'ओहदे से मद्ह-ए-नाज़ के बाहर न आ सका गर इक अदा हो तो उसे अपनी क़ज़ा कहूँ
— Mirza Ghalib
Meaning

I could not escape the act of praising your grace. If it were just one gesture, I would call it my destiny.

Explanation

My dear friend, you know that feeling of being utterly swept away? Ghalib captures it beautifully here. He finds himself caught in an 'ohda' – a *position* – of ceaselessly praising her 'naaz', that irresistible grace. It’s a sweet surrender, a delightful entrapment by her endless charm, her every elegant 'adaa'. He’s utterly overwhelmed; if only there were *just one* captivating gesture he could name. Then, he laments, he could finally call it his 'qazaa' – his fate, his beautiful undoing. But her allure isn't a single star; it's an entire galaxy of charms, impossible to pinpoint. It’s this multitude of perfections that truly captivates the soul, not just one attribute. Like Rumi reminds us, these 'wounds' of countless graces become the very entry points for profound love. True enchantment, you see, lies in that overwhelming, unquantifiable sum.

Difficult Words
ओहदे— Position, rank, status, office
मद्ह-ए-नाज़— Praise of coquetry/grace, eulogy of pride or elegant manner
अदा— Grace, mannerism, style, (here: a specific act or expression of grace/coquetry)
क़ज़ा— Fate, destiny, divine decree, death (in this context: my doom or inescapable destiny)

Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.

Audio

Recitation
Hindi Meaning
English Meaning
Hindi Explainer
English Explainer
Comments · 0

Free — just your email. You'll come right back here.

No comments yet. Be the first.

1 / 10Next →