Asad, there is no relish of pleasure to be found in this ordeal or practice, even though the salt of izara has a strong affinity with wine.

Ghalib reflects on a bitter ordeal or discipline that carries all the harshness of a pursuit without any of its intoxicating bliss. He plays on the idea of a medicinal or alchemical salt derived from wine—though intimately related to wine itself, it yields only a sharp sting rather than ecstasy. In a deeper emotional sense, he speaks of those painful devotions in life that demand the same passion as love, yet leave the soul starved of joy.