kahun jo haal to kahte ho muddaa kahiye
kahūñ jo haal to kahte ho mudda.ā kahiye
tumhīñ kaho ki jo tum yuuñ kaho to kyā kahiye
when I narrate my sorry state, you ask what do you seek?
if in this vein you talk to me, how can I ever speak
na kahiyo ta.an se phir tum ki ham sitamgar haiñ
mujhe to ḳhū hai ki jo kuchh kaho bajā kahiye
this, proudly you should never say, I am a tyrant, true
As I am in the habit of always agreeing with you
vo neshtar sahī par dil meñ jab utar jaave
nigāh-e-nāz ko phir kyuuñ na āshnā kahiye
though dagger it may surely be, does to my heart attend
why should I then not call her glance, a confidant and friend
nahīñ zarīya-e-rāhat jarāhat-e-paikāñ
vo zaḳhm-e-teġh hai jis ko ki dil-kushā kahiye
incision of her arrow causes comfort nor release
it is the wound caused by her sword, which does my heart appease
jo mudda.ī bane us ke na mudda.ī baniye
jo nā-sazā kahe us ko na nā-sazā kahiye
he who with you bears enmity, be not his enemy
to him who speaks abusively, speak not abusively
kahīñ haqīqat-e-jāñ-kāhī-e-maraz likhiye
kahīñ musībat-e-nā-sāzī-e-davā kahiye
places you write the truth about ailment's fatality
and places then you talk about the cure's infirmity
kabhī shikāyat-e-ranj-e-girāñ-nashīñ kiije
kabhī hikāyat-e-sabr-e-gurez-pā kahiye
times you complain of sorrow that just will not go away
and times you tell the story that, your patience will not stay
rahe na jaan to qātil ko ḳhūñ-bahā diije
kaTe zabān to ḳhanjar ko marhabā kahiye
blood money to the murderer, pay, if you lose your life
and if your tongue be severerd then, say thank you to the knife
nahīñ nigār ko ulfat na ho nigār to hai
ravānī-e-ravish o mastī-e-adā kahiye
if my beloved loves me not, beloved still will be
still will remain her flowing gait, and heady coquetry
nahīñ bahār ko fursat na ho bahār to hai
tarāvat-e-chaman o ḳhūbī-e-havā kahiye
let spring not have time to abide, at least it did appear
talk of the garden's verdancy and breeze that blows now here
safīna jab ki kināre pe aa lagā 'ġhālib'
ḳhudā se kyā sitam-o-jaur-e-nā-ḳhudā kahiye
when safety of the shore, your vessel managed to attain
why then, to God, of the pilot's tyranny and force complain
kahun jo haal to kahte ho muddaa kahiye
tumhin kaho ki jo tum yun kaho to kya kahiye
when I narrate my sorry state, you ask what do you seek?
if in this vein you talk to me, how can I ever speak
na kahiyo tan se phir tum ki hum sitamgar hain
mujhe to KHu hai ki jo kuchh kaho baja kahiye
this, proudly you should never say, I am a tyrant, true
As I am in the habit of always agreeing with you
wo neshtar sahi par dil mein jab utar jawe
nigah-e-naz ko phir kyun na aashna kahiye
though dagger it may surely be, does to my heart attend
why should I then not call her glance, a confidant and friend
nahin zariya-e-rahat jarahat-e-paikan
wo zaKHm-e-tegh hai jis ko ki dil-kusha kahiye
incision of her arrow causes comfort nor release
it is the wound caused by her sword, which does my heart appease
jo muddai bane us ke na muddai baniye
jo na-saza kahe us ko na na-saza kahiye
he who with you bears enmity, be not his enemy
to him who speaks abusively, speak not abusively
kahin haqiqat-e-jaan-kahi-e-maraz likhiye
kahin musibat-e-na-sazi-e-dawa kahiye
places you write the truth about ailment's fatality
and places then you talk about the cure's infirmity
kabhi shikayat-e-ranj-e-giran-nashin kije
kabhi hikayat-e-sabr-e-gurez-pa kahiye
times you complain of sorrow that just will not go away
and times you tell the story that, your patience will not stay
rahe na jaan to qatil ko KHun-baha dije
kaTe zaban to KHanjar ko marhaba kahiye
blood money to the murderer, pay, if you lose your life
and if your tongue be severerd then, say thank you to the knife
nahin nigar ko ulfat na ho nigar to hai
rawani-e-rawish o masti-e-ada kahiye
if my beloved loves me not, beloved still will be
still will remain her flowing gait, and heady coquetry
nahin bahaar ko fursat na ho bahaar to hai
tarawat-e-chaman o KHubi-e-hawa kahiye
let spring not have time to abide, at least it did appear
talk of the garden's verdancy and breeze that blows now here
safina jab ki kinare pe aa laga 'ghaalib'
KHuda se kya sitam-o-jaur-e-na-KHuda kahiye
when safety of the shore, your vessel managed to attain
why then, to God, of the pilot's tyranny and force complain
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