaalib=Ghalib's pen]
[aatash_afshaa.N=to pour fire; yaqii.n=trust; dam=pride]

baaziichaa-e-atfaal hai duniyaa mere aage

baaziichaa-e-atfaal hai duniyaa mere aage
hotaa hai shab-o-roz tamaashaa mere aage

[baaziichaa-e-atfaal = child's play]

ik khel hai aurang-e-sulemaa.N mere nazadiik
ik baat hai ejaaz-e-masiihaa mere aage

[aurang = throne; ejaaz = miracle]

juz naam nahii.n suurat-e-aalam mujhe manzuur
juz vaham nahii.n hastii-e-ashiyaa mere aage

[juz = other than; aalam = world; ashiyaa = things]

hotaa hai nihaa.N gard me.n seharaa mere hote
ghisataa hai jabii.n Khaak pe dariyaa mere aage

[nihaa.N = hidden; gard = dust]
[seharaa = desert, jabii.n = forehead]

mat puuchh ke kyaa haal hai meraa tere piichhe
tuu dekh ke kyaa rang hai teraa mere aage

sach kahate ho Khud_biin-o-Khud_aaraa huu.N na kyo.N huu.N
baiThaa hai but-e-aa_iinaa siimaa mere aage

[Khud_biin = proud/arrogant, Khud_aaraa = self adorer]
[but-e-aa_iinaa = lover's mirror; siimaa = particularly]

phir dekhiye andaaz-e-gul_afshaanii-e-guftaar
rakh de ko_ii paimaanaa-e-sahabaa mere aage

[gul_afshaanii-e-guftaar = to scatter flowers while speaking]
[sahaba = wine]

nafrat ka gumaa.N guzare hai mai.n rashk se guzaraa
kyo.N kar kahuu.N lo naam naa us kaa mere aage

[gumaaN = suspicion/doubt; rashk = envy]

imaa.N mujhe roke hai jo khii.nche hai mujhe kufr
kaabaa mere piichhe hai kaliisaa mere aage

[kufr = impiety, kaliisaa = church/cathedral]

aashiq huu.N pe maashuuq_farebii hai mera kaam
majanuu.N ko buraa kahatii hai lailaa mere aage

Khush hote hai.n par vasl me.n yuu.N mar nahii.n jaate
aa_ii shab-e-hijaraa.N kii tamannaa mere aage

[hijr = separation]

hai mauj_zan ik qulzum-e-Khuu.N kaash! yahii ho
aataa hai abhii dekhiye kyaa-kyaa mere aage

[mauj_zan = turbulent (as in waves)]
[qulzum = sea, Khuu.N = blood]

go haath ko jumbish nahii.n aa.Nkho.n me.n to dam hai
rahane do abhii saaGar-o-miinaa mere aage

[jumbish = movement; saaGar-o-miinaa = glass of wine]

ham_peshaa-o-ham_masharab-o-ham_raaz hai meraa
'Ghalib' ko buraa kyo.N kaho achchhaa mere aage

[ham_peshaa = of the same profession]
[ham_masharab = of the same habits(i.e. a fellov drinker)]
[ham_raaz = confidante]

arz-e-niyaaz-e-ishq ke qaabil nahii.n rahaa

arz-e-niyaaz-e-ishq  ke qaabil nahii.n rahaa 
jis dil pe naaz thaa mujhe vo dil nahii.n rahaa 

[niyaaz = offering] 

jaataa  huu.N daaG-e-hasarat-e-hastii liye hue 
huu.N shammaa-e-kushtaa daraKhur-e-mahafil nahii.n rahaa 

[shammaa-e-kushtaa = extinguished lamp; daraKhur = worthy] 

marane kii ai dil aur hii tadabiir kar ki mai.n 
shaayaan-e-dast-o-baazuu-e-qaatil nahii.n rahaa 

[tadabiir = solution/remedy; shaayaan = worthy; dast = hand] 

ba-ruu-e-shash jihat dar-e-aa_iinaabaaz hai 
yaa.N imtiaaz-e-naakis-o-qaamil nahii.n rahaaa 

