इक़बाल-ए-कुल्फ़त-ए-दिल-ए-बे-मुद्द'आ रस्सा अख़्तर को दाग़-ए-साया-ए-बाल-ए-हुमा कहूँ
— Mirza Ghalib
Meaning

The established glory of the suffering of a desireless heart; should I call this destiny the mark of the shadow of the Huma bird's wing?

Explanation

My dear friend, Ghalib invites us to contemplate life's quiet ironies. He asks if even the **Iqbaal** – the dignity – of **Kulfat** – suffering endured by a **Dil-e-be-mudda'aa** – a heart free of worldly desires – becomes **Ruswaa**, disgraced or misunderstood. Isn't it profound, how such pure, detached pain can be laid bare, its true value often overlooked? Then, Ghalib turns to his own **Akhtar**, his guiding star, his destiny. He wonders if his challenging life is like a **Daagh** – a peculiar stain or mark. Not just any mark, but one cast by the shadow of the mythical **Humaa** bird's wing. The Huma usually bestows immense fortune; yet, Ghalib feels a *stain*, a twisted blessing, a unique, enigmatic burden of fate. It's his way of asking: can our deepest suffering be a unique, even sacred, mark of destiny, its true dignity often hidden?

Difficult Words
इक़बाल— Acceptance, good fortune, destiny
कुल्फ़त— Distress, trouble, vexation, grief
बे-मुद्द'आ— Without desire, aimless, selfless, contented
रस्सा— Penetrating, adept, skillful (often used in poetry in the sense of 'rasā', meaning reaching the core, profound)
हुमा— A mythical bird of fortune, whose shadow is believed to bestow kingship or great prosperity

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

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