Couplets › Selfhood
From Bal-e-Jibril, 1935 · originally composed in Urdu
Giraanbaha hai to hifz-e-khudi se hai warna
Gauhar mein aab-e-gauhar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Gauhar mein aab-e-gauhar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
“If you are precious, it is from guarding your selfhood; otherwise a pearl is nothing but the lustre that is its own.”
Romanहिन्दी
गिराँबहा है तो हिफ़्ज़-ए-ख़ुदी से है वरना
गौहर में आब-ए-गौहर के सिवा कुछ और नहीं
गौहर में आब-ए-गौहर के सिवा कुछ और नहीं
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
The Interpretation
A pearl's entire worth is its own inner water, its lustre — nothing external. Iqbal makes the self the same: your value comes from preserving your khudi, not from anything added from outside. Guard the inner shine; that is the whole price.
For You, Today
Your worth is not bolted on from outside — titles, approval, possessions. Like a pearl, it is the inner lustre you protect. Lose your selfhood and there is nothing left to value.
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
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