Qaid-e-qafas Mein Hain To Khidmat Hai Nalagi Ki — Mir Taqi Mir
Meaning
If confined in a cage, then the service of the nālagī is ours, but when in the garden, we desired the position of the tomb-guardian.
Explanation
This profound couplet by Mir Taqi Mir explores the painful discrepancy between expectation and reality. The poet suggests that while serving a courtesan (Nalgi) might be tolerable when confined (in a cage), when he was in a beautiful garden, he expected a position of honor, like a caretaker of a tomb (Rauza-Khwan). It speaks to the loss of dignity and status, where the speaker feels that his worth was measured by his surroundings, not his true self.
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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