Ghazal 413x, Verse 6

{413x,6}

ko))ii dunyaa me;N magar baa;G nahii;N hai vaa((i:z
;xuld bhii baa;G hai ;xair aab-o-havaa aur sahii

1) but/perhaps, is there no garden in the world, Preacher?!
2) even/also Paradise is a garden-- well, the atmosphere/'water and air' is other/different, no doubt

Notes:

aur : 'And, also, for the rest, besides, again, moreover; but, yet, still; over, else; and lo!; — another, other, different; more, additional'. (Platts p.104)

FWP:

SETS == BHI; MAGAR
ISLAMIC: {10,2}

For more on Ghalib's unpublished verses, see the discussion in {4,8x}. See also the overview index.

This ghazal is extremely late (1865) and has received very little commentarial attention.

On the idiomatic range of sahii expressions, see {9,4}.

The Preacher holds forth at length on the beauties of Paradise, with its supernal gardens. The speaker has had enough of this oration; he is tired of it, he wants to cut it short. He points out that there are gardens in this world too, so we already know what they're like. Then to wrap up the question, he concedes (wearily? dutifully? prudently?) that no doubt the garden of Paradise has 'a different atmosphere'.

The little bhii works enjoyably here-- there's quite a difference in tone between 'Even Paradise is a garden' (though it's a limit case, or perhaps in a class by itself), and 'Paradise too is a garden' (it's one more in the same class as others).

This verse belongs of course to the 'snide remarks about Paradise' group; for others, see {35,9}.