Rashk Se Us Zulf Ke Kya Shak Hai Bikhre Jo Ambar — Sheikh Ibrahim Zauq
Meaning
It is no wonder that, out of envy for those tresses, the ambergris lay scattered; indeed, burnt to cinders, all the ambergris was consumed.
Explanation
This couplet plays with the idea of jealousy and the beloved's fragrant hair. The poet says there's no doubt that if ambergris, that sweet perfume, is scattered around, it's out of sheer envy of the beloved's beautiful curls. The beloved's tresses are so wonderfully fragrant that even the perfume feels ashamed and inferior. In fact, the poet adds, this jealousy burns the ambergris so completely that it turns entirely to ash. It's a charming exaggeration, praising the beloved's hair as more perfect and more fragrant than the finest perfume the world has to offer.
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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