Couplets › Freedom
From Bal-e-Jibril, 1935 · originally composed in Urdu
Asar kare na kare, sun to le miri faryad
Nahin hai daad ka talib ye banda-e-azad
Nahin hai daad ka talib ye banda-e-azad
“Whether it has an effect or not — at least hear my plea. This free soul is not asking for any applause.”
Romanहिन्दी
असर करे न करे सुन तो ले मिरी फ़रियाद
नहीं है दाद का तालिब ये बंदा-ए-आज़ाद
नहीं है दाद का तालिब ये बंदा-ए-आज़ाद
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation
Iqbal speaks as a free person, and a free person's speech has a particular shape: it is offered honestly, without depending on the response. He wants to be heard, but he does not need approval. He will say the true thing whether or not it lands.
For You, Today
Real freedom shows in how you speak: you say what is true and let go of needing applause for it. Iqbal models speech that is sincere first and rewarded second, if at all.
In the same spirit
Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer se pehle
Khuda bande se khud pooche, bata teri raza kya hai
Khuda bande se khud pooche, bata teri raza kya hai
Raise your selfhood so high that, before issuing every decree of destiny, God Himself asks you: tell me, what is your wish?
Selfhood · Courage
Nahin tera nasheman qasr-e-sultani ke gumbad par
Tu shaheen hai, basera kar paharon ki chattanon mein
Tu shaheen hai, basera kar paharon ki chattanon mein
Your nest is not on the dome of a royal palace. You are a falcon — make your dwelling on the rocks of the mountains.
The Falcon · Freedom · Courage
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