ايک پہا ڑ اور گلہري
English title: A MOUNTAIN AND A SQUIRREL
A mountain was saying this to a squirrel: ‘Commit suicide if you have self-respect.
You are insignificant, still so arrogant, how strange! You are neither wise, nor intelligent! Not even shrewd!
It is strange when the insignificant pose as important! When the stupid ones like you pose as intelligent!
You are no match in comparison with my splendour; even the earth is low compared with my splendour.
The grandeur of mine does not fall to your lot; the poor animal cannot equal the great mountain!’
On hearing this, the squirrel said: ‘Hold your tongue! These are immature thoughts; expel them from your heart!
I do not care if I am not large like you! You are not a pretty little thing like me.
Everything shows the Omni-potence of God; some large, some small, is the wisdom of God.
He has created you large in the world and He has taught me climbing large trees.
You are unable to walk a single step. Only large size! What other greatness have you?
If you are large show me some of the skills I have; show me how you break this beetle nut as I can.
Nothing is useless in this world. Nothing is bad in God's creation.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bang-e-Dara — ايک پہا ڑ اور گلہري — 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: Bang-e-Dara — 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
- Pinned digital source list 001 (Bang-e-Dara section headings) — Pinned repository commit 39d44fc0c2b8ca25769c4b36e6eac4d90cb42b35; digital transcription, not a selected print edition.Verified against this pinned digital transcription file; not checked against a print edition.Source
- Bang-e-Dara English translation at allama-iqbal.com — A Mountain And A Squirrel — Public digital poem page, retrieved 2026-10-05; pinned to allama-iqbal.com commit 82547635bb6b758c45082084b2f152fc453a8056.Translation by Dr M.A.K. Khalil; English Translation by: Dr M.A.K. KhalilSource