Hindi/ Urdu: Hasrat hi rahe to behtar hai

[Harahman]

What will be the English translation of this quote?

 

[aevynn]

Here's an idiomatic (ie, not-very-literal) translation:

It's better that desire remains desire
A moon achieved no longer feels like a moon

 

[Qureshpor]

Another version is:

حسرت ہی رہے تو بہتر ہے
چاند حاصل ہو جائے
تو کہاں چاند رہتا ہے


It is better that something remains desired
A moon is not a moon when it is acquired

 

[amiramir]

This is off-topic completely, but to my (American) ears, the subjunctive would be preferred. I would have used 'remain' above. The indicative sounds British to me.

 

[littlepond]

Meanwhile, ChatGPT seems to know that there is a moon in the quote/poem from the very first line itself. (What is also interesting is that ChatGPT defines it as Hindi, not Urdu. Though as its responses are very variable to the same question, I would not be surprised if in another response, it would define it as Urdu, not Hindi.) Here is its response (I didn't even ask it to translate, simply put the opening words and pressed Enter):