bas-ki dushwar hai har kaam ka aasan hona
bas-ki dushvar hai har kaam ka asan hona
aadmi ko bhi muyassar nahin insan hona
tis difficult that every goal be easily complete
for a man, too, to be human, is no easy feat
girya chahe hai kharabi mire kashane ki
dar o divar se tapke hai bayaban hona
my tears seek destruction of my humble abode
my hearth and home relentlessly does wilderness erode
vae-divangi-e-shauq ki har dam mujh ko
aap jaana udhar aur aap hi hairan hona
such is desire's lunacy, i constantly repair
to her street, even tho it leads me to despair
jalva az-bas-ki taqaza-e-nigah karta hai
jauhar-e-aina bhi chahe hai mizhgan hona
beauty does yet seek behold the favour of a glance
the lustre of the mirror seeks to be a lash perchance
ishrat-e-qatl-gah-e-ahl-e-tamanna mat puchh
id-e-nazzara hai shamshir ka uryan hona
ask not the delight of those for martyrdom who wait
unsheathing of the sword for them is cause to celebrate
le gae khaak men ham daghh-e-tamanna-e-nashat
tu ho aur aap ba-sad-rang-e-gulistan hona
with me into dust i took the scars of hopes forlorn
now in your splendour joyously the garden you adorn
ishrat-e-para-e-dil zakhm-e-tamanna khana
lazzat-e-rish-e-jigar ghharq-e-namak-dan hona
when the heart is wounded does its ecstacy exalt
fortitude is filled with joy when wounds are dipped in salt
ki mire qatl ke baa'd us ne jafa se tauba
haae us zud-pasheman ka pasheman hona
after she had slain me then from torture she forswore
alas! the one now quickly shamed was not so before
haif us chaar girah kapde ki qismat 'ghhalib'
jis ki qismat men ho ashiq ka gareban hona
ghalib alas! that piece of cloth for whom destiny
has ordained a fate that it, a lover's collar be
bas-ki dushwar hai har kaam ka aasan hona
aadmi ko bhi muyassar nahin insan hona
tis difficult that every goal be easily complete
for a man, too, to be human, is no easy feat
girya chahe hai kharabi mere kashane ki
dar o diwar se tapke hai bayaban hona
my tears seek destruction of my humble abode
my hearth and home relentlessly does wilderness erode
wae-diwangi-e-shauq ki har dam mujh ko
aap jaana udhar aur aap hi hairan hona
such is desire's lunacy, i constantly repair
to her street, even tho it leads me to despair
jalwa az-bas-ki taqaza-e-nigah karta hai
jauhar-e-aina bhi chahe hai mizhgan hona
beauty does yet seek behold the favour of a glance
the lustre of the mirror seeks to be a lash perchance
ishrat-e-qatl-gah-e-ahl-e-tamanna mat puchh
id-e-nazzara hai shamshir ka uryan hona
ask not the delight of those for martyrdom who wait
unsheathing of the sword for them is cause to celebrate
le gae khak mein hum dagh-e-tamanna-e-nashat
tu ho aur aap ba-sad-rang-e-gulistan hona
with me into dust i took the scars of hopes forlorn
now in your splendour joyously the garden you adorn
ishrat-e-para-e-dil zakhm-e-tamanna khana
lazzat-e-rish-e-jigar gharq-e-namak-dan hona
when the heart is wounded does its ecstacy exalt
fortitude is filled with joy when wounds are dipped in salt
ki mere qatl ke ba'd us ne jafa se tauba
hae us zud-pasheman ka pasheman hona
after she had slain me then from torture she forswore
alas! the one now quickly shamed was not so before
haif us chaar girah kapde ki qismat 'ghaalib'
jis ki qismat mein ho aashiq ka gareban hona
ghalib alas! that piece of cloth for whom destiny
has ordained a fate that it, a lover's collar be
ki mire qatl ke baa'd us ne jafa se tauba
haae us zud-pashiman ka pashiman hona
after she had slain me then from torture she forswore
alas! the one now quickly shamed was not so before
this couplet highlights the tragic irony of a repentance that comes too late. ghalib mocks the beloved's nature of being 'quick to regret' (zood-pashemaan) because, in this specific instance, the decision to stop being cruel occurred only after the lover had already died from that very cruelty.
