Sher on Mashwara

Dive into your own inner self and find the clue to what life truly is.

If you cannot belong to me, then don’t—at least become your own.

The couplet urges deep self-exploration: the “clue of life” is not outside, but within one’s own consciousness. The speaker refuses shallow dependence and asks for inner sovereignty—if you can’t be mine, don’t be anyone’s tool. The emotional core is a call to awaken selfhood and live with purpose. Freedom here means becoming truly oneself.

Dive into your own inner self and find the clue to what life truly is.

If you cannot belong to me, then don’t—at least become your own.

The couplet urges deep self-exploration: the “clue of life” is not outside, but within one’s own consciousness. The speaker refuses shallow dependence and asks for inner sovereignty—if you can’t be mine, don’t be anyone’s tool. The emotional core is a call to awaken selfhood and live with purpose. Freedom here means becoming truly oneself.

Rekhta AI Explanation

यह शे’र इसरार-उल-हक़ मजाज़ के मशहूर अशआर में से एक है। माथे पे आँचल होने के कई मायने हैं। उदाहरण के लिए शर्म व लाज का होना, मूल्यों का रख रखाव होना आदि और भारतीय समाज में इन चीज़ों को नारी का शृंगार समझा जाता है। मगर जब नारी के इस शृंगार को पुरुष सत्तात्मक समाज में नारी की कमज़ोरी समझा जाता है तो नारी का व्यक्तित्व संकट में पड़ जाता है। इसी तथ्य को शायर ने अपने शे’र का विषय बनाया है। शायर नारी को सम्बोधित करते हुए कहते हैं कि यद्यपि तुम्हारे माथे पर शर्म व हया का आँचल ख़ूब लगता है मगर उसे अपनी कमज़ोरी मत बना। वक़्त का तक़ाज़ा है कि आप अपने इस आँचल से क्रांति का झंडा बनाएं और इस ध्वज को अपने अधिकारों के लिए उठाएं।

Shafaq Sopori

Rekhta AI Explanation

यह शे’र इसरार-उल-हक़ मजाज़ के मशहूर अशआर में से एक है। माथे पे आँचल होने के कई मायने हैं। उदाहरण के लिए शर्म व लाज का होना, मूल्यों का रख रखाव होना आदि और भारतीय समाज में इन चीज़ों को नारी का शृंगार समझा जाता है। मगर जब नारी के इस शृंगार को पुरुष सत्तात्मक समाज में नारी की कमज़ोरी समझा जाता है तो नारी का व्यक्तित्व संकट में पड़ जाता है। इसी तथ्य को शायर ने अपने शे’र का विषय बनाया है। शायर नारी को सम्बोधित करते हुए कहते हैं कि यद्यपि तुम्हारे माथे पर शर्म व हया का आँचल ख़ूब लगता है मगर उसे अपनी कमज़ोरी मत बना। वक़्त का तक़ाज़ा है कि आप अपने इस आँचल से क्रांति का झंडा बनाएं और इस ध्वज को अपने अधिकारों के लिए उठाएं।

Shafaq Sopori

Think about your homeland, naïve one; trouble is about to arrive.

In the heavens, plans are being discussed for your ruin.

Allama Iqbal addresses the careless person with a stark warning: a nation’s safety depends on vigilance and concern for the homeland. “Heavens” suggests higher powers, destiny, or the larger forces of the world already moving against you. The emotional core is urgency—wake up and take responsibility before decline becomes irreversible.

Think about your homeland, naïve one; trouble is about to arrive.

In the heavens, plans are being discussed for your ruin.

Allama Iqbal addresses the careless person with a stark warning: a nation’s safety depends on vigilance and concern for the homeland. “Heavens” suggests higher powers, destiny, or the larger forces of the world already moving against you. The emotional core is urgency—wake up and take responsibility before decline becomes irreversible.

If you long to understand the pain of the heart, serve the poor and needy.

This precious gem is not found in the treasuries of kings.

