दर्द मिन्नत-कश-ए-दवा न हुआ
मैं न अच्छा हुआ बुरा न हुआ

my pain did not seek favors from any opiate
i don't mind the fact that i did not recuperate

जम्अ' करते हो क्यूँ रक़ीबों को
इक तमाशा हुआ गिला न हुआ

you collect my enemies, why in this manner? pray
a spectacle this is and not the way to remonstrate

हम कहाँ क़िस्मत आज़माने जाएँ
तू ही जब ख़ंजर-आज़मा न हुआ

even you refuse to test the sharpness of the blade
say where else do i then go, now for to test my fate

कितने शीरीं हैं तेरे लब कि रक़ीब
गालियाँ खा के बे-मज़ा न हुआ

how sweet are your honeyed lips, that even though my foe
was abused by you, is not, in an unhappy state

है ख़बर गर्म उन के आने की
आज ही घर में बोरिया न हुआ

the news of her arrival, i hear at such a time
when my home is to be found unfurnished, desolate

क्या वो नमरूद की ख़ुदाई थी
बंदगी में मिरा भला न हुआ

what divinity was it that nimrod once proclaimed?
worship was no use to me, it did not compensate

जान दी दी हुई उसी की थी
हक़ तो यूँ है कि हक़ अदा न हुआ

though i gave my life for him, 'twas his in any case
to speak the truth i couldn't repay my dues to him to date

ज़ख़्म गर दब गया लहू न थमा
काम गर रुक गया रवा न हुआ

if a wound is smothered then, blood's flow will not be stemmed
if a task is stopped half-way, it does not consummate

रहज़नी है कि दिल-सितानी है
ले के दिल दिल-सिताँ रवाना हुआ

this is highway robbery this stealing of my heart
takes my heart and flees forthwith she doen't even wait

कुछ तो पढ़िए कि लोग कहते हैं
आज 'ग़ालिब' ग़ज़ल-सरा न हुआ

do render a recitation, people start to say
why is ghalib silent pray why does he not orate