For those who have joined now, let me say few words about this Ghalib series. 

Ghalib, his Ghazals, his poems, his genius, and his wits have always fascinated millions of Urdu lovers including myself. Those who want to read my previous work please Ctrl + click  or copy and paste in internet address window, the following link: http://www.mirza-ghalib.org or, if you choose, you may send me an email request; I will email back my previous explanations just for asking.  

This is my 23rd installment.  I have received excellent response from lot of friends; both Urdu and non-Urdu speakers. Please know that this is my own, Asghar Vasanwala’s, work and not a forwarding of someone else’s work as some you thought. Please forward this to your friends. Also please send me your comments/complements. I will appreciate if you forward me emails of your Urdu/non-Urdu friends. 

Here is today’s verse (she'r) & its explanation in Urdu, Gujarati, and English

Shumar-e-sub’h,  marghub-e-bu’t-e-mushkil-pasand, aaya   She, my problem seeking goddess (bu’t), likes to                                                                                             grab/squeeze 100-bead rosary just in one fist.                   Tamasha-e-ba   yak  kaf bu’rdan-e-sad  dil  pasand  aaya     This way she demonstrates how she squeezes 100 hearts just  '                                                                                            in one sweep                                                     Shumar=count      sub’h=a rosary used by Muslims (worry beads)      marghub= fond of, to like     but=idol, diva mushkil pasand=problem seeking (person)         tamasha= a drama, a play         ba=with         yak=one  cuf=palm, cuff        bu’rdan=to carry, to grab       sad dil=100 hearts        pasand aaya= liked, admired 

This is the 1st verse of Ghalib’s 8^th ghazal. Being first verse of a ghazal it is called “Matl’a” and its both lines rhyme.  This ghazal is not popular at street level yet it embodies interesting subjects and amazing meanings.

Meaning: Many times Urdu poets address their beloved as “Bu’t” (idol, goddess or diva). There are many reasons for this. 1. Idols are beautiful and heart robbing like those in Ajanta caves.  2. Many idols are profusely decorated with beautiful make-up, clothing, and ornaments. 3. A goddess has many devotees. 4. A devotee’s life runs at the will of an idol and the true devotee is ever ready to please her. 4. In Islam idol worshipping is prohibited or “Haram”. By praising, glorifying, and worshipping an idol, a poet declares his rebellion against religious edicts and wants to prove that he is free from all social and religious constrains.    

In this verse Ghalib has come up with a new imagination! The scene is that Ghalib’s beloved is holding a Sub’h (a rosary) of 100 beads in her one fist. Ghalib says that my sweetheart loves crooked and difficult tasks. For a goddess (a bu’t) to hold a Sub’h (rosary), an Islamic symbol, is an anathema; it is an impossible and unusual task. He also thinks that there is a message behind her this gesture. She wants to impresses upon her lovers that the way she squeezes 100 beads in her fist, she also can squeeze 100 hearts just in one sweep; a yet another difficult task in it self. Ghalib then concludes that my beloved (bu’t) is fond of difficult games! 

Please appreciate the unique use of Radif (the rhyming end). In first line he uses   … mushkil-pasand aaya

and in the second line he uses ‘pasand’ as an independent word : pasand aaya

Again, marghub= to like,    mushkil-pasand= difficulty liking, and   pasand = to like.  Ghalib has used word pasand in three different forms, in this first verse (Matl’a). We must say Subhan Allah (Glory to Allah)