Iqbal contrasts inner, spiritual insight with worldly power. “Heart’s pain” is not mere suffering but a refined sensitivity that awakens through compassion. Serving the faqirs becomes the path to that priceless “gem,” while royal wealth symbolizes riches that cannot purchase empathy or truth. The couplet urges humility and service as the real source of inner treasure.

If you long to understand the pain of the heart, serve the poor and needy.

This precious gem is not found in the treasuries of kings.

Iqbal contrasts inner, spiritual insight with worldly power. “Heart’s pain” is not mere suffering but a refined sensitivity that awakens through compassion. Serving the faqirs becomes the path to that priceless “gem,” while royal wealth symbolizes riches that cannot purchase empathy or truth. The couplet urges humility and service as the real source of inner treasure.

In this world, live either in sorrow or in happiness—however your fate turns out.

But before you leave from here, do something so meaningful that you are long remembered.

Meer Taqi Meer contrasts life’s shifting states—grief and joy—with the one enduring demand: purposeful action. The couplet suggests emotions come and go, but what truly matters is leaving a mark. “Walking from here” hints at life’s departure, so the speaker urges deeds that outlast the self. The emotional core is a sober, motivating call to make one’s life memorable through meaningful work.

In this world, live either in sorrow or in happiness—however your fate turns out.

But before you leave from here, do something so meaningful that you are long remembered.

Meer Taqi Meer contrasts life’s shifting states—grief and joy—with the one enduring demand: purposeful action. The couplet suggests emotions come and go, but what truly matters is leaving a mark. “Walking from here” hints at life’s departure, so the speaker urges deeds that outlast the self. The emotional core is a sober, motivating call to make one’s life memorable through meaningful work.

Oh Zauq, adhering to strict formalities causes nothing but utter distress.

The person who lives without pretense remains in a state of comfort and peace.

The poet argues that social etiquette and formal behavior ('takalluf'), often adopted to please others, actually impose a heavy burden of suffering on the individual. True peace of mind is found only in simplicity, where one is free from the exhausting obligations of artificial manners and societal expectations.

Oh Zauq, adhering to strict formalities causes nothing but utter distress.

The person who lives without pretense remains in a state of comfort and peace.

The poet argues that social etiquette and formal behavior ('takalluf'), often adopted to please others, actually impose a heavy burden of suffering on the individual. True peace of mind is found only in simplicity, where one is free from the exhausting obligations of artificial manners and societal expectations.

A wound caused by words hurts more than a wound caused by a sword.

Kill me if you must, but do not say anything from your mouth.

Dagh Dehlvi contrasts physical injury with the deeper, lingering hurt of speech. The “sword” stands for visible pain, while “words” become an invisible blade that keeps cutting inside. The speaker begs for restraint: even extreme harm feels easier than being pierced by cruel remarks. The couplet’s emotional core is the fear of humiliation and the lasting sting of harsh language.

A wound caused by words hurts more than a wound caused by a sword.

Kill me if you must, but do not say anything from your mouth.

Dagh Dehlvi contrasts physical injury with the deeper, lingering hurt of speech. The “sword” stands for visible pain, while “words” become an invisible blade that keeps cutting inside. The speaker begs for restraint: even extreme harm feels easier than being pierced by cruel remarks. The couplet’s emotional core is the fear of humiliation and the lasting sting of harsh language.

Don’t walk so far beyond your limits, stepping out of your proper bounds.

This world is a passing road; move carefully and keep yourself steady.

Bahadur Shah Zafar advises restraint and humility: don’t overreach or act as if you’re above your place. Life is portrayed as a transient journey where everything moves on and slips away. Because the road is unstable and short-lived, one must walk with caution, balance, and awareness of one’s mortality.

Don’t walk so far beyond your limits, stepping out of your proper bounds.

This world is a passing road; move carefully and keep yourself steady.

Bahadur Shah Zafar advises restraint and humility: don’t overreach or act as if you’re above your place. Life is portrayed as a transient journey where everything moves on and slips away. Because the road is unstable and short-lived, one must walk with caution, balance, and awareness of one’s mortality.