Explanation of Urdu Poet Ghalib's verses 52nd installment.doc; verses 4

For those who have joined now, let me say few words about this Ghalib series.

Ghalib, his Ghazals, his poems, his genius, and his wits have always fascinated millions of Urdu lovers including myself. Those who want to read my previous work please send me an email request; I will email back my previous explanations just for asking.

This is my 52^nd installment. I have received excellent response from many friends, both Urdu and non-Urdu speakers. Please know that this is my own, Asghar Vasanwala’s, work and not a forwarding of someone else’s work as some of you might have thought. Please forward this to your friends. Also, please send me your comments/complements. I will appreciate if you forward me email addresses of your Urdu/non-Urdu friends.

Here is today’s verse (She’r) & its explanation in Urdu, Gujarati, and English

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These are the 4^th & 5^th verses of Ghalib’s 16^th Ghazal.

Verse 4

Kuchh na ki, apne junun-e-na-rasa ne, varna yaaN

My short falling love craze deprived me, otherwise here on this earth,

Zarra zarra, rookaksh-e-khursheed-e-aalam tab tha

Every particle dares the world-shining mighty sun

Kuch na ki = didn’t do any thing, kept deprived Junun-e-na-rasa = love craze that fell short in reaching the target

Zarra Zarra= every particle Rookash = Daring, Challenging Khursheed=Sun Aalam taab=world shining

Verse 2

Aaj kyoN parva nahiN, apne aseeroN ki tujhe?

Why you do not care for your love-captives, anymore?

Kal talak, tera bhi dil, mehr-o-vafa ka baab tha

Until yesterday, your heart was a fountain of care and loyalty

parva = care Aseer=captive

Mehr = kindness, vafa=loyalty baab=chapter, door, mother fountain

Meaning: In the following verses, Ghalib complains about his under reaching love and about his beloved’s indifferent attitude.

Verse 4:- In this verse, Ghalib laments his failed love. He says my short falling love kept me from success. My short falling love craze earned me a defeat. Otherwise, in this world, a tiny valueless particle dares the world shining mighty sun. In other words because my love fell short on its target, I became inferior to even a tiny particle. Had my love succeeded or even if I had perished in love and became dust, every particle of my dust would have dared the world shining mighty sun.

Every particle has capacity to become a sun. Every particle has an urge becoming a sun. Anyone pursuing single-mindedly can become God. However, a weak person cannot achieve this stage. Upanishad mentions that a weak person cannot see his soul.

Verse 5: In this verse, Ghalib talks about the changed attitude of his beloved. He says I do not understand what has happened to you. We, who are captive and bound in love, you do not care for them, anymore. Before, you were not like this. In past, your heart was also was gushing with love and loyalty and you took good care of your captive lovers.

When our own, for whom we forfeit our souls and hearts, keep away from us and become indifferent, this verse comes to our mind.

Salam,

Asghar Vasanwala

asgharf@att.net

March 26, 2009

(714) 777-6675

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