mujhe apne zabt pe naz tha sar-e-bazm raat ye kya hua
mujhe apne zabt pe naaz tha sar-e-bazm raat ye kya hua
miri aankh kaise chhalak gai mujhe ranj hai ye bura hua
miri zindagi ke charaghh ka ye mizaj koi naya nahin
abhi raushni abhi tirgi na jala hua na bujha hua
mujhe jo bhi dushman-e-jan mila vahi pukhta-kar-e-jafa mila
na kisi ki zarb ghhalat padi na kisi ka tiir khata hua
mujhe aap kyuun na samajh sake ye khud apne dil hi se puchhiye
miri dastan-e-hayat ka to varaq varaq hai khula hua
jo nazar bacha ke guzar gae mire samne se abhi abhi
ye mire hi shahr ke log the mire ghar se ghar hai mila hua
hamen is ka koi bhi haq nahin ki sharik-e-bazm-e-khulus hon
na hamare paas naqab hai na kuchh astin men chhupa hua
mujhe ik gali men pada hua kisi bad-nasib ka khat mila
kahin khun-e-dil se likha hua kahin ansuon se mita hua
mujhe ham-safar bhi mila koi to shikasta-hal miri tarah
kai manzilon ka thaka hua kahin raston men luta hua
hamen apne ghar se chale hue sar-e-rah umr guzar gai
koi justuju ka sila mila na safar ka haq hi ada hua
mujhe apne zabt pe naz tha sar-e-bazm raat ye kya hua
meri aankh kaise chhalak gai mujhe ranj hai ye bura hua
meri zindagi ke charagh ka ye mizaj koi naya nahin
abhi raushni abhi tirgi na jala hua na bujha hua
mujhe jo bhi dushman-e-jaan mila wahi pukhta-kar-e-jafa mila
na kisi ki zarb ghalat padi na kisi ka tir khata hua
mujhe aap kyun na samajh sake ye khud apne dil hi se puchhiye
meri dastan-e-hayat ka to waraq waraq hai khula hua
jo nazar bacha ke guzar gae mere samne se abhi abhi
ye mere hi shahr ke log the mere ghar se ghar hai mila hua
hamein is ka koi bhi haq nahin ki sharik-e-bazm-e-khulus hon
na hamare pas naqab hai na kuchh aastin mein chhupa hua
mujhe ek gali mein pada hua kisi bad-nasib ka khat mila
kahin khun-e-dil se likha hua kahin aansuon se mita hua
mujhe ham-safar bhi mila koi to shikasta-haal meri tarah
kai manzilon ka thaka hua kahin raston mein luta hua
hamein apne ghar se chale hue sar-e-rah umr guzar gai
koi justuju ka sila mila na safar ka haq hi ada hua
ada aai jafa aai ghhurur aaya hijab aaya
hazaron afaten le kar hasinon par shabab aaya
aise bigde ki phir jafa bhi na ki
dushmani ka bhi haq ada na hua
she was so annoyed she did not even torment me
in doing so denied what was due to enmity
dhanak dhanak meri poron ke khwab kar dega
dhanak dhanak miri poron ke khvab kar dega
vo lams mere badan ko gulab kar dega
qaba-e-jism ke har taar se guzarta hua
kiran ka pyaar mujhe aftab kar dega
junun-pasand hai dil aur tujh tak aane men
badan ko naav lahu ko chanab kar dega
main sach kahungi magar phir bhi haar jaungi
vo jhuut bolega aur la-javab kar dega
ana-parast hai itna ki baat se pahle
vo uth ke band miri har kitab kar dega
sukut-e-shahr-e-sukhan men vo phuul sa lahja
samaaton ki faza khvab khvab kar dega
isi tarah se agar chahta raha paiham
sukhan-vari men mujhe intikhab kar dega
miri tarah se koi hai jo zindagi apni
tumhari yaad ke naam intisab kar dega
dhanak dhanak meri poron ke khwab kar dega
wo lams mere badan ko gulab kar dega
qaba-e-jism ke har tar se guzarta hua
kiran ka pyar mujhe aaftab kar dega
junun-pasand hai dil aur tujh tak aane mein
badan ko naw lahu ko chanab kar dega
main sach kahungi magar phir bhi haar jaungi
wo jhut bolega aur la-jawab kar dega
ana-parast hai itna ki baat se pahle
wo uth ke band meri har kitab kar dega
sukut-e-shahr-e-sukhan mein wo phul sa lahja
samaaton ki faza khwab khwab kar dega
isi tarah se agar chahta raha paiham
sukhan-wari mein mujhe intikhab kar dega
