Original · Urdu (Nastaliq)
ہزاروں خواہشیں ایسی کہ ہر خواہش پہ دم نکلے بہت نکلے میرے ارمان لیکن پھر بھی کم نکلے
Transliteration
Hazaaron khwahishein aisi ke har khwahish pe dam nikle. Bahut nikle mere armaan lekin phir bhi kam nikle.
English subtitle
A thousand desires, each one worth dying for — many I have fulfilled, yet they remain too few. We have all heard of Adam's exile from Eden, but with greater shame I left the lane where you reside. It is the way of love to suffer the world's blame — why then should I bend my head to any reproach? These mystical sayings, O Ghalib, these confessions of yours — we would have called you a saint, had you not been a drinker of wine.