Sher on Sadgi

Oh God, who would not sacrifice their life for such innocence?

They are fighting with me, yet they do not even hold a sword in their hand.

The poet marvels at the beloved's paradoxical nature, where they engage in a conflict or claim to be a slayer without wielding any physical weapon. Ghalib implies that the beloved's beauty and glances are far more lethal than any sword, yet the beloved innocently believes they are 'fighting' unarmed. It highlights the deadly charm of such naivety, where the lover is defeated not by force, but by the beloved's simple, unarmed presence.

Oh God, who would not sacrifice their life for such innocence?

They are fighting with me, yet they do not even hold a sword in their hand.

The poet marvels at the beloved's paradoxical nature, where they engage in a conflict or claim to be a slayer without wielding any physical weapon. Ghalib implies that the beloved's beauty and glances are far more lethal than any sword, yet the beloved innocently believes they are 'fighting' unarmed. It highlights the deadly charm of such naivety, where the lover is defeated not by force, but by the beloved's simple, unarmed presence.

We are holding onto the hope of faithfulness from them,

Those who do not even understand what faithfulness means.

The poet mocks his own naivety in expecting loyalty from a beloved who is completely oblivious to the concept. It highlights a tragic irony where the lover's intense expectations are directed at someone incapable of fulfilling them, either due to innocence or cruel indifference.

We are holding onto the hope of faithfulness from them,

Those who do not even understand what faithfulness means.

The poet mocks his own naivety in expecting loyalty from a beloved who is completely oblivious to the concept. It highlights a tragic irony where the lover's intense expectations are directed at someone incapable of fulfilling them, either due to innocence or cruel indifference.

I want to reach the very limit of your love.

See my innocence—what an impossible thing I am asking for.

The speaker’s desire is absolute: not a portion of love, but its final height. In the second line he recognizes, with a tender irony, how naïve and audacious this wish is. “Intihā” becomes a metaphor for total union or complete fulfillment, while “sādgi” admits human limitation. The emotion is a mix of longing, devotion, and self-aware humility.

I want to reach the very limit of your love.

See my innocence—what an impossible thing I am asking for.

The speaker’s desire is absolute: not a portion of love, but its final height. In the second line he recognizes, with a tender irony, how naïve and audacious this wish is. “Intihā” becomes a metaphor for total union or complete fulfillment, while “sādgi” admits human limitation. The emotion is a mix of longing, devotion, and self-aware humility.