Baazicha-e-atfaal hai duniya mere aage

It is unfortunate that most desi folks listen to gazals without understanding most of the meaning of the words.  Mirza Ghalib wrote at a time (the era of the last mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah) when Urdu poetry was a widely appreciated artform.  Ghalib's urdu is heavily infused with Farsi - which at that time was at its ebb, and had been reduced to the confines of literary circles.

Here is an explanation of this beautiful ghazal by Mirza Ghalib.  Knowing the meaning of the words will help you enjoy the lyrics.

Baazeechaa-e-atfaal hai duniya mere aage

Hota hai shab-o-roz tamaasha mere aage

बाजीचा-ए-अतफ़ाल है दुनिया मेरे आगे

होता है शब्-औ-रोज़ तमाशा मेरे आगे 

 the world in front of my eyes is like a kid’s game.

Day and night I watch its ‘show’

(Baazee – game; Bazeecha – small game; atfaal – juvenile; duniya – world; shab-o-roz – night and day;  tamasha – show)

Ik khel hai aurang-e-sulemaan mere nazdeek

Ik baat hai 'eijaz-e-maseeha mere aage

इक खेल है औरंग-ए-सुलेमान मेरे नज़दीक

एक बात है एजाज़-ए-मसीहा मेरे आगे 

Literal: 

The throne of Solomon (King) is trivial (game:Khel) in my view

The mention of the miracles of the Messiah are idle talk to me.

Figurative:

Power of Kings and miracles of godmen do not impress me

Juz naam naheen soorat-e-aalam mujhe manzoor

Juz waham naheen hastee-e-ashiya mere aage

जुज़ नाम नहीं सूरत-ए-आलम मुझे मंज़ूर

जुज़ वहम नहीं हस्ती-ए-आशियाँ मेरे आगे 

(Juz - without; aalam - creator; hasti-e-aashiya - existence of the world)

Without a name to it, I cannot accept a faceless creator.

To me, the existence of all objects isn’t separate from an illusion

Hota hai nihaan gard mein sehara mere hote

Ghisata hai jabeen khaak pe dariya mere aage

होता है निहाँ गर्द में सहरा मेरे होते

घिसता है ज़बीं ख़ाक पे दरिया मेरे आगे 

(gard- dust; sahra - desert; zabin - forehead; khak - dirt)

 My anguish envelopes the entire desert (??)

The sea smashes its forehead on the sands of the shore (breaking of waves)

Mat pooch ke kya haal hai mera tere peeche

Tu dekh ke kya rang tera mere aagay

मत पूछ के क्या हाल है तेरा मेरे पीछे

तू देख के क्या रंग है तेरा मेरे आगे 

Don’t ask me how I am faring since you left

Instead, focus on your own ways since you left me

Sach kahte ho, khudbeen-o-khud_aaraa na kyon hoon?

baitha hai but-e-aainaa_seemaa mere aage

सच कहते हो खुदबीन और खुदआरा न क्यों हूँ

बैठा है बुत-ए-आइना सीमा मेरे आगे  

(khud-self; been-to see; but-idol; aainaa - mirror; seema - face/image)

Truthfully said, why shouldn't I hold myself with self pride,

My face in my mirror sits like an idol in front of me

Phir dekhiye andaaz-e-gul_afshaani-e-guftaar

Rakh de koee paimaanaa-o-sahba mere aage

फिर देखिये अंदाज़-ए-गुल, अफ्शानी-ए-गुफ्तार

रख दे कोई पैमाना-औ-सहबा मेरे आगे 

(andaaz - style; gul- flower; afshani - effusion; guftaar- conversation; paimana - shot glass; sahba-sheet of paper)

 To appreciate the flowery words and the effusiveness of conversation

Someone needs to place a glass and poetry in front of me

  

Nafrat ka gumaan guzare hai, main rashk se guzaraa

kyonkar kahoon, lo naam na uska mere aage

(Nafrat - hatred; gumaan - emotion; kyonkar - why, after all )

नफरत का गुमान गुज़रे है, मैं रश्क  के गुजरा

क्योंकर कहूं लो नाम न उसका मेरे आगे?

The emotion of hatred is behind me I feel pure

why should I ask you not to take His name in front of me?

Imaan mujhe roke hai jo khinche hai mujhe kufr

Ka'aba mere peeche hai kaleesa mere aage

इमान मुझे रोके है, खींचे है मुझे कुफ्र

काबा मेरे पीछे है, कलीसा मेरे आगे 

(kufra - deviance / temptation; kaaba - Holy place for Muslims;  Kaleesa - Church) 

My conscience holds me back from the attraction to temptations

The Kaaba is behind me and the church in front (of me)

Aashiq hooN, par maashooq farebee hai mera kaam

MajnooN ko bura kehti hai Laila mere aage

आशिक हूँ पर माशूक फरेबी है मेरा काम

मजनूँ को बुरा कहती है लैला मेरे आगे 

(Aashik - lover; mashook - person who is the loved; farebi - cheating)

I am the Lover, yet, my dear, I am full of deceit

For this reason every Laila condems (calls names) Majnu

Khush hote hain par wasl mein yoon mar naheen jaate

Aayee shab-e-hijaraaN ki tamanna mere aage

खुश होते हैं मगर वस्ल में यूं मर नहीं जाते 

आई शब्-ए-हिज्र की तमन्ना मेरे आगे

(wasl - reality; shab - night; hijra - departure; tamanna - wish/desire) 

 I become joyous but not to the extent of dying from joy

The wish for separation (the night of departure) has surfaced in my heart

Hai mauj_zan ik qulzum-e-KHooN, kaash, yahee ho

Aata hai abhee dekhiye kya-kya mere aage

I wish this is going to be that wave of blood

Let’s see what lies ahead of me now.

Go haath ko jumbish naheeN aaNkhoN meiN to dam hai

Rehne do abhee saaGar-o-meena mere aage

Say my hands lack motion, but at least my eyes have strength

For now, leave the wine and glass in front of me

Ham_pesha-o-ham_masharb hamraaz hai mera

'GHalib' ko bura kyoN kaho achchaa mere aage!

My colleague and my fellow drinker is my friend

If you feel Ghalib is bad, why do you call him ‘good’ when he is around?

English Translation by Rakesh Chaubey