छूटता कब है असीर-ए-ख़ुश-ज़बाँ
जीते जी अपनी रिहाई हो चुकी
— Mir Taqi Mir
Meaning
When will the captive of the sweet tongue be freed, that its freedom is achieved while still alive.
Explanation
This couplet is a profound meditation on the nature of captivity and freedom. The 'prisoner of sweet speech' refers to someone trapped by beautiful words, charm, or the intoxicating nature of love itself. Mir Taqi Mir suggests that even if the physical release (रिहाई) hasn't happened, the true realization of freedom—the moment of understanding or experience—has already occurred within the heart. It speaks to a state of permanent emotional liberation, even while outwardly constrained.