Ghalib Ghazals

Mirza Ghalib as a Person

1. jis bazm meiN too naaz se guftaar meiN aave
jaaN kaalbud-e-soorat-e-deewaar meiN aave

[ naaz = blandishment/pride/grace, guftaar = speech/discourse,
kaalbud = the body/form/model ]

2. saaye kee tarah saath firaiN, sarv-o-sanobar
too iss qad-e-dilkash se jo gulzaar meiN aave

[ sarv-o-sanobar = pine & cypress, qad = stature/size/figure,
gulzaar = bed of roses/garden ]

3. tay naaz-e-giraaN_maaygi-e-ashq baja hai
jab laKHt-e-jigar deeda-e-KHooNbaar meiN aave

[ tay = decided/ended, giraaN = precious, giraaN_maaya = of great
value, ashq = tears, baja = right/correct, laKHt = piece/fragment,
deeda = sight, KHooNbaar = shedding blood ]

4. de mujhko shikaayat kee ijaazat ki sitamgar
kuchch tujhko maza bhee mere aazaar meiN aave

[ sitamgar = oppressor, aazaar = illness/harm ]

5. uss chashm-e-fusooN_gar ka agar paaye ishaara
tootee kee tarah aaeena guftaar meiN aave

[ chashm = eye, fusooN_gar = magician, tootee = bird (could be
a parrot), guftaar = speech ]

6. kaatoN kee zabaaN sookh gayee pyaas se, yaarab !
ik aablaa_paa waadee-e-pur_KHaar meiN aave

[ aablaa = blister, aablaa_paa = having blisters on the feet,
waadee = valley, pur_KHaar = full of thorns (KHaar = thorn) ]

7. mar jaaooN na kyoN rashk se jab woh tan-e-naazuk
aaGHosh-e-KHaam-e-halqa-e-zunnaar meiN aave

[ rashk = jeaously, tan-e-naazuk = having delicate body,
aaGHosh = embrace/bosom, KHaam = raw/unripe/crude, halqa = circle,
zunnaar = the sacred thread worn by hindus ]

8. GHaarat_gar-e-naamoos na ho gar hawas-e-zar
kyoN shaahid-e-gul baaGH se baazaar meiN aave

[ GHaarat = plunder/ravage, naamoos = reputation/honour,
zar = money/wealth, shaahid = sweetheart ]

9. tab chaak-e-girebaaN ka maza hai, dil-e-naadaaN
jab ik nafas uljha huaa har taar meiN aave

[ chaak = torn, girebaaN = collar, nafas = breath ]

10. aatish_kada hai seena mera raaz-e-nihaaN se
de waaye ! agar maa'ariz-e-izhaar meiN aave

[ raaz-e-nihaan = hidden secrets, maa'ariz = boundary ]

11. gaNjeena-e-maa'anee ka talism usko samajhiye
jo lafz ki 'GHalib' mere ash'aar meiN aave

[ gaNjeena = treasure, maa'anee = meaning, talism = magic,
ash'aar = couplets ]