O Zafar, every day brings some turmoil or ruin to this populated world; it would have been far better if such an inhabited settlement had simply been made a wilderness.

Bahadur Shah Zafar here expresses a weary heartbreak over the constant turmoil, betrayal, and decay of worldly life. The contrast between 'ma'moora' (a bustling, populated city) and 'veeraana' (a desolate wasteland) is poignant, suggesting that human settlements are meant to foster safety and joy, yet they breed unending sorrow. In a quiet sigh of resignation, the poet feels that if living among people only brings daily ruin, an honest, quiet wilderness would have been far more merciful.