This iconic couplet by Mirza Ghalib is one of the most celebrated verses in Urdu literary history. It speaks to the infinite nature of human desire — each wish so consuming it could take one's life, yet no matter how many desires are fulfilled, they always feel insufficient. Ghalib masterfully encapsulates the existential human condition of perpetual longing, making this verse a timeless reflection on ambition, mortality, and the insatiable nature of the human spirit.
Poetry attributed to Mirza Ghalib. Public domain work used for educational commentary.