Maikada

ab to utni bhi mayassar nahin mai-khane mein jitni hum chhod diya karte the paimane mein the tavern does not even give that much wine to me that i was wont to waste in the goblet casually

main talkhi-e-hayat se ghabra ke pi gaya

main talkhi-e-hayat se ghabra ke pi gaya ghham ki siyah raat se ghabra ke pi gaya itni daqiq shai koi kaise samajh sake yazdan ke vaqiat se ghabra ke pi gaya chhalke hue the jaam pareshan thi zulf-e-yar kuchh aise hadsat se ghabra ke pi gaya main aadmi huun koi farishta nahin huzur main aaj apni zaat se ghabra ke pi gaya duniya-e-hadsat hai ik dardnak giit duniya-e-hadsat se ghabra ke pi gaya kante to khair kante hain is ka gila hi kya phulon ki vardat se ghabra ke pi gaya 'saghhar' vo kah rahe the ki pi lijiye huzur un ki guzarishat se ghabra ke pi gaya main talkhi-e-hayat se ghabra ke pi gaya gham ki siyah raat se ghabra ke pi gaya itni daqiq shai koi kaise samajh sake yazdan ke waqiat se ghabra ke pi gaya chhalke hue the jam pareshan thi zulf-e-yar kuchh aise hadsat se ghabra ke pi gaya main aadmi hun koi farishta nahin huzur main aaj apni zat se ghabra ke pi gaya duniya-e-hadsat hai ek dardnak git duniya-e-hadsat se ghabra ke pi gaya kante to khair kante hain is ka gila hi kya phulon ki wardat se ghabra ke pi gaya 'saghar' wo kah rahe the ki pi lijiye huzur un ki guzarishat se ghabra ke pi gaya

aae the hanste khelte mai-khane mein 'firaq' jab pi chuke sharab to sanjida ho gae we came to the tavern all gay and frolicsome now having drunk the wine, somber have become the couplet shows an ironic reversal: the place associated with lightness and revelry becomes a doorway to gravity. “wine” works as a metaphor for experience and truth—once tasted, it strips away easy laughter. the emotional core is sobering self-awareness: joy gives way to reflection, as if the intoxication awakens, rather than numbs, the mind.

kab thahrega dard ai dil kab raat basar hogi

kab thahrega dard ai dil kab raat basar hogi sunte the vo aenge sunte the sahar hogi kab jaan lahu hogi kab ashk guhar hoga kis din tiri shunvai ai dida-e-tar hogi kab mahkegi fasl-e-gul kab bahkega mai-khana kab subh-e-sukhan hogi kab sham-e-nazar hogi vaaiz hai na zahid hai naseh hai na qatil hai ab shahr men yaron ki kis tarah basar hogi kab tak abhi rah dekhen ai qamat-e-janana kab hashr muayyan hai tujh ko to khabar hogi kab thahrega dard ai dil kab raat basar hogi sunte the wo aaenge sunte the sahar hogi kab jaan lahu hogi kab ashk guhar hoga kis din teri shunwai ai dida-e-tar hogi kab mahkegi fasl-e-gul kab bahkega mai-khana kab subh-e-sukhan hogi kab sham-e-nazar hogi waiz hai na zahid hai naseh hai na qatil hai ab shahr mein yaron ki kis tarah basar hogi kab tak abhi rah dekhen ai qamat-e-jaanana kab hashr muayyan hai tujh ko to khabar hogi

kahan mai-khane ka darwaza 'ghaalib' aur kahan waiz par itna jaante hain kal wo jata tha ki hum nikle wherefrom the 'saintly' priest, and where the tavern's door but as i entered he was leaving, this much i do know ghalib uses wit and irony to expose the hypocrisy of religious figures who preach morality but practice vice in secret. by contrasting the supposed piety of the preacher with the sinfulness of the tavern, the poet reveals that while he admits his own faults openly (leaving the tavern), the 'holy' man was sneaking in when he thought no one was watching.

