Couplets › Adversity
From Bang-e-Dara (1924) · originally composed in Urdu
Tumhari apne se aap hi
Jo pe hoga
Jo pe hoga
“Your civilisation will take its own life with its own dagger; a nest built on a fragile branch will never last.”
Romanहिन्दीاردو
तुम्हारी अपने से आप ही करेगी
जो पे बनेगा ना-पाएदार होगा
जो पे बनेगा ना-पाएदार होगा
The couplet in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
تمہاری تہذیب اپنے خنجر سے آپ ہی خودکشی کرے گی
جو شاخ نازک پہ آشیانہ بنے گا ناپائیدار ہوگا
جو شاخ نازک پہ آشیانہ بنے گا ناپائیدار ہوگا
The couplet as Iqbal wrote it, in Urdu (Nastaliq).
♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation
Iqbal warns that a civilisation carrying the instruments of its own destruction will eventually turn them on itself. The image of a nest on a weak branch makes the point plain: anything built on an unsound foundation is doomed, no matter how impressive it looks.
For You, Today
Whatever you are building, a career, a venture, a home, check the branch before you admire the nest. Brilliance on a weak foundation does not last. Strength is decided by what holds it up.
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
Ho mera kaam ghareebon ki himayat karna
Dard-mandon se zaeefon se mohabbat karna
Dard-mandon se zaeefon se mohabbat karna
Let my work be to defend the poor — to love the suffering and the weak.
Justice · Humility · Love
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