Sher on Besabati
If all manifestations
are transitory, all that is physical must also be the same. The philosophy of transience has caught the attention of philosophers and poets in all generations, and in all languages. As it reflects upon human life also, we have made a selection for you to show how the Urdu poets have reflected upon the philosophy of permanence and transience.
le saañs bhī āhista ki nāzuk hai bahut kaam
āfāq kī is kārgah-e-shīshagarī kā
breathe here softly as with fragility here all is fraught
in this workshop of the world where wares of glass are wrought
Even breathe softly, because the matter is extremely delicate.
This whole universe is like a glassmaker’s workshop, where everything can crack.
Meer Taqi Meer portrays the world as a fragile glass workshop: a place of beauty, but easily shattered. The advice to “breathe softly” is a metaphor for living with extreme care, because a small disturbance can cause harm. The couplet carries a quiet awe and anxiety—existence is precious, yet breakable. It urges mindfulness in speech, action, and desire within a delicate cosmos.
le sans bhi aahista ki nazuk hai bahut kaam
aafaq ki is kargah-e-shishagari ka
breathe here softly as with fragility here all is fraught
in this workshop of the world where wares of glass are wrought
Even breathe softly, because the matter is extremely delicate.
This whole universe is like a glassmaker’s workshop, where everything can crack.
Meer Taqi Meer portrays the world as a fragile glass workshop: a place of beauty, but easily shattered. The advice to “breathe softly” is a metaphor for living with extreme care, because a small disturbance can cause harm. The couplet carries a quiet awe and anxiety—existence is precious, yet breakable. It urges mindfulness in speech, action, and desire within a delicate cosmos.
duniyā jise kahte haiñ jaadū kā khilaunā hai
mil jaa.e to miTTī hai kho jaa.e to sonā hai
duniya jise kahte hain jadu ka khilauna hai
mil jae to miTTi hai kho jae to sona hai
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Tag : Duniya
kahā maiñ ne kitnā hai gul kā sabāt
kalī ne ye sun kar tabassum kiyā
I said: how little permanence a rose has, how quickly it fades.
On hearing this, the bud smiled softly.
The speaker reflects on the fleeting life of the rose as a symbol of beauty and existence. The bud’s smile carries gentle irony: it already knows this truth and still chooses to bloom. The couplet suggests quiet acceptance of impermanence, and a tender courage to live despite inevitable fading.
kaha main ne kitna hai gul ka sabaat
kali ne ye sun kar tabassum kiya
I said: how little permanence a rose has, how quickly it fades.
On hearing this, the bud smiled softly.
The speaker reflects on the fleeting life of the rose as a symbol of beauty and existence. The bud’s smile carries gentle irony: it already knows this truth and still chooses to bloom. The couplet suggests quiet acceptance of impermanence, and a tender courage to live despite inevitable fading.
duniyā hai ḳhvāb hāsil-e-duniyā ḳhayāl hai
insān ḳhvāb dekh rahā hai ḳhayāl meñ
duniya hai KHwab hasil-e-duniya KHayal hai
insan KHwab dekh raha hai KHayal mein
suntā huuñ baḌe ġhaur se afsāna-e-hastī
kuchh ḳhvāb hai kuchh asl hai kuchh tarz-e-adā hai
sunta hun baDe ghaur se afsana-e-hasti
kuchh KHwab hai kuchh asl hai kuchh tarz-e-ada hai
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Tag : Zindagi
be-sabātī chaman-e-dahr kī hai jin pe khulī
havas-e-rañg na vo ḳhvāhish-e-bū karte haiñ
be-sabaati chaman-e-dahr ki hai jin pe khuli
hawas-e-rang na wo KHwahish-e-bu karte hain
be-sabātī zamāne kī nā-chār
karnī mujh ko bayān paḌtī hai
be-sabaati zamane ki na-chaar
karni mujh ko bayan paDti hai
ab jaan jism-e-ḳhākī se tañg aa ga.ī bahut
kab tak is ek Tokarī miTTī ko Dhoiye
My soul has become very fed up with this earthly body.
How long must I keep carrying this basketful of dust?
The couplet contrasts soul and body: the “earthy body” is felt as heavy, limiting, and worn-out. Calling the body a “basket of soil” reduces it to mere matter, stressing its fragility and eventual return to dust. The speaker’s exhaustion hints at a longing for release from bodily burdens—an intimate meditation on mortality and detachment.
ab jaan jism-e-KHaki se tang aa gai bahut
kab tak is ek Tokari miTTi ko Dhoiye
My soul has become very fed up with this earthly body.
How long must I keep carrying this basketful of dust?
The couplet contrasts soul and body: the “earthy body” is felt as heavy, limiting, and worn-out. Calling the body a “basket of soil” reduces it to mere matter, stressing its fragility and eventual return to dust. The speaker’s exhaustion hints at a longing for release from bodily burdens—an intimate meditation on mortality and detachment.
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Tags : Jismand 1 more
pal meñ manush hai raam pujārī pal meñ chelā rāvan kā
paap aur pun ke biich kā dhāgā dekho kitnā kachchā hai
pal mein manush hai ram pujari pal mein chela rawan ka
pap aur pun ke bich ka dhaga dekho kitna kachcha hai
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Tag : Gunah
