===
1853,
5
===
 

{1853,5}

aag kaa laa))i;hah :zaahir nahii;N kuchh lekin ham
sham((a-e ta.sviir se din raat jalaa karte hai;N

1) the radiance/proof of fire is not at all apparent, but we
2) like the candle in a picture, day and night, always burn

 

Notes:

laa))i;hah : 'A shining or flashing thing or object; anything evident; —clearness; —splendour; proof'. (Platts p.948)

*Platts Dictionary Online*

S. R. Faruqi:

laa))i;hah : radiance; proof

He has composed this same theme in a verse in the first divan [{292,2}]:

((ishq aatish bhii jo deve to nah dam maare;N ham
sham((a-e ta.sviir hai;N ;xaamosh jalaa karte hai;N

[even if passion would give fire, then we would not breathe
we are the candle in a picture, silently we always burn]

In the first line of {292,2}, the verbosity is great, the meaning little. The second line was so complete/perfect that it would have been difficult to attach a superb first line to it.

The task that he didn't do in his youth, Mir completed in his fifties. Not only did he search out a powerful word like laa))i;hah , both meanings of which are suitable here, but he also provided a full 'proof' of being the candle in a picture.

Ghalib composed an uncommon verse on this theme, but he only saluted the 'candle in a picture' from afar:

G{81,3}.

FWP:

SETS
MOTIFS == CANDLE; NIGHT/DAY
NAMES
TERMS

Note for grammar fans: In the second line, se is short for jaise .