Couplets › Humility
From Bang-e-Dara · originally composed in Urdu
Ai ai
hai teri ko kar
hai teri ko kar
“O Himalaya, O rampart of the land of India, the sky bends down to kiss your brow.”
Romanहिन्दीاردو
ऐ ऐ
चूमता है तेरी को झुक कर
चूमता है तेरी को झुक कर
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
اے ہمالہ اے فصیل کشور ہندوستاں
چومتا ہے تیری پیشانی کو جھک کر آسماں
چومتا ہے تیری پیشانی کو جھک کر آسماں
The couplet as Iqbal wrote it, in Urdu (Nastaliq).
♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation
Iqbal opens his ode to the Himalaya with an image of the sky itself bowing in respect. The mountain stands as a figure of quiet, unmovable grandeur, honoured not for noise or conquest but for the steady dignity of simply standing. Nature here models a greatness that does not need to announce itself.
For You, Today
Real stature does not demand recognition; it draws it. Stand steady in your work and your character, and the respect tends to come down to meet you.
In the same spirit
Apne mann mein doob kar pa ja suragh-e-zindagi
Tu agar mera nahin banta na ban, apna to ban
Tu agar mera nahin banta na ban, apna to ban
Dive into your own self and find the trace of life. If you will not be mine, then do not — but at least become your own.
Selfhood · Self-Knowledge
Ho mera kaam ghareebon ki himayat karna
Dard-mandon se zaeefon se mohabbat karna
Dard-mandon se zaeefon se mohabbat karna
Let my work be to defend the poor — to love the suffering and the weak.
Justice · Humility · Love
Mere Allah burai se bachana mujh ko
Nek jo raah ho us rah pe chalana mujh ko
Nek jo raah ho us rah pe chalana mujh ko
My God, save me from evil; set me on the path that is good.
Humility · Self-Knowledge