Classical · 1797–1869 · Agra – Delhi
Mirza Asadullah Baig Khan, known by his pen name Ghalib, is widely regarded as the greatest poet of the Urdu language. Born in Agra, he spent most of his life in Delhi, writing in both Urdu and Persian. His ghazals, marked by philosophical depth and a restless wit, transformed the form and continue to be sung and read across the subcontinent.
kashaakash ha hasti se kare kya sai aazaadi
hui zanjeer mauj aab ko fursat rawaani ki
nashsha ha shaadaab rang w saaz ha mast tarab
sheesha-e mai sarw sabz joybaar naghma hai
wafa dalabran hai ittifaaqui warna ai hamdam
asar fariyaad dil ha hazin ka kis ne dekha hai
b sakhti ha quaid zindagi maaloom aazaadi
sharar bhi said daam rishta-e rag ha khaara hai
tasawwur bahar taskeen tapeedan ha tifl dil
b baagh rang ha rafta gul chain tamaasha hai
baja hai gar na sune naala haaye bulbul zaar
ki gosh gul nam shabnam se panba aagin hai
wadeeat khana-e bedaad kaawish ha mizgan hoon
nageen naam shaahid hai mire har quatra-e khoon tan mein
asdaؔ zindaani taaseer ulfat ha khooban hoon
kham dast nawaazish ho gaya hai tauque gardan mein
junoon garm intizaar w naala betaabi kamand aaya
suwaida ta balab zanjeeri dood sipand aaya
faza khanda-e gul tang w zauque aish be parwa
faraaghat gaah aaghosh wada dil pasand aaya
adam hai khair khwaah jalwa ko zindaan betaabi
khiraam naaz barque khirman sai sipand aaya
tab hai mushtaaque lazzat ha hasrat kya karoon
aarzoo se hai shikast aarzoo matlab mujhe
hai sareer khaama rezish ha istiqubaal naaz
naama khud paighaam ko baal w par parwaaz hai
wan rang ha b parda-e tadbeer hain hunooz
yan shola-e charaagh hai barg hina mujhe
parwaaz ha niyaaz tamaasha husn dost
baal kushaada hai nigah-e aashna mujhe
nazaara deegar w dil khoonin nafas digar
aaeena dekh jauhar barg hina na maang
ai adoye maslahat chand b zabt afsurda rah
karadni hai jama taab shokhi deedaar dost
laghzish mastaana w josh tamaasha hai asdaؔ
aatish mai se bahaar garmi bazaar dost
husn afsurda dili ha rangin
shauque ko pa b hina baandhate hain
keeje bayan suroor tap gham kahan talak
har moo mire badan pe zabaan sipaas hai