Date: Tue, 16 Jul 96 14:17:00 PDT
From: Ramesh Hariharan (rameshh@tp.ac.sg)
Subject: Ghalib: GHair leiN mehfil meiN...

Hi

Another ghazal from you-know-who-else-but Ghalib!

1. GHair leiN mehfil meiN bose jaam ke
ham rahaiN yooN tishna_lab paiGHaam ke

[The kiss of drinks surround me in the gathering/durbaar
I however, remain thirsty for some news]

2. KHat likhenge garche matlab kuchch na ho
ham to aashiq haiN tumhaare naam ke

[I will write letters, even though there might be no meaning in it
I am a lover of your name(i love you to that extent)]

3. dil ko aaNkhoN ne fasaaya kya magar
ye bhee halqe haiN tumhaare daam ke

[My heart may have been fooled by your eyes
But even this is a trap laid by the rings(around your eyes, as after crying a lot)]

Here, Ghalib's beloved is getting work(obviously related to their love) out
of him, by crying, which in turn forms rings/circles around her eyes. Seeing
this Ghalib's heart melts and he gets trapped.

4. ishq ne 'GHalib' nikamma kar diya
warna ham bhee aadmee the; kaam ke

[Love has made me useless/wasteful/idiotic 'Ghalib'
Otherwise even I was once a useful man]

This sher is so famous, and used in so many songs and in varied versions. Wah, Ghalib!

Dictionary : bosa = kiss; tishna = thirsty; halqa = ring/circle; daam = net/trap