Me, and return thirsty from the wine party like this?
If I had repented, what had happened to the cup-bearer?
There is one arrow in which both are pierced.
Those days are gone when my heart was separate from its liver.
O Ghalib, if something can be done in helplessness, then I'd know.
When the string was unknotted, the nail was a knot-opener.
These couplets by Mirza Ghalib eloquently portray his characteristic blend of philosophical inquiry and self-reflection. Using the metaphorical language of the tavern and divine intoxication, Ghalib questions the nature of vows and divine will, hinting at a deeper spiritual yearning. He then explores the inseparable pain and unity in love, where both lover and beloved are pierced by the same arrow, transcending the past separation of heart and liver. The final couplet laments a profound state of helplessness, contrasting it with a time when personal effort could untie life's knots, showcasing Ghalib's poignant contemplation of human agency and destiny.
love & longing (ishq, judāī) · the world's unfairness (shikwa) · faith & the divine