jhunjhlae hain lajae hain phir muskurae hain

jhunjhlae hain lajae hain phir muskurae hain kis ehtimam se unhen ham yaad aae hain dair-o-haram ke habs-kadon ke satae hain ham aaj mai-kade ki hava khane aae hain ab ja ke aah karne ke adab aae hain duniya samajh rahi hai ki ham muskurae hain guzre hain mai-kade se jo tauba ke baa'd ham kuchh duur adatan bhi qadam ladkhadae hain ai josh-e-girya dekh na karna khajil mujhe ankhen miri zarur hain aansu parae hain ai maut ai bahisht-e-sukun aa khush-amdid ham zindagi men pahle pahal muskurae hain jitni bhi mai-kade men hai saaqi pila de aaj ham tishna-kam zohd ke sahra se aae hain insan jite-ji karen tauba khataon se majburiyon ne kitne farishte banae hain samjhate qabl-e-ishq to mumkin tha banti baat naseh ghharib ab hamen samjhane aae hain kaabe men khairiyat to hai sab hazrat-e-'khumar' ye dair hai janab yahan kaise aae hain jhunjhlae hain lajae hain phir muskurae hain kis ehtimam se unhen hum yaad aae hain dair-o-haram ke habs-kadon ke satae hain hum aaj mai-kade ki hawa khane aae hain ab ja ke aah karne ke aadab aae hain duniya samajh rahi hai ki hum muskurae hain guzre hain mai-kade se jo tauba ke ba'd hum kuchh dur aadatan bhi qadam ladkhadae hain ai josh-e-girya dekh na karna khajil mujhe aankhen meri zarur hain aansu parae hain ai maut ai bahisht-e-sukun aa khush-amdid hum zindagi mein pahle pahal muskurae hain jitni bhi mai-kade mein hai saqi pila de aaj hum tishna-kaam zohd ke sahra se aae hain insan jite-ji karen tauba khataon se majburiyon ne kitne farishte banae hain samjhate qabl-e-ishq to mumkin tha banti baat naseh gharib ab hamein samjhane aae hain kabe mein khairiyat to hai sab hazrat-e-'khumar' ye dair hai janab yahan kaise aae hain

main mai-kade ki rah se ho kar nikal gaya warna safar hayat ka kafi tawil tha

hans hans ke jam jam ko chhalka ke pi gaya

hans hans ke jaam jaam ko chhalka ke pi gaya vo khud pila rahe the main lahra ke pi gaya tauba ke tutne ka bhi kuchh kuchh malal tha tham tham ke soch soch ke sharma ke pi gaya saghhar-ba-dast baithi rahi meri aarzu saaqi shafaq se jaam ko takra ke pi gaya vo dushmanon ke tanz ko thukra ke pi gae main doston ke ghhaiz ko bhadka ke pi gaya sadha mutalibat ke baad ek jam-e-talkh duniya-e-jabr-o-sabr ko dhadka ke pi gaya sau baar laghhzishon ki qasam kha ke chhod di sau baar chhodne ki qasam kha ke pi gaya piita kahan tha subh-e-azal main bhala 'adam' saaqi ke e'tibar pe lahra ke pi gaya hans hans ke jam jam ko chhalka ke pi gaya wo khud pila rahe the main lahra ke pi gaya tauba ke tutne ka bhi kuchh kuchh malal tha tham tham ke soch soch ke sharma ke pi gaya saghar-ba-dast baithi rahi meri aarzu saqi shafaq se jam ko takra ke pi gaya wo dushmanon ke tanz ko thukra ke pi gae main doston ke ghaiz ko bhadka ke pi gaya sadha mutalibaat ke baad ek jam-e-talkh duniya-e-jabr-o-sabr ko dhadka ke pi gaya sau bar laghzishon ki qasam kha ke chhod di sau bar chhodne ki qasam kha ke pi gaya pita kahan tha subh-e-azal main bhala 'adam' saqi ke e'tibar pe lahra ke pi gaya

na tum hosh mein ho na hum hosh mein hain chalo mai-kade mein wahin baat hogi neither are you in your senses nor am i in mine let us now go to the tavern and talk while we have wine

man mausam ka kaha chhai ghata jam utha

maan mausam ka kaha chhai ghata jaam utha aag se aag bujha phuul khila jaam utha pi mire yaar tujhe apni qasam deta huun bhuul ja shikva gila haath mila jaam utha haath men chand jahan aaya muqaddar chamka sab badal jaega qismat ka likha jaam utha ek pal bhi kabhi ho jaata hai sadiyon jaisa der kya karna yahan haath badha jaam utha pyaar hi pyaar hai sab log barabar hain yahan mai-kade men koi chhota na bada jaam utha man mausam ka kaha chhai ghata jam utha aag se aag bujha phul khila jam utha pi mere yar tujhe apni qasam deta hun bhul ja shikwa gila hath mila jam utha hath mein chand jahan aaya muqaddar chamka sab badal jaega qismat ka likha jam utha ek pal bhi kabhi ho jata hai sadiyon jaisa der kya karna yahan hath badha jam utha pyar hi pyar hai sab log barabar hain yahan mai-kade mein koi chhota na bada jam utha

