Citation : Singh AR (2024). Life, Death and Love. In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 2 (A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 22:1. pg 56-57
محبت میں نہیں ہے فرق جینے اور مرنے کا
اسی کو دیکھ کر جیتے ہیں جس کافر پہ دم نکلے
मोहब्बत में नहीं है फ़र्क़ जीने और मरने का
उसी को देख कर जीते हैं जिस काफ़िर पे दम निकले
mohabbat me.n nahii.n hai farq jiine aur marne kaa
usii ko dekh kar jiite hai.n jis kaafir pe dam nikle
(DG 220; 8: 1354)
Meaning
There is no difference between life and death in love
Seeing the same ‘infidel’ we live for whom we are ready to die!
Explanation/Comment:
This is a very enjoyable ‘sher’, which talks of the paradox of love.
Ghalib says: there is no difference between life and death in love.
How is that possible?
He says, because, when we love someone, don’t we say we would die for her/him?
But, at the same time, don’t we also want to live for the same person?
So, the difference between life and death is obliterated in love!
Want examples? Remember the lives of Laila-Majnu, Heer-Ranjha, Juliet-Romeo.
They lived for each other, because they were ready to die for each other.
That’s love.
The rest is all the ‘business’ of love.
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Citation : Singh AR (2024). Life, Death and Love. In :Ghalib, Psychology and Human Behaviour - 2 (A.R Singh and S.A Singh Eds), Mens Sana Monogr; 22:1. pg 56-57
محبت میں نہیں ہے فرق جینے اور مرنے کا
اسی کو دیکھ کر جیتے ہیں جس کافر پہ دم نکلے
मोहब्बत में नहीं है फ़र्क़ जीने और मरने का
उसी को देख कर जीते हैं जिस काफ़िर पे दम निकले
mohabbat me.n nahii.n hai farq jiine aur marne kaa
usii ko dekh kar jiite hai.n jis kaafir pe dam nikle
(DG 220; 8: 1354)
Meaning
There is no difference between life and death in love
Seeing the same ‘infidel’ we live for whom we are ready to die!
Explanation/Comment:
This is a very enjoyable ‘sher’, which talks of the paradox of love.
Ghalib says: there is no difference between life and death in love.
How is that possible?
He says, because, when we love someone, don’t we say we would die for her/him?
But, at the same time, don’t we also want to live for the same person?
So, the difference between life and death is obliterated in love!
Want examples? Remember the lives of Laila-Majnu, Heer-Ranjha, Juliet-Romeo.
They lived for each other, because they were ready to die for each other.
That’s love.
The rest is all the ‘business’ of love.