Meaning
A raindrop turned to pearl; the dewdrop that becomes a gem in the shell.
How Iqbal uses it
The drop that becomes a pearl is a central Iqbal image of the humble self attaining worth.
See it in the verse
Qatra-e-Gauhar in Iqbal’s couplets
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.
Selfhood · Self-Knowledge
Wo behar hai aadmi ke jis ka
Har qatra hai behar-e-baikrana
Har qatra hai behar-e-baikrana
Man is an ocean whose every drop is itself a boundless sea.
Self-Knowledge · Selfhood · Aspiration
Tamanna dard-e-dil ki ho to kar khidmat faqeeron ki
Nahin milta ye gauhar baadshahon ke khazeenon mein
Nahin milta ye gauhar baadshahon ke khazeenon mein
If you long for a heart that truly feels, then serve the poor and the humble; this jewel is not found in the treasuries of kings.
Humility · Love · Self-Knowledge