'zauq' jo madrase ke bigde hue hain mulla un ko mai-khane mein le aao sanwar jaenge this verse is a witty satire on religious dogmatism. the poet suggests that the formal seminary (madrasa) breeds arrogance and rigidity in clerics, whereas the tavern (a metaphor for the path of love and selflessness) cures the ego. it inverts conventional morality, claiming that 'sinful' places can teach humility better than places of worship.

yaro ghar aai sham chalo mai-kade chalen

yaaro ghar aai shaam chalo mai-kade chalen yaad aa rahe hain jaam chalo mai-kade chalen dair-o-haram pe khul ke jahan baat ho sake hai ek hi maqam chalo mai-kade chalen achchha nahin piyenge jo piina haram hai jiina na ho haram chalo mai-kade chalen yaaro jo hoga dekhenge ghham se to ho najat le kar khuda ka naam chalo mai-kade chalen saaqi bhi hai sharab bhi azadiyan bhi hain sab kuchh hai intizam chalo mai-kade chalen aisi faza men lutf-e-ibadat na aaega lena hai us ka naam chalo mai-kade chalen fursat ghhamon se paana agar hai to aao 'nur' sab ko karen salam chalo mai-kade chalen yaro ghar aai sham chalo mai-kade chalen yaad aa rahe hain jam chalo mai-kade chalen dair-o-haram pe khul ke jahan baat ho sake hai ek hi maqam chalo mai-kade chalen achchha nahin piyenge jo pina haram hai jina na ho haram chalo mai-kade chalen yaro jo hoga dekhenge gham se to ho najat le kar khuda ka nam chalo mai-kade chalen saqi bhi hai sharab bhi aazadiyan bhi hain sab kuchh hai intizam chalo mai-kade chalen aisi faza mein lutf-e-ibaadat na aaega lena hai us ka nam chalo mai-kade chalen fursat ghamon se pana agar hai to aao 'nur' sab ko karen salam chalo mai-kade chalen

guzre hain mai-kade se jo tauba ke ba'd hum kuchh dur aadatan bhi qadam dagmagae hain

aaftab aae chamak kar jo sar-e-jam-e-sharab

aftab aae chamak kar jo sar-e-jam-e-sharab rind samjhen ki hai sadiq sahar-e-jam-e-sharab sab ke hathon pe tha shab-bhar safar-e-jam-e-sharab har khat-e-dast bana rah-guzar-e-jam-e-sharab dukhtar-e-raz pe giren mast patangon ki tarah sham-e-mahfil ho ye lakht-e-jigar-e-jam-e-sharab thaam le dast-e-subu aae jo chalne men lachak khat-e-baghhdad ho mu-e-kamar-e-jam-e-sharab tur-e-sina ka guman ho khum-e-mai par sab ko is tarah hosh udaao asar-e-jam-e-sharab saghhar-e-mai men nahin partav-e-khal-e-saqi hai kaf-e-dukhtar-e-raz men sipar-e-jam-e-sharab khaak mai-khane ki ban jaati qayamat pis kar har qadam par jo lachakti kamar-e-jam-e-sharab aaj mai-noshon ka majmaa hai kahan ai saaqi kaun si bazm men hai shor-o-shar-e-jam-e-sharab jitne mai-khvar hain saaqi se gale milte hain sahar-e-id bani hai khabar-e-jam-e-sharab shisha-e-mai se uda kaag kabutar ki tarah naama pahunchane chala nama-bar-e-jam-e-sharab mauj-e-sahba pe gira sapna-e-mina ud kar hai mire samne teghh-o-sipar-e-jam-e-sharab mai pilata hai agar dhanp le siina saaqi tere joban ko lagegi nazar-e-jam-e-sharab aftab aa ke sikhata hai chalan shab-bhar ka raat ko hota hai aksar guzar-e-jam-e-sharab dast-e-saqi men rahe dast-e-qadah-kash men rahe gardan-e-shisha-e-sahba kamar-e-jam-e-sharab mast karte hain do-alam ko yahi do khud-mast lazzat-e-naghhma-e-mutrib asar-e-jam-e-sharab kya ghhazab hai ki tira honth na chuse 'mail' aur ho tere labon tak guzar-e-jam-e-sharab aaftab aae chamak kar jo sar-e-jam-e-sharab rind samjhen ki hai sadiq sahar-e-jam-e-sharab sab ke hathon pe tha shab-bhar safar-e-jam-e-sharab har khat-e-dast bana rah-guzar-e-jam-e-sharab dukhtar-e-raz pe giren mast patangon ki tarah sham-e-mahfil ho ye lakht-e-jigar-e-jam-e-sharab tham le dast-e-subu aae jo chalne mein lachak khat-e-baghdad ho mu-e-kamar-e-jam-e-sharab tur-e-sina ka guman ho khum-e-mai par sab ko is tarah hosh udao asar-e-jam-e-sharab saghar-e-mai mein nahin partaw-e-khal-e-saqi hai kaf-e-dukhtar-e-raz mein sipar-e-jam-e-sharab khak mai-khane ki ban jati qayamat pis kar har qadam par jo lachakti kamar-e-jam-e-sharab aaj mai-noshon ka majma hai kahan ai saqi kaun si bazm mein hai shor-o-shar-e-jam-e-sharab jitne mai-khwar hain saqi se gale milte hain sahar-e-id bani hai khabar-e-jam-e-sharab shisha-e-mai se uda kag kabutar ki tarah nama pahunchane chala nama-bar-e-jam-e-sharab mauj-e-sahba pe gira sapna-e-mina ud kar hai mere samne tegh-o-sipar-e-jam-e-sharab mai pilata hai agar dhanp le sina saqi tere joban ko lagegi nazar-e-jam-e-sharab aaftab aa ke sikhata hai chalan shab-bhar ka raat ko hota hai aksar guzar-e-jam-e-sharab dast-e-saqi mein rahe dast-e-qadah-kash mein rahe gardan-e-shisha-e-sahba kamar-e-jam-e-sharab mast karte hain do-alam ko yahi do khud-mast lazzat-e-naghma-e-mutrib asar-e-jam-e-sharab kya ghazab hai ki tera honth na chuse 'mail' aur ho tere labon tak guzar-e-jam-e-sharab

