خودي وہ بحر ہے جس کا کوئي کنارہ نہيں
English title: The self of man is ocean vast
Man’s inner self is like a vast ocean, endless and without limits. If you think it’s just a small stream, you’re not thinking clearly.
This spinning sky above us is nothing mysterious It isn’t made of stone, but of fragile glass.
We drown in the self, and then we rise again; But this courage does not belong to a weak and useless man.
How can an astrologer know your true worth? You are living dust, not ruled by the stars.
Here, too, is paradise—here are the heavenly maidens and even Gabriel. But your eyes still lack the boldness and vision to truly see them.
My passionate madness has understood the times well. It has gifted me a robe of love, whole and unbroken.
Strange it is—Nature is generous, yet also withholding: The ruby glows with fire inside, but it holds back the spark.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bal-e-Jibril — خودي وہ بحر ہے جس کا کوئي کنارہ 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 Not identified by publisher; This page does not name a translator.Source