meri tarah se koi hai jo zindagi apni
tumhaari yaad ke nam intisab kar dega
lamhe lamhe ki na-rasai hai
lamhe lamhe ki na-rasai hai
zindagi halat-e-judai hai
mard-e-maidan huun apni zaat ka main
main ne sab se shikast khaai hai
ik ajab haal hai ki ab us ko
yaad karna bhi bevafai hai
ab ye surat hai jan-e-jan ki tujhe
bhulne men miri bhalai hai
khud ko bhula huun us ko bhula huun
umr bhar ki yahi kamai hai
main hunar-mand-e-rang huun main ne
khuun thuka hai daad paai hai
jaane ye tere vasl ke hangam
teri furqat kahan se aai hai
lamhe lamhe ki na-rasai hai
zindagi haalat-e-judai hai
mard-e-maidan hun apni zat ka main
main ne sab se shikast khai hai
ek ajab haal hai ki ab us ko
yaad karna bhi bewafai hai
ab ye surat hai jaan-e-jaan ki tujhe
bhulne mein meri bhalai hai
khud ko bhula hun us ko bhula hun
umr bhar ki yahi kamai hai
main hunar-mand-e-rang hun main ne
khun thuka hai dad pai hai
jaane ye tere wasl ke hangam
teri furqat kahan se aai hai
tiir par tiir lagao tumhen dar kis ka hai
siina kis ka hai miri jaan jigar kis ka hai
lutf aane laga jafaon men
vo kahin mehrban na ho jaae
i've started to enjoy her tortures by and by
i hope she doesn't now decide to
har-chand gham-o-dard ki qimat bhi bahut thi
har-chand ghham-o-dard ki qimat bhi bahut thi
lena hi pada dil ko zarurat bhi bahut thi
zalim tha vo aur zulm ki aadat bhi bahut thi
majbur the ham us se mohabbat bhi bahut thi
go tark-e-taalluq men suhulat bhi bahut thi
lekin na hua ham se ki ghhairat bhi bahut thi
us but ke sitam sah ke dikha hi diya ham ne
go apni tabiat men baghhavat bhi bahut thi
vaqif hi na tha ramz-e-mohabbat se vo varna
dil ke liye thodi si inayat hi bahut thi
yuun hi nahin mashhur-e-zamana mira qatil
us shakhs ko is fan men maharat bhi bahut thi
kya daur-e-ghhazal tha ki lahu dil men bahut tha
aur dil ko lahu karne ke fursat bhi bahut thi
har shaam sunate the hasinon ko ghhazal ham
jab maal bahut tha to sakhavat bhi bahut thi
bulva ke ham 'ajiz' ko pasheman bhi bahut hain
kya kijiye kam-bakht ki shohrat bhi bahut thi
har-chand gham-o-dard ki qimat bhi bahut thi
lena hi pada dil ko zarurat bhi bahut thi
zalim tha wo aur zulm ki aadat bhi bahut thi
majbur the hum us se mohabbat bhi bahut thi
go tark-e-talluq mein suhulat bhi bahut thi
lekin na hua hum se ki ghairat bhi bahut thi
us but ke sitam sah ke dikha hi diya hum ne
go apni tabiat mein baghawat bhi bahut thi
waqif hi na tha ramz-e-mohabbat se wo warna
dil ke liye thodi si inayat hi bahut thi
yun hi nahin mashhur-e-zamana mera qatil
us shakhs ko is fan mein mahaarat bhi bahut thi
kya daur-e-ghazal tha ki lahu dil mein bahut tha
aur dil ko lahu karne ke fursat bhi bahut thi
har sham sunate the hasinon ko ghazal hum
jab mal bahut tha to sakhawat bhi bahut thi
bulwa ke hum 'ajiz' ko pasheman bhi bahut hain
kya kijiye kam-bakht ki shohrat bhi bahut thi
aankh uthai hi thi ki khai chot
aankh uthai hi thi ki khaai chot
bach gai aankh dil pe aai chot
dard-e-dil ki unhen khabar kya ho
janta kaun hai parai chot
aai tanha na khana-e-dil men
dard ko apne saath laai chot
teghh thi haath men na khanjar tha
us ne kya jaane kya lagai chot
yuun na qatil ko jab yaqin aaya
ham ne dil khol kar dikhai chot
aur kya karte ham bala-kash-e-ghham
jo padi dil pe vo uthai chot
kahin chhupti bhi hai lagi dil ki
laakh 'fani' ne go chhupai chot
aankh uthai hi thi ki khai chot
bach gai aankh dil pe aai chot
dard-e-dil ki unhen khabar kya ho
jaanta kaun hai parai chot
aai tanha na khana-e-dil mein
dard ko apne sath lai chot
tegh thi hath mein na khanjar tha
