;Gam-e firaaq me;N takliif-e sair-e gul nah
do
mujhe dimaa;G nahii;N ;xandah'haa-e
be-jaa kaa
1) in the grief of separation, don't trouble me to
take a stroll among the roses
2) I have no heart/mind/nose for inappropriate smiles
dimaa;G : 'The brain; head, mind, intellect; spirit; fancy, desire; airs, conceit; pride, haughtiness, arrogance... ; --the organ of smell'. (Platts p.526)
When one is grieved or sorrowful, inappropriate smiles are generally displeasing to one's temperament. There's no question about the verse's excellence. (57)
He has not called the smile of the rose inappropriate because it is devoid of understanding. Rather, he has said this because when we are in this state, then what occasion is there for laughter? (71)
Compare {11,2}. (166)
SETS == WORDPLAY
SMILE/LAUGHTER verses: {10,10}; {27,4}; {33,3};
{43,4}; {53,9};
{77,3}; {77,7};
{80,1}; {113,5};
{123,6}; {130,4};
{149,1}; {166,1};
{171,3}; {203,1};
{212} (all verses)
In the ghazal world the tightly closed bud, 'narrow' like an oppressed heart, smiles or laughs as it opens into a rose, since its widening petals look like a mouth smiling in enjoyment. And of course, its smiles betoken its imminent death, which also works very well for poetic purposes.
This verse plays on the multiple meanings of dimaa;G , which usually means 'heart/mind' but has a sort of tertiary meaning of 'nose' or 'sense of smell'. (For more examples of this kind of wordplay on dimaa;G , see {11,2}.) Obviously, all these meanings work well together. The rose's 'smile' coincides with its diffusion of perfume, as well as its brilliant color and imminent death. Any or all of these might distress the morbidly sensitive lover; as usual, Ghalib leaves all possibilities open.
Why are the rose's smiles 'inappropriate' or 'out of place'? Hali says it is because the rose smiles at random, for no good cause. The two Bekhuds say it is because the lover is in no mood for joviality and cheer. Both reasons make sense, but I think the latter is closer to the heart of the matter. This is a great verse for expressing the lover's irritable mood. Can't you just hear the cranky tone in which he rebuffs the well-meaning friend who is trying to cheer him up?
Hali:
He has called the smile of the rose an inappropriate smile since it does not smile at some thought, or because it is surprised, so it's as if its smile is out of place. (140-41)