خودي کي شوخي و تندي ميں کبر و ناز نہيں
English title: In the coquetry and fierceness of the self there
In the coquetry and fierceness of the self there is no pride, there are no airs. Even if there are airs, then they are not without the pleasure of submission.
The eye of love is in search of the living heart; hunting for carrion does not befit up to the royal hawk.
In my song there is no charming and romantic grace, for the blast of the trumpet of Israfil is not meant to please the heart.
I will not ask for wine from the Frank, saki, for this is not the way of the pure-hearted profligates.
The rule of love has never been widespread in the world. The reason is this – that love is no time-server.
One continual anxiety; whether absent or present! If I tell it myself, my story is not long.
If you desire then read the Persian Psalms; in seclusion; the midnight lament is not bereft of secrets.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bal-e-Jibril — خودي کي شوخي و تندي ميں کبر و ناز نہيں — Digital transcription file at commit 39d44fc0c2b8ca25769c4b36e6eac4d90cb42b35; the source dataset does not identify the underlying print edition.Verified against this pinned digital transcription file; not checked against a print edition.Source
- Iqbal Demystified source list: Bal-e-Jibril — Pinned digital dataset commit 39d44fc0c2b8ca25769c4b36e6eac4d90cb42b35; the underlying print edition is not identified by the dataset.Community dataset list; not reconciled against a print edition.Source
- Bal-e-Jibril English translation at allama-iqbal.com — — Public digital poem page, retrieved 2026-10-06; pinned to allama-iqbal.com commit 82547635bb6b758c45082084b2f152fc453a8056.Translation by D.J. Matthews; English Translation by: D.J. MatthewsSource