Ghalib on futility of consolation

"Nothing consoles like certainty does..."

sar-gashtagī meñ ālam-e-hastī se yaas hai

taskīñ ko de naved ki marne kī aas hai

سرگشتگی میں عالم ہستی سے یاس ہے

تسکیں کو دے نوید کہ مرنے کی آس ہے

Oh the disillusionments of the world, I wish to die sooner

Go tell the consoler of the good news, (convey him to) come sooner.

In just two lines chacha Ghalib tells us two things. One is how disappointed he is with the world that he has lost desire to carry this show anymore. He does say that with his inimitable style though, and in doing so, takes a fine jibe at consolers in second line. Context - in middle ages ( and even now in some places I believe) when someone dies, paid mourners, consolers are called upon as a ritual. Ghalib here says "give a good news" to the consoler...he/she has opportunity to earn now.

He is so blunt here on the fact that consolation means just empty efforts, a futile attempt to make someone feel good. He is sometimes blunt, sometimes just sarcastic with a touch of crassness yet refined (in his unique style) at the same time.

Below are some of his ashaars which again bring out this gesture of his towards the futility of consolation.

dost ġham-ḳhvārī meñ merī sa.ī farmāveñge kyā

zaḳhm ke bharte talak nāḳhun na baḌh jāveñge kyā

دوست غم خواری میں میری سعی فرماویں گے کیا

زخم کے بھرتے تلک ناخن نہ بڑھ جاویں گے کیا

My friends consoling me on my pain and loss, long enough.

As the wound heals, wouldn't (my) nails too grow in the meantime..

as the time is (of their consolation)

...well, long enough!

( As my nails grow, I would be tempted to fiddle with my wound, rekindling the pain..)

And this one next, where he rejects the whole point in consolation and rues that it takes away the joy of sulking/slow burn in pain/sorrow.

kiyā ġham-ḳhvār ne rusvā lage aag is mohabbat ko

na laave taab jo ġham kī vo merā rāz-dāñ kyuuñ ho

کیا غم خوار نے رسوا لگے آگ اس محبت کو

نہ لاوے تاب جو غم کی وہ میرا رازداں کیوں ہو

Damn this friend, this consoler has left me in such a low spirits.

For a confidant, isn't it necessary to keep the warmth of pain always handy!

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Note : I have not done literal translation of the couplets but to bring out the meaning for English readers have taken the liberty while preserving the context what the poet meant.