Mirza Ghalib
Fikar-e- Insan Per Teri Hasti Se Ye Roshan Huwa
Hai Per-e-Muragh-e-Takhayul Ki Rasayi Ta Kuja
Through you the secret was revealed to the human intellect
That innumerable enigmas are solved by human intellect
Tha Sarapa Rooh Tu, Bazm-e- Sukhan Pekar Tera
Zaib-E-Mehfil Bhi Raha, Mehfil Se Pinhan Bhi Raha
You were the complete soul, literary assembly was your body
You adorned as well as remained veiled from the assembly
Deed Teri Aankh Ko Uss Husn Ki Manzoor Hai
Ban Ke Souz e-Zindagi Her Shay Mein Jo Mastoor Hai
Your eye is longing to witness that veiled Beauty
Which is veiled in everything as the pathos of life
Mehfil-e-Hasti Teri Barbat Se Hai Sarmayadar
Jis Tarah Naddi Ke Naghmon Se Sakoot-E-Kohsar
The assemblage of existence is rich with your harp
As mountain’s silence by the brook’s melodious harp
Tere Ferdous-e-Takhayul Se Hai Qudrat Ki Bahar
Teri Kisht-e-Fikar Se Ugte Hain Aalam Sabza War
The garden of your imagination bestows glory on the universe
From the field of your thought worlds grow like meadows
Zindagi Muzmer Hai Teri Shaukhi-e-Tehreer Mein
Tab-E-Goyai Se Junbish Hai Lab-e-Tasveer Mein
Life is concealed in the humour of your verse
Picture’s lips move with your command of language
Nutaq Ko So Naz Hain Tere Lab-e-Ejaz Per
Mehv-e-Hairat Hai Surayya Rifat-e- Parwaz Per
Speech is very proud of the elegance of your miraculous lips
Thurayyah is astonished at your style’s elegance
Shahid-e-Mazmoon Tassaduq Hai Tere Andaz Per
Khandazan Hai Guncha-e-Dilli Gul-e-Shiraz Per
Beloved of literature itself loves your style
Delhi’s bud is mocking at the rose of Shiraz
Aah! Tu Ujhari Huwi Dilli Mein Aaramida Hai
Gulshan-e-Weimar* Mein Tera Humnawa Khawabida Hai
Ah! You are resting in the midst of Delhi’s ruins
Your counterpart is resting in the Weimar’s garden
Lutaf-e-Goyai Mein Teri Humsari Mumkin Nahin
Ho Takhayyul Ka Na Jab Tak Fikar-e-Kamil Hum Nasheen
Matching you in literary elegance is not possible
Till maturity of thought and imagination are combined
Haye! Ab Kya Ho Gyi Hindustan Ki Ser Zameen
Ah! Ae Nazara Aamoz-e-Nigah-e-Nukta Been
Ah! What has befallen the land of India!
Ah! The inspirer of the super‐critical eye!
Gaisuay Urdu Abhi Mannat Pazeer-e-Shana Hai
Shama Ye Sodai-e-Dilsozi-e-Perwana Hai
The lock of Urdu’s hair still craves for combing
This candle still craves for moth’s heart‐felt pathos
Ae Jahan Abad! Ae Gehwara-e-Ilam-o-Hunar
Hain Sarapa Nala-e-Khamosh Tere Baam-o-Der
O Jahanabad! O cradle of learning and art
Your entire super‐structure is a silent lament
Zarre Zarre Mein Tere Khabidah Hein Shamas-o-Qamar
Yun To Poshida Hain Teri Khak Mein Lakhon Gohar
The sun and the moon are asleep in every speck of your dust
Though innumerable other gems are also hidden in your dust
Dafan Tujh Mein Koi Fakhar-e-Rozgar Aesa Bhi Hai?
Tujh Mein Pinhan Koi Moti Aab Dar Aesa Bhi Hai?
Does another world‐famous person like him also lie buried in you?
Does another gem like him also lie concealed in you?