adab ne sau;Npii hame;N surmah-saa))ii-e ;hairat
zaban-e bastah-o-chashm-e kushaadah rakhte hai;N
1) courtesy/deportment has consigned/confided to us the collyrium-like-ness of amazement/stupefaction
2) we keep a closed/'bound' tongue and an 'open'/free eye
adab : 'Discipline, training; deportment; good breeding; good manners, politeness, courtesy, urbanity; etiquette; polite literature'. (Platts p.31)
sau;Npnaa : 'To deliver over, to hand or make over, to consign, give, intrust (to), deposit (with); to give in charge, to commit; to give up, resign, surrender, cede'. (Platts p.701)
surmah karnaa : 'To reduce to a state like that of surmah , to reduce to an impalpable powder'. (Platts p.655)
For background see S. R. Faruqi's choices.
On the special qualities of collyrium, see {44,1}. One of its special qualities in the ghazal world is to be a natural enemy of the voice. Thus the 'collyrium-like-ness of astonishment' is very suitably expressed by the combination of a firmly shut mouth and wide open, collyrium-enhanced eyes. The amazement represented by ;hairat is stronger than the English 'surprise'-- it's more like 'astonishment', or even a 'stupefaction' that keeps one helplessly frozen in place.
But in this case, the verse makes it clear that the real source of our behavior isn't 'astonishment' at all, but 'courtesy, good manners' [adab]. Our sense of courtesy or propriety has laid on us, or 'consigned to us', the duty of behaving with the 'collyrium-like-ness' that is a sign of amazement; apparently this duty consists of keeping our mouth shut and our eyes open. For a discussion of the related category of personal style and dignity [va.z((a], see {115,7}.
In other words, because we're polite we make a show of astonishment (and humility?). But do we really feel any such emotion? Who's to say? As usual, Ghalib leaves his readers to fend for themselves. After all, he's pointed out in {48,9} that in any case we should always keep our eyes open.
Gyan Chand:
[Not discussed.]