dard minnat-kash-e-davā na huā
maiñ na achchhā huā burā na huā
my pain did not seek favors from any opiate
I don’t mind the fact that I did not recuperate
jam.a karte ho kyuuñ raqīboñ ko
ik tamāshā huā gila na huā
you collect my enemies, why in this manner? pray
a spectacle this is and not the way to remonstrate
ham kahāñ qismat āzmāne jaa.eñ
tū hī jab ḳhanjar-āzmā na huā
even you refuse to test the sharpness of the blade
say where else do I then go, now for to test my fate
kitne shīrīñ haiñ tere lab ki raqīb
gāliyāñ khā ke be-mazā na huā
how sweet are your honeyed lips, that even though my foe
was abused by you, is not, in an unhappy state
hai ḳhabar garm un ke aane kī
aaj hī ghar meñ boriyā na huā
the news of her arrival, I hear at such a time
when my home is to be found unfurnished, desolate
kyā vo namrūd kī ḳhudā.ī thī
bandagī meñ mirā bhalā na huā
what divinity was it that Nimrod once proclaimed?
Worship was no use to me, it did not compensate
jaan dī dī huī usī kī thī
haq to yuuñ hai ki haq adā na huā
though I gave my life for Him, ’twas His in any case
to speak the truth I couldn’t repay my dues to Him to date
zaḳhm gar dab gayā lahū na thamā
kaam gar ruk gayā ravā na huā
if a wound is smothered then, blood’s flow will not be stemmed
if a task is stopped half-way, it does not consummate
rahzanī hai ki dil-sitānī hai
le ke dil dil-sitāñ ravāna huā
this is highway robbery this stealing of my heart
takes my heart and flees forthwith she doen’t even wait
kuchh to paḌhiye ki log kahte haiñ
aaj ‘ġhālib’ ġhazal-sarā na huā
do render a recitation, people start to say
why is Ghalib silent pray why does he not orate
