ہمد ر د ي
English title: SYMPATHY
ٹہني پہ کسي شجر کي تنہابلبل تھا کوئي اداس بيٹھا
Perched on the branch of a tree was a nightingale sad and lonely.
کہتا تھا کہ رات سر پہ آئياڑنے چگنے ميں دن گزارا
‘The night has drawn near’, he was thinking; ‘I passed the day in flying around and feeding.
پہنچوں کس طرح آشياں تکہر چيز پہ چھا گيا اندھيرا
How can I reach up to the nest; darkness has enveloped everything’?
سن کر بلبل کي آہ و زاريجگنو کوئي پاس ہي سے بولا
Hearing the nightingale wailing thus; a glow-worm lurking nearby spoke thus:
حاضر ہوں مدد کو جان و دل سےکيڑا ہوں اگرچہ ميں ذرا سا
‘With my heart and soul ready to help I am; though only an insignificant insect I am.
کيا غم ہے جو رات ہے اندھيريميں راہ ميں روشني کروں گا
Never mind if the night is dark; I shall shed light if the way is dark.
اللہ نے دي ہے مجھ کو مشعلچمکا کے مجھے ديا بنايا
God has bestowed a torch on me. He has given a shining lamp to me.
ہيں لوگ وہي جہاں ميں اچھےآتے ہيں جو کام دوسرں کے
The good in the world only those are; ready to be useful to others who are.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bang-e-Dara — ہمد ر د ي — 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 — Sympathy — 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