Couplets › Awakening
From Bal-e-Jibril, 1935 · originally composed in Urdu
hain maine ke
nahin , hai
nahin , hai
“I have seen many a tavern of the East and the West — here no cup-bearer is born, and there the wine itself is without relish.”
Romanहिन्दीاردو
देखे हैं मैंने के मयख़ाने
नहीं , है
नहीं , है
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
بہت دیکھے ہیں میں نے مشرق و مغرب کے مے خانے
یہاں ساقی نہیں پیدا وہاں بے ذوق ہے صہبا
یہاں ساقی نہیں پیدا وہاں بے ذوق ہے صہبا
The couplet as Iqbal wrote it, in Urdu (Nastaliq).
♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation
Iqbal, who studied deeply in both worlds, refuses to romanticise either. The East, he says, no longer produces the one who can pour life-giving wine; the West has the wine but it has lost its savour. Neither civilisation, on its own, is whole.
For You, Today
Beware of anyone selling you a single culture as the complete answer. Iqbal, who knew East and West intimately, found each one missing something the other had.
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
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
Na samjhoge to mit jaoge ai Hindostan walon
Tumhari dastan tak bhi na hogi dastanon mein
Tumhari dastan tak bhi na hogi dastanon mein
If you will not understand, you will be erased, O people of Hindustan — not even your story will remain among the stories.
Awakening · Courage