When the heart finds solace from the whispers and tales of men, it will breathe the fire of sorrow into the body, and you will burn within it.

This profound couplet by Mir Taqi Mir is a warning about the nature of external validation. It suggests that true peace (tasalli) found through the whispers and gossip of others is deceptive. If you seek comfort from the opinions of people, you are merely inviting suffering. Mir tells us that this superficial peace will only ignite a deep fire of sorrow within your soul, leading to inevitable pain and self-destruction.