hosh valon ko khabar kya be-khudi kya chiiz hai ishq kiije phir samajhiye zindagi kya chiiz hai

hazaron khvahishen aisi ki har khvahish pe dam nikle bahut nikle mire arman lekin phir bhi kam nikle

i have a thousand yearnings , each one afflicts me so many were fulfilled for sure, not enough although the couplet captures the endlessness of human wanting: desires are so overpowering that each seems life-draining. even when some dreams are fulfilled, satisfaction remains out of reach, because the heart keeps multiplying new demands. the metaphor of “breath leaving” intensifies the emotional weight of longing and exhaustion.

jhuki jhuki si nazar be-qarar hai ki nahin daba daba sa sahi dil men pyaar hai ki nahin

pyaar ka pahla khat likhne men vaqt to lagta hai nae parindon ko udne men vaqt to lagta hai

koi fariyad tire dil men dabi ho jaise tu ne ankhon se koi baat kahi ho jaise

mere jaise ban jaoge jab ishq tumhen ho jaega divaron se sar takraoge jab ishq tumhen ho jaega

aah ko chahiye ik umr asar hote tak kaun jiita hai tiri zulf ke sar hote tak

a prayer needs a lifetime, an answer to obtain who can live until the time that you decide to deign ghalib laments the disparity between the brevity of human life and the time required to win a beloved's heart. while a plea for love might eventually be heard, life is too short to wait for that moment. the 'conquering of tresses' metaphorically refers to untangling the complexities of the relationship, a task that outlasts the lover's life.

be-nam sa ye dard thahar kyuun nahin jaata jo biit gaya hai vo guzar kyuun nahin jaata

hosh valon ko khabar kya be-khudi kya chiiz hai ishq kiije phir samajhiye zindagi kya chiiz hai

hazaron khvahishen aisi ki har khvahish pe dam nikle bahut nikle mire arman lekin phir bhi kam nikle

i have a thousand yearnings , each one afflicts me so many were fulfilled for sure, not enough although the couplet captures the endlessness of human wanting: desires are so overpowering that each seems life-draining. even when some dreams are fulfilled, satisfaction remains out of reach, because the heart keeps multiplying new demands. the metaphor of “breath leaving” intensifies the emotional weight of longing and exhaustion.

aah ko chahiye ik umr asar hote tak kaun jiita hai tiri zulf ke sar hote tak

a prayer needs a lifetime, an answer to obtain who can live until the time that you decide to deign ghalib laments the disparity between the brevity of human life and the time required to win a beloved's heart. while a plea for love might eventually be heard, life is too short to wait for that moment. the 'conquering of tresses' metaphorically refers to untangling the complexities of the relationship, a task that outlasts the lover's life.

jhuki jhuki si nazar be-qarar hai ki nahin daba daba sa sahi dil men pyaar hai ki nahin

tum itna jo muskura rahe ho kya ghham hai jis ko chhupa rahe ho

pyaar ka pahla khat likhne men vaqt to lagta hai nae parindon ko udne men vaqt to lagta hai

koi fariyad tire dil men dabi ho jaise tu ne ankhon se koi baat kahi ho jaise

mere jaise ban jaoge jab ishq tumhen ho jaega divaron se sar takraoge jab ishq tumhen ho jaega