Mirza Ghalib’s verses

translated from Urdu by ASGHAR VASANWALA

Meri qismat meiN Gham gar itna tha dil bhi ya-rab! kaee diye hote

When so much anguish was my fate, Oh Allah! You should have given me multiple hearts (to bear them)

Juz nam nahiN surat-e-aalam mujhe manzoor juz veham nahiN hasti-e-ashiya mere aage

World to me is just in name     Being of things to me is only an illusion.

Kya voh Nimrod ki khudaee thi? Bandagi meiN mera bhala na hua!

Was there Nimrod (False God) in his place (Of Allah), my prayers were never answered