Couplets › Justice
From Bal-e-Jibril, 1935 · originally composed in Urdu
Samundar se mile pyaase ko shabnam
Bakhili hai ye razzaqi nahin hai
Bakhili hai ye razzaqi nahin hai
“To give a thirsty soul a single drop of dew from a whole ocean — that is stinginess, not generosity.”
Romanहिन्दी
समुंदर से मिले प्यासे को शबनम
बख़ीली है ये रज़्ज़ाक़ी नहीं है
बख़ीली है ये रज़्ज़ाक़ी नहीं है
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 sets a fierce standard for giving. When an ocean is available and the gift is a drop of dew, the smallness is not modesty — it is meanness disguised as provision. True generosity is measured against what you could have given, not against zero.
For You, Today
When you give the bare minimum from real abundance — of attention, of help, of opportunity — Iqbal names it plainly. Withholding most of an ocean is not prudence; it is stinginess wearing a respectable face.
In the same spirit
Jis khet se dehqan ko muyassar nahin rozi
Us khet ke har khosha-e-gandum ko jala do
Us khet ke har khosha-e-gandum ko jala do
The field that does not yield its farmer even his daily bread — burn every ear of wheat in that field.
Justice · Courage
Uthho meri duniya ke ghareebon ko jaga do
Kakh-e-umara ke dar-o-deewar hila do
Kakh-e-umara ke dar-o-deewar hila do
Rise, and awaken the poor of my world — shake the doors and the walls of the mansions of the privileged.
Justice · Action
Andaz-e-bayan garche bahut shokh nahin hai
Shayad ki utar jaye tere dil mein meri baat
Shayad ki utar jaye tere dil mein meri baat
Though my manner of saying it is not especially dazzling — perhaps, even so, my words may sink into your heart.
Humility · Love