Meaning
The capital of life; life's precious stock, not to be squandered.
Literally: 'capital of life'
See it in the verse
Sarmaya-e-hayat in Iqbal’s couplets
Har ik muqam se aage muqam hai tera
Hayat zauq-e-safar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Hayat zauq-e-safar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Beyond every destination lies another that is yours; life is nothing but the love of the journey.
Restlessness · Aspiration · The Falcon
Ragon mein gardish-e-khoon hai agar to kya hasil
Hayat soz-e-jigar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
Hayat soz-e-jigar ke siwa kuchh aur nahin
If blood merely circulates in your veins, what have you gained? Life is nothing but the burning of the heart.
Restlessness · Love · Awakening
Mard-e-Khuda ka amal ishq se sahib-e-firogh
Ishq hai asl-e-hayat maut hai is par haraam
Ishq hai asl-e-hayat maut hai is par haraam
The deeds of the man of God shine with love; love is the essence of life, and death is forbidden to touch it.
Love · Aspiration · Action
Khudi kya hai raaz-e-daroon-e-hayat
Khudi kya hai baidari-e-kainat
Khudi kya hai baidari-e-kainat
What is the self? The secret hidden within life. What is the self? The awakening of the universe.
Selfhood · Self-Knowledge · Awakening
Zindagi ka raaz kya hai saltanat kya cheez hai
Aur ye sarmaya-o-mehnat mein hai kaisa kharosh
Aur ye sarmaya-o-mehnat mein hai kaisa kharosh
What is the secret of life? What is this thing called the State? And what is this clamour between capital and labour?
Justice · Awakening
Yaqeen afrad ka sarmaya-e-tameer-e-millat hai
Yahi quvvat hai jo surat-gar-e-taqdeer-e-millat hai
Yahi quvvat hai jo surat-gar-e-taqdeer-e-millat hai
The conviction of individuals is the capital that builds a community — this is the very force that sculpts a people's destiny.
Unity · Selfhood · Leadership