ROZ EK SHER: Ghalib

[Manish Modi]

जान तुम पर निसार करता हूँ

मैं नहीं जानता दुआ क्या है

~ ग़ालिब

جان تم پر نثار کرتا ہوں 

میں نہیں جانتا دعا کیا ہے 

~ غالب 

jaan tum par nisaar kartaa huun

main nahiin jaantaa duaa kyaa hai

~ Ghalib

My very life is beholden to you

I know not what prayer is

Reflection

Ishq-e-majaazii {worldly love}: I am so completely besotted with you that I have forgotten god. 

Ishq-e-haqiiqii {divine love}: You are the most beloved. You reside in my heart. I need not establish a formal means of communication with you because you light up every moment of my life. My eyes see you, my lips sing your glory, and my soul experiences you. You are my entire universe. There is no one but you. 

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Urdu couplet by Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan 'Ghalib'

Courtesy Divan-e-Ghalib

English translation and reflection by Manish Modi

🙏🏻🇮🇳

[Manish Modi]

कहूँ किससे मैं के क्या है शबे-ग़म बुरी बला है

मुझे क्या बुरा था मरना अगर एक बार होता

~ ग़ालिब

کہوں کس سے میں کہ کیا ہے شب غم بری بلا ہے
مجھے کیا برا تھا مرنا اگر ایک بار ہوتا

~ غالب 

kahuun kisase main ke kyaa hai shabe-gham burii balaa hai

mujhe kyaa buraa thaa marnaa agar ek baar hotaa

~ Ghalib

To whom may I complain of the long night of pain
I would not mind dying once, but again and again

Reflection
Love causes anxiety, jealousy and insecurity. Even normally sane people suffer excruciating pangs of loneliness and misery. And nights are the worst! During the day, people are too busy working, commuting, and leading their daily lives. But the nights of separation hit you hard. The distressing pain of loneliness and the gnawing fear of losing the beloved cause havoc.

How beautifully Ghalib has expressed all this in a couplet!  

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Urdu couplet by Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan 'Ghalib'