Lyrics & Meaning
💡 Meaning & story
Composed by Mohammad Farooq
written by Arif Dehlvi 1817 – 1852
This ghazal by Arif Dehlvi is a beautiful reflection of human experiences, the transience of the world, and spiritual maturity. Where it strikes at social behaviors, it also imparts lessons of trust in God. Let us examine this ghazal in detail and understand the meanings of difficult words:
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1. First Couplet
Those who reached the desired destination emerged strong; those who faltered on your path emerged weak.
• Difficult words:
o Destination of desire: the place one wishes to reach.
o Emerged strong: those of resolute will, steadfast.
o Emerged weak: those of feeble resolve, immature.
• Explanation: The poet says that whether it is love or any purpose in life, success comes only to those of firm resolve. Those who retreated in fear of the hardships of the path were weak in their determination. The destination welcomes only the steadfast.
2. Second Couplet
Seeing me, enemies burst forth from the gathering; those I thought were sweet to me turned bitter when they left.
• Difficult words:
o Enemies: foes.
o Gathering: assembly.
o Burst forth: to leave in anger or suddenly depart.
• Explanation: This couplet speaks of human hypocrisy. The poet says those whom I considered my sympathizers with sweet words—when I reached the gathering or hard times came, their masks fell away. They proved to be my enemies, and seeing me, the venom of their hearts was laid bare.
3. Third Couplet
Now I too am trapped in the crowd of worldly sorrows; I too shall escape, but only if someone ahead makes room and moves forward.
• Difficult words:
o Sorrow of the world: worldly anxieties, concerns of livelihood.
o Makes room and moves forward: steps aside, progresses.
• Explanation: This speaks of the rush of life and the crowd of worldly problems. The poet says I too am caught in this throng, but the way out comes only when the one ahead makes space. This is a depiction of life's stagnation and humanity standing in queue.
4. Fourth Couplet
The boatman had trapped my boat in a whirlpool, but when I called upon God, how could I not escape?
• Difficult words:
o Boatman: the one steering the boat, metaphorically worldly supports.
o Whirlpool: the swirl of water where the boat risks drowning.
• Explanation: This is an exquisite couplet on trust in God. The poet says the boatman I relied upon had put my life's boat in danger, but as soon as I abandoned worldly supports and called upon God, my sinking boat was saved and I emerged safely.
5. Fifth Couplet
This I received as reward for my wandering through deserts; after long silence, thorns emerged from my feet.
• Difficult words:
o Desert wandering: wandering in deserts, roaming (in search of love).
o Reward: recompense, prize.
• Explanation: The poet says I tread the dust of deserts in love and frenzy; now I feel the pain of it. When I finally rested, I realized how many thorns were lodged in my feet. This alludes to the fact that when one is journeying, one doesn't feel the wounds; pain awakens when rest comes.
6. Sixth Couplet
Those lovers who emerge from the idol temple then depart to somewhere far, to another path.
• Difficult words:
o Idol temple: a temple, metaphorically the street of worldly beloved.
• Explanation: This couplet alludes to the transition from metaphorical love to divine love. Those who pass through the initial stages of love (the idol temple) and emerge, they do not get trapped in worldly attraction; instead, they depart to a lofty destination (towards God) where ordinary people cannot reach.
7. Seventh Couplet
They repent while drinking; simultaneously the wine-drinker and the tavern-keeper emerge from intoxication's expertise.
• Difficult words:
o Wine-drinker: one who drinks wine.
o Simultaneously: at once, together.
o Expertise: skilled, practiced, or excessive scoundrels.
• Explanation: The poet describes human weakness—the drunkard both sins and repents. They have become such addicts of the tavern that regret and transgression proceed together.
8. Eighth Couplet
Those who were ahead of all yesterday, due to change of times, today emerged last in every race of the world.
• Difficult words:
o Change of times: transformation, reversal of fortune.
• Explanation: This couplet reveals time's ruthlessness. Those who were foremost yesterday in power, fame, or success—time has turned so completely that today they lag behind everyone. The change of times leaves no one in the same state.
9. Closing Couplet (Final Verse)
The fault was Aref's in discernment—this was the truth: whoever I saw as genuine turned out counterfeit when tested.
• Difficult words:
o Fault: defect, flaw.
o Discernment: the ability to recognize.
o Genuine: authentic, truthful people.
o Counterfeit: fake, unfaithful.
• Explanation: Arif Dehlvi addresses himself, saying this was my error in judgment or perhaps this is how the world is? Those I thought genuine, sincere, and of true worth—when the test came, they all proved false and unfaithful.
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Brief Summary: This ghazal is a complete lesson on the changing colors of the world, the infidelity of loved ones, the maturity of resolve, and ultimately, trust in God's being.