tire ;xayaal se ruu;h ihtizaaz kartii
hai
bah jalvah-rezii-e baad-o-bah par-fishaanii-e sham((a
1) from the thought of you, the spirit quivers/exults
2a) [I swear] by the glory-scattering of the breeze, and by the wing-fluttering
of the candle
2b) with [the quality of] the glory-scattering of the breeze, and the wing-fluttering
of the candle
ihtizaaz : ' Being shaken, agitated (tree by the wind); falling with glittering light (star); exultation, joy'. (Steingass p.123)
In 'with the splendor-scattering' and 'with the wing-fluttering' is the 'with' of similitude [baa-e tashbiihii]. That is, the way a candle flame moves from the splendor-scattering of the breze, in the same way at the thought of you the spirit quivers [with joy]. (70)
He says, from the thought of you, the lover's spirit attains a movement of joy, the way movement is created in the candle flame by the breeze. (123)
ihtizaaz : When a bird puts his head in water, then {shudders / shakes himself} in order to spread the water over his whole body. The liveliness that spreads through the body, and the movement that is created, when in a state of joy. (239)
ihtizaaz means 'dance'. (161)
SETS == BAH
CANDLE: {39,1}
JALVAH: {7,4}
As Nazm points out, the unexpectedness and wit of the verse lie in the presentation of the second line as a pair of oaths affirming the content of the first line (2a): X is true-- I swear by Y, I swear by Z. In this case, 'X' affirms a 'quiver/exultation', and Y and Z describe a cause and an effect of such a quiver. As Nazm points out, Y and Z can also be read as plain old similes (2b), which are much less piquant but no less appropriate to the occasion. This useful duality Ghalib owes to the handy multivalence of the Persian bah , 'with'.
Look how the commentators seek to explain the uncommon word ihtizaaz (which doesn't appear in Platts, and thus is probably highly Persianized). It seems to be a sort of quivering/shuddering expressive of almost uncontrollable joy. Thus it's perfect for the verse-- it's presented in the first line, then illustrated in the second line. What could illustrate that quiver of rapture? What if not the 'splendor-scattering of the breeze', and the 'wing-fluttering of the candle'? Both are so lovely, and so apt! They even sound pretty good in English; but of course they are truly ravishing in Urdu.
The whole verse rests on implication-- nothing in the verse links the two phrases in the second line except our prior knowledge of what breezes do to candle flames. Here the breeze and the candle are presented in parallel constructions: the breeze 'quivers' as it darts here and there in its playfulness and glory, the candle 'quivers' (in response? or independently?) as it flutters its wings.
And my heart 'quivers' at the thought of you-- like the (active?) breeze, and also like the (passive?) candle. Of course, it's very possible that the breeze will blow out the candle, but in this verse that's not an issue at all-- the sense of joy is too overwhelming. The first line is so simple and straightforward, then the second line blossoms into such sheer beauty of language and thought. Who could read this verse and not want to recite it aloud?
On the usage of 'the thought of you' versus 'your thought', see {41,6}.
Nazm:
In the second line, bah in both places is for an oath.... And if the bah were removed, then this pleasure would not remain. And if we take bah with the meaning of a simile, the same meaning as formerly is created. (77)
== Nazm page 77