Bazeecha-e-itfal hai duniya meray aageHota hai shab-o-roz tamasha meray aage

The world is a children�s playground before meNight and Day, this theatre is enacted before me

Ek khel hai aurang-e-Suleman meray nazdeekEk baat hai aijaz-e-Masiha meray aage

For me the flying throne of Solomon is a gameAnd only talk, the miracles of Christ before me

Juz naam nahin surat-e-aalam mujhe manzoorJuz waham nahin hasti-e-ashia meray aage

I acknowledge the face of the universe as only a nameThe substance of reality is but superstition before me

Hota hai nihan gard mein sahra meray hoteGhista hai jabeen khaak pe dariya meray aage

Next to me, the wilderness is shamed into hiding in dustThe servile river grovels in the dust before me

Mat pooch ke kya haal hai mera teray peecheyTu dekh ke kya rang gait era meray aage

Do not ask what my condition is without youJust look at your own comportment before me

Sach kahte ho khud bin-o-khud aara hoon, na kyun hoonBaitha hai but-e-aaina seema meray aage

True, I appear consumed by the niceties of adornment, but of courseAn idol mirrors my reflection before me

Phir dekhiye andaaz-e-gul afshaani-e-guftaarRakh de koi paimana-o-sahba meray aage

Then witness the blossoming manner of speechJust place a decanter of wine before me

Nafrat ke gumaan guzre hai main rashk se guzraKyunkar kahoon lo naam na unka meray aage

I was presumed hostile where I am merely jealousWhy should I say do not take that name before me

Imaan mujhe roke hai jo kheenche hai mujhe kufrKaaba mere peechhe hai kalisa meray aage

Faith retards me, where idols lure meKaaba is behind me, the church is before me

Aashiq hoon pah mashooq farebi hai miraa kaamMajnun ko bura kahti hai Laila meray aage

I desire, my craft is to seduce the desiredThe beloved Laila insults the lover Majnun before me

Khush hote hai par wasl mein yun mar nahin jaateAai shab-e-hijran ki tamanna meray aage

Joy prevails, but union need not signal deathYearnings of the dark night of my soul came before me

Hai mauj-zan ik qulzum-e-khoon kaash yahi hoAata hai abhi dekhiye kya kya meray aage

Tears of blood create oceans of blood, if only this were itAnd yet, what unknown fates must I still behold before me

Go haath ko jumbish nahin aankhon mein toh dum haiRahne do abhi saaghar-o-meena meray aage

Even when hands have no movement, sight retains vitalitySo leave the accoutrements of wine before me

Hum-pesha-o-hum-mashrab-o-humraaz hai meraGhalib ko bura kyun kaho achha meray aage

He is my comrade, my confidant, my fellow carouserDo not speak ill of him, Ghalib is good before me