de kar na
“The ache and fire of longing is a priceless treasure; I would not trade the striving of a seeker even for the splendour of a master.”
दे कर न लूँ
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
مقام بندگی دے کر نہ لوں شان خداوندی
The couplet as Iqbal wrote it, in Urdu (Nastaliq).
Iqbal prizes the state of longing itself. The restless ache of wanting, of reaching for something not yet reached, is to him a treasure beyond price. He would not give up the live, striving condition of the seeker even in exchange for the settled glory of having arrived. Desire kept alive is worth more than comfort attained.
Do not rush to extinguish your longing by settling. The hunger that keeps you reaching is itself valuable; a comfortable arrival can cost you the very fire that made you grow.
Abhi ishq ke imtihan aur bhi hain
Tu agar mera nahin banta na ban, apna to ban
Sitaron pe jo dalte hain kamand