us ne kya jaane kya lagai chot
yun na qatil ko jab yaqin aaya
hum ne dil khol kar dikhai chot
aur kya karte hum bala-kash-e-gham
jo padi dil pe wo uthai chot
kahin chhupti bhi hai lagi dil ki
lakh 'fani' ne go chhupai chot
qaaem hai ab bhi meri vafaon ka silsila
ik silsila hai un ki jafaon ka silsila
tum na tauba karo jafaon se
ham vafaon se tauba karte hain
bahut se logon ko gham ne jila ke mar diya
bahut se logon ko ghham ne jila ke maar diya
jo bach rahe the unhen mai pila ke maar diya
ye kya ada hai ki jab un ki barhami se ham
na mar sake to hamen muskura ke maar diya
na jaate aap to aghhosh kyuun tahi hoti
gae to aap ne pahlu se ja ke maar diya
mujhe gila to nahin aap ke taghhaful se
magar huzur ne himmat badha ke maar diya
na aap aas bandhate na ye sitam hota
hamen to aap ne amrit pila ke maar diya
kisi ne husn-e-taghhaful se jaan talab kar li
kisi ne lutf ke dariya baha ke maar diya
jise bhi main ne ziyada tapak se dekha
usi hasin ne patthar utha ke maar diya
vo log mangenge ab ziist kis ke anchal se?
jinhen huzur ne daman chhuda ke maar diya
chale to khanda-mizaji se ja rahe the ham
kisi hasin ne raste men aa ke maar diya
rah-e-hayat men kuchh aise pech-o-kham to na the
kisi hasin ne raste men aa ke maar diya
karam ki surat-e-avval to jan-gudaz na thi
karam ka dusra pahlu dikha ke maar diya
ajiib ras-bhara rahzan tha jis ne logon ko
tarah tarah ki adaen dikha ke maar diya
ajiib khulq se ik ajnabi musafir ne
hamen khilaf-e-tavaqqoa bula ke maar diya
'adam' bade adab-adab se hasinon ne
hamen sitam ka nishana bana ke maar diya
taayyunat ki had tak to ji raha tha 'adam'
taayyunat ke parde utha ke maar diya
bahut se logon ko gham ne jila ke mar diya
jo bach rahe the unhen mai pila ke mar diya
ye kya ada hai ki jab un ki barhami se hum
na mar sake to hamein muskura ke mar diya
na jate aap to aaghosh kyun tahi hoti
gae to aap ne pahlu se ja ke mar diya
mujhe gila to nahin aap ke taghaful se
magar huzur ne himmat badha ke mar diya
na aap aas bandhate na ye sitam hota
hamein to aap ne amrit pila ke mar diya
kisi ne husn-e-taghaful se jaan talab kar li
kisi ne lutf ke dariya baha ke mar diya
jise bhi main ne ziyaada tapak se dekha
usi hasin ne patthar utha ke mar diya
wo log mangenge ab zist kis ke aanchal se?
jinhen huzur ne daman chhuda ke mar diya
chale to khanda-mizaji se ja rahe the hum
kisi hasin ne raste mein aa ke mar diya
rah-e-hayat mein kuchh aise pech-o-kham to na the
kisi hasin ne raste mein aa ke mar diya
karam ki surat-e-awwal to jaan-gudaz na thi
karam ka dusra pahlu dikha ke mar diya
ajib ras-bhara rahzan tha jis ne logon ko
tarah tarah ki adaen dikha ke mar diya
ajib khulq se ek ajnabi musafir ne
hamein khilaf-e-tawaqqoa bula ke mar diya
'adam' bade adab-adab se hasinon ne
hamein sitam ka nishana bana ke mar diya
tayyunat ki had tak to ji raha tha 'adam'
tayyunat ke parde utha ke mar diya
jitni vo mire haal pe karte hain jafaen
aata hai mujhe un ki mohabbat ka yaqin aur
more the cruelty from her that i receive
more in her affection for me do i believe
zalim jafa jo chahe so kar mujh pe tu vale
pachhtave phir tu aap hi aisa na kar kahin
o cruel one any torture, on me implement
just refrain from actions which you may repent
un ki jafaon par bhi vafa ka hua guman
apni vafaon ko bhi faramosh kar diya
shikva us but ke jafa ka jo kiya main to kaha
tum to duniya men ho ik ahl-e-vafa tum ko kya
ye chalan hain to tumhen hashr se denge tashbih
log saffak kahenge badi rusvai hai
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