Couplets › Selfhood
From Bal-e-Jibril, 1935 · originally composed in Urdu
Khudi ke zor se duniya pe chha ja
Maqam-e-rang-o-bu ka raaz pa ja
Maqam-e-rang-o-bu ka raaz pa ja
“By the force of your selfhood, rise and overspread the world — and seize the secret of this realm of colour and scent.”
Romanहिन्दी
ख़ुदी के ज़ोर से दुनिया पे छा जा
मक़ाम-ए-रंग-ओ-बू का राज़ पा जा
मक़ाम-ए-रंग-ओ-बू का राज़ पा जा
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 gives selfhood an outward task. The self is not built only for private depth; once strong, it is meant to spread, to cover the world, to act upon it. And in doing so it finally grasps the riddle of the visible world it moves through.
For You, Today
Inner work is not the whole of it. Iqbal wants the developed self to turn outward and make a mark on the world — strength was always meant to be used, not only cultivated.
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
Sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hain
Abhi ishq ke imtihan aur bhi hain
Abhi ishq ke imtihan aur bhi hain
Beyond the stars there are worlds yet — there are still more trials of love to come.
Aspiration · Love · Restlessness
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