[ba-ruu = in front; shash = six; jihat = direction] 
[imtiaz = distinction, naakis = incomplete, qaamil = complete] 

vaa kar diye hai.n shauq ne band-e-naqaab-e-husn 
Gair az  nigaah ab ko_ii haa_il nahii.n  rahaa 

[vaa = open; Gair az = other than; haa_il = obstacle] 

go mai.n rahaa rahiin-e-sitam haaye rozagaar 
lekin tere Khayaal se Gaafil nahii.n rahaa 

[rahiin-e-sitam = burdened; Gaafil = careless] 

dil se havaa-e-kisht-e-vafaa miT ke vaa.N 
haasil sivaaye hasrat-e-haasil nahii.n rahaa 

bedaad-e-ishq se nahii.n  Darata magar 'Asad' 
jis dil pe naaz thaa mujhe vo dil nahii.n rahaa 

[bedaad = injustice] 

masnavi - aamo.n kii taariif me.n

haa.N dil-e-dard_ma.nd zam-zamaa saaz
kyuu.N na khole dar-e-Khazinaa-e-raaz

Khaame kaa safhe par ravaa.N honaa
shaaKh-e-gul kaa hai gul-fishaa.N honaa

mujh se kyaa puuchhataa hai kyaa likhiye
nuqtaa haaye Khiradafishaa.N likhiye

baare, aamo.n kaa kuchh bayaa.N ho jaaye
Khaamaa naKhle ratabafishaa.N ho jaaye

aam kaa kaun mard-e-maidaa.N hai
samar-o-shaaKh, guve-o-chaugaa.N hai

taak ke jii me.n kyuu.N rahe armaa.N
aaye, ye guve aur ye maidaa.N!

aam ke aage pesh jaave Khaak
pho.Dataa hai jale phaphole taak

na chalaa jab kisii tarah maqaduur
baadaa-e-naab ban gayaa a.nguur

ye bhii naachaar jii kaa khonaa hai
sharm se paanii paanii honaa hai

mujhase puuchho, tumhe.n Khabar kyaa hai
aam ke aage neshakar kyaa hai

[neshakar=gannaa/sugarcane]

na gul us me.n na shaaKh-o-barg na baar
jab Khizaa.N aaye tab ho us kii bahaar

aur dau.Daaiie qayaas kahaa.N
jaan-e-shiirii.N me.n ye miThaas kahaa.N

jaan me.n hotii gar ye shiiriinii
'kohakan' baavajuud-e-Gam_giinii

aamad-e-Khat se huaa hai sard jo baazaar-e-dost

aamad-e-Khat se huaa hai sard jo baazaar-e-dost
duud-e-shama-e-kushtaa thaa shaayad Khat-e-ruKhsaar-e-dost

[aamad=arrival; Khat=hair; sard=cold]
[duud-e-shama-e-kushtaa=smoke from a broken (extinguished) lamp]

ai dil naa'aaqabat a.ndesh zabt-e-shauq kar
kaun laa sakataa hai taab-e-jalvaa-e-diidaar-e-dost

[naa'aaqabat a.ndesh=unaware of the consequences]
[zabt-e-shauq=control one's desire]
[taab-e-jalvaa-e-diidaar=brilliance of vision of beauty]

Khaanaa viraa.Nsaazii-e-hairat tamaashaa kiijiye
suurat-e-naqsh-e-qadam huu.N raftaa-e-raftaar-e-dost

[Khaanaa viraa.Nsaazii-e-hairat=amazement at the ruin of one's home]
[suurat-e-naqsh-e-qadam=like footprints; raftaa-e-raftaar=walking in a delirium]

ishq me.n bedaad-e-rashq-e-Gair ne maaraa mujhe
kushtaa-e-dushman huu.N aaKhir garche thaa biimaar-e-dost

