Persian · phrase · The Heart & the Body
Shaakh-e-Nihaal-e-Gham
शाख़-ए-निहाल-ए-ग़म
said shaakh-e-ni-haal-e-gham
also written: shaakh e nihaal e gham, shaakh-e-nihal-e-gham
Meaning
The branch of the sapling of sorrow; grief pictured as a growing tree, from Ghalib's celebrated line.
Literally: shaakh (branch) + nihaal (sapling) + gham (sorrow)
See it in the verse
Shaakh-e-Nihaal-e-Gham in Iqbal’s couplets
Main shakh-e-taak hun meri ghazal hai mera samar
Mire samar se mai-e-laala-faam paida kar
Mire samar se mai-e-laala-faam paida kar
I am the vine-branch; my ghazal is my fruit — from my fruit, press out the rose-red wine.
Aspiration · Action · Youth
Kyun ziyaankaar banun sood-faramosh rahun
Fikr-e-farda na karun mahv-e-gham-e-doosh rahun
Fikr-e-farda na karun mahv-e-gham-e-doosh rahun
Why should I make myself a loser, forgetful of all gain — give no thought to tomorrow and stay lost in yesterday's grief?
Restlessness · Courage · Awakening
Shakh-e-gul par chahak wa-lekin
Kar apni khudi mein aashiyana
Kar apni khudi mein aashiyana
Sing, by all means, on the rose-branch — but build your nest within your own selfhood.
Selfhood · Self-Knowledge
Agar kho gaya ek nasheman to kya gham
Maqamat-e-aah-o-fughan aur bhi hain
Maqamat-e-aah-o-fughan aur bhi hain
If one nest is lost, why grieve? There are other stations of sighs and laments still ahead.
Restlessness · Hope · Adversity
Agar kho gaya ek nasheman to kya gham
Maqamat-e-aah-o-fughan aur bhi hain
Maqamat-e-aah-o-fughan aur bhi hain
If one nest is lost, why grieve? There are other stations of sighs and laments still ahead.
Restlessness · Hope · Adversity
Main shakh-e-tak hun meri ghazal hai mera samar
Mere samar se mai-e-lala-fam paida kar
Mere samar se mai-e-lala-fam paida kar
I am a branch of the vine, my song is my fruit; from that fruit press out the tulip-red wine.
Action · Aspiration · Youth