Verse 8x1821ilbaa;Ndhaa
G5
In this meter the first long syllable may be replaced by a short; and the next-to-last long syllable may be replaced by two shorts.
1 a
from eye to heart is a 'whole-mirrorful' of lamp-display-- who
1 b
from eye to heart is a single 'mirror-lamps' [display]-- who
2
on the privacy/seclusion of coquetry, imposed/'bound' the embellishment of a gathering?
'Loneliness, solitude; seclusion, retirement, privacy; a vacant place, a private place or apartment, a closet, &c. (to which one retires for privacy); a cell (for religious retirement);--private conference'.
'Blandishment, coquetry, playfulness, amorous playfulness, feigned disdain; dalliance, toying; fondling, coaxing, soothing or endearing expression; --pride, conceit, consequential airs, whims; --softness, delicacy; elegance, gracefulness'.
'Ornament, decoration; embellishment, beauty; a cradle; a vessel; a plate (of gold and silver)'. (Steingass p.265)
| References | |
|---|---|
| Arshi, Imtiyaz Ali | Ghazal# 8 |
| Raza, Kalidas Gupta | 321-322 |
| Nuskhah-e-Hamidiyah | 41-42 |
| Asi, Abdul Bari | 56-57 |
| Gyan Chand | 73-78 |
| Hamid Ali Khan | Open Image |
From the eye to the heart, a situation is being created as if in a mirror is the glory/appearance of a lamp-display. There's no knowing who has adorned the 'privacy/seclusion of coquetry' (that is, the eye and the heart) with the guise of a gathering. That is, there's no knowing who has turned into [splendor].
== Asi, p. 56
That is, from the eye to the heart is a single mirror, in which a lamp-display is being seen, and the existence of the lamp-display is a proof of the adornment of a gathering. Then, he asks with surprise, 'Oh Lord, who is this who has bestowed on privacy/seclusion (the heart) the embellishment of a gathering?'. The reason for calling the heart a mirror is its clearness, and that in it there is a lamp-display through the reflection of the beauty of the beloved. The theme is one of mystical knowledge.
== Zamin, p. 39
If mirrors would be mounted in every direction, and at night lamps would be lit, then in the mirror their reflection will be very fine. This decoration will be called 'mirror-lamps' [], which is a thing for the decoration and embellishment of gatherings. From the eye to the heart, thanks to the glory/appearance of the beloved, is 'mirror-lamps'. Who has adorned the privacy-chamber of coquetry with the jewelry of gatherings? It's obvious that it was the beloved!
== Gyan Chand, p. 76
For background see S. R. Faruqi's choices . This verse is NOT one of his choices; I thought it was interesting and have added it myself. For more on Ghalib's unpublished verses, see the discussion in 4,8x . This verse is from a different, unpublished, formally identical ghazal, 259x , and is included for comparison. On the presentation of verses from unpublished ghazals like this one along with formally identical divan ghazals, see 145,5x .
On one reading (1a), the expression is part of a class of (Persianized) expressions; for more on these, see 11,1 . For more on the implications of , see 5,5 .
Gyan Chand provides another reading (1b) in which a 'mirror-lamps' display is a kind of lighted mirror-chamber. In general, the commentators are so vague, and so mutually contradictory, that I doubt if any of them had a clear idea of what Ghalib meant even by , much less by .
It's also possible that Ghalib himself didn't have a clear idea. In any case, he didn't need one. He made sure that all the audience needed to know was that was something brilliant, glittering, reflecting, ornamental, and spectacular (also in the sense of providing a spectacle). For what the verse is really doing is (apparently) complaining (or marveling?) that all these attributes have been imposed ('bound') onto the 'privacy/seclusion of coquetry', the way a glittering necklace or hair-ornament might be 'bound' onto some beautiful beloved.
But then again, perhaps the tone isn't that of complaint or wonder at all; after all, grammatically the line is framed as an inquiry: who (or what) has imposed such spectacular showiness on the seclusion of coquetry? The technique goes right back to 1,1 , and its quality leaves the tone of the verse opaque.
For not only can we not tell who's done it, we can't even be sure to whom it's been done. Whose physical form, 'from eye to heart', has been turned into such a spectacle? If it's that of the lover, has this been done by the radiant, intimate presence of the beloved-- so that to be in 'seclusion' with her is to become a kind of gathering of one's own? (And if so, is this a good thing, or a bad thing, or is it impossible to tell?)
Or if the altered form is that of the beloved, is her spectacular brilliance 'from eye to heart' an aspect or effect of her coquetry? Is she doing it on purpose, is it all just a mirror-show-- like shining a light into the dazzled eyes of a prey animal, the better to grab it off the tree branch? Perhaps the poor bewildered lover is too confused to grasp what's happening-- instead of 'who turned out the lights?', he's exclaiming something like 'who turned on the lights?'. (And if this is his situation, is it a good thing, or a bad thing, or is it impossible to tell?)
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