[bedaad-e-rashq-e-Gair=injustice of rival's envy]
[kushtaa-e-dushman=broken by the enemy]

chashm-e-may raushan ke us bedard kaa dil shaad hai
diidaa-e-pur-Khuu.N hamaaraa saagar-e-sar-shaar-e-dost

chashm-e-may=intoxicated eyes; shaad=happy]
[diidaa-e-pur-Khuu.N=bloodshot eyes; saagar-e-sar-shaar=filled to the brim]

aaiinaa kyuu.N na duu.N ke tamaashaa kahe.n jise

aaiinaa kyuu.N na duu.N ke tamaashaa kahe.n jise
aisaa kahaa.N se laauu.N ke tujhasaa kahe.n jise

hasarat ne laa rakhaa terii bazm-e-Khayaal me.n
guladastaa-e-nigaah suvedaa kahe.n jise

phuu.Nkaa hai kisane goshe muhabbat me.n ai Khudaa
afasuun-e-intazaar tamannaa kahe.n jise

sar par hujuum-e-dard-e-Gariibii se Daliye
vo ek musht-e-Khaak ke saharaa kahe.n jise

hai chashm-e-tar me.n hasarat-e-diidaar se nihaa.N
shauq-e-inaa.N guseKhtaa dariyaa kahe.n jise

darakaar hai shiguftan-e-gul haaye aish ko
sub_h-e-bahaar pa.nbaa-e-miinaa kahe.n jise

"Ghalib" buraa na maan jo vaaiz buraa kahe
aisaa bhii koii hai ke sab achchhaa kahe.n jise

aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak

aah ko chaahiye ik umr asar hone tak 
kaun jiitaa hai terii zulf ke sar hone tak 


daam har mauj me.n hai halqaa-e-sad_kaam-e-nahang 
dekhe.n kyaa guzare hai qatare pe gauhar hone tak 

[daam = net/trap; mauj = wave; halqaa = ring/circle]
[sad = hundred; nahang = crocodile; gauhar = pearl] 


aashiqii sabr-talab aur tamannaa betaab 
dil kaa kyaa rang karuu.N Khuun-e-jigar hone tak 

[sabr-talab=patient] 


ham ne maanaa ke taGaaful na karoge lekin 
Khaak ho jaaye.nge ham tum ko Khabar hone tak 

[taGaaful=neglect/ignore] 


partav-e-Khuur se hai shabanam ko fanaa kii taaliim 
mai.n bhii huu.N ek inaayat kii nazar hone tak 

[partav-e-Khuur = sun's rays; shabanam=dew]
[fanaa = perish; inaayat = favour] 


yak_nazar besh nahii.n fursat-e-hastii Gaafil 
garmii-e-bazm hai ik raqs-e-sharar hone tak 

[besh = excess; Gaafil = ignorant]
[raqs = dance; sharar = flash/fire] 


Gam-e-hastii kaa 'Asad' kis se ho juz marg ilaaj 
shammaa har rang me.n jalatii hai sahar hone tak 

[juz = other than; marg = death] 

aa ki merii jaan me.n qaraar nahii.n hai

aa ki merii jaan me.n qaraar nahii.n hai 
taaqat-e-bedaad-e-intazaar nahii.n hai 

[qaraar=rest/repose, bedaad=injustice] 


dete hai.n jannat hayaat-e-dahar ke badale 
nashshaa baa_andaazaa-e-Khumaar nahii.n hai 

[hayaat = life; dahar = world]
[baa_andaazaa = according to; Khumaar = intoxication] 


giriyaa nikaale hai terii bazm se mujh ko 
haaye! ki rone pe iKhtiyaar nahii.n hai 

[giriyaa = weeping; iKhtiyaar = control] 


ham se abas hai gumaan-e-ranjish-e-Khaatir 
Khaak me.n ushshaq kii Gubaar nahii.n hai 

[abas=indifferent; gumaan=suspicion; ranjish=unpleasantness;] 
[Khaak=ashes/dust; ushshaq=lovers; Gubaar=clouds of dust] 


dil se uThaa lutf-e-jalvaa haaye ma_anii 
Gair-e-gul aa_iinaa-e-bahaar nahii.n hai 

[ma_anii = meanings, Gair-e-gul = other than blossoms ] 


qatl kaa mere kiyaa hai ahad to baare 
vaaye! agar ahad ustavaar nahii.n hai 

[ahad = promise, baare = at last, ustavaar = firm/determined ] 


tuu ne qasam mai_kashii kii khaa_ii hai 'Ghalib' 
terii qasam ka kuchh aitabaar nahii.n hai

[mai_kashii = boozing; aitabaar = trust/faith]