sarak kar aa gain zulfen jo in makhmur aankhon tak main ye samjha ki mai-khane pe badli chhai jati hai

mai-kada hai yahan sukun se baith koi aafat idhar nahin aati

dur se aae the saqi sun ke mai-khane ko hum bas taraste hi chale afsos paimane ko hum

mai-khane mein kyun yaad-e-khuda hoti hai aksar masjid mein to zikr-e-mai-o-mina nahin hota

ek aisi bhi tajalli aaj mai-khane mein hai lutf pine mein nahin hai balki kho jaane mein hai

din raat mai-kade mein guzarti thi zindagi 'akhtar' wo be-khudi ke zamane kidhar gae

kabhi to dair-o-haram se tu aaega wapas main mai-kade mein tera intizar kar lunga

koi samjhae ki kya rang hai maikhane ka aankh saqi ki uthe nam ho paimane ka

jab mai-kada chhuta to phir ab kya jagah ki qaid masjid ho madrasa ho koi khanqah ho when the tavern is no more, why bans should elsewhere be? be it mosque, madrasaa or else maybe monastery ghalib suggests that once the old attachment to the tavern (a symbol of desire, habit, or one fixed refuge) is broken, the very idea of being confined by “place” loses meaning. mosque, madrasa, and khanqah stand for formal religion, learning, and mystic practice, yet he treats them as interchangeable locations. the emotional core is a liberated, slightly ironic refusal to let sacred labels dictate where truth or solace must be found.

teri masjid mein waiz khas hain auqat rahmat ke hamare mai-kade mein raat din rahmat barasti hai

ye mai-khana hai bazm-e-jam nahin hai yahan koi kisi se kam nahin hai

pyar hi pyar hai sab log barabar hain yahan mai-kade mein koi chhota na bada jam utha

rind jo zarf utha len wahi saghar ban jae jis jagah baith ke pi len wahi mai-khana bane

mai-khane mein mazar hamara agar bana duniya yahi kahegi ki jannat mein ghar bana

masjid mein bulate hain hamein zahid-e-na-fahm hota kuchh agar hosh to mai-khane na jate

ruh kis mast ki pyasi gai mai-khane se mai udi jati hai saqi tere paimane se the poet wonders how anyone could depart unsatisfied from the wine-house—suggesting an intense, almost spiritual thirst. in the second line, he flatters the saqi: the cup (and the saqi’s charm) is so powerful that wine cannot stay in it, as if it vanishes instantly. wine and tavern stand for pleasure and mystical ecstasy, while thirst points to an unending desire that no amount can fully quench.