Here's the couplet and its meaning:
بَزِیچَۂِ اَتفال ھَیں دُنیا کے یہ مَشغَلے
ھَم ھیں بَچّے، یہ بَزِیچَے ھم ھیں کھیل رھے ھیں
Translation:
* "The pursuits of this world are but children's toys."
* "We are children, and these toys we are playing with."
Interpretation:
* Worldly pursuits as toys: Ghalib likens worldly desires, ambitions, and possessions to toys that children play with. Just as a child eventually tires of a toy and moves on to something else, so too do worldly pleasures lose their appeal over time.
* Ephemeral nature of life: The comparison to toys underscores the fleeting nature of life. Ghalib implies that we are all like children, engrossed in temporary distractions that ultimately hold no lasting value.
* Futility of materialism: By calling worldly pursuits "toys," Ghalib subtly criticizes the pursuit of material wealth and power. He suggests that such pursuits are ultimately meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
* Finding true meaning: The couplet hints at the need to search for something more profound and enduring beyond the fleeting pleasures of the material world.
The couplet's impact:
"Bazeecha-e-Atfal" is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of finding meaning beyond the superficial. It has resonated with readers for centuries, sparking reflections on the nature of existence and the pursuit of happiness.