نانک
English title: NANAK
The nation did not care for the message of Gautam at all; the value of its own single pearl* it did not appreciate at all.
Ah! The unfortunate nation remained unaware of the call of the Truth; the tree is unaware of the sweetness of its own fruit.
He exhibited whatever the secret of life was, but India proud of its visionary philosophy was.
The assembly which could be illuminated by Truth’s light was not this; the rain of mercy did come but the soil was not suitable!
Ah! India is a place of sorrow for the Shudra; this habitation’s heart is unaware of human sympathy.
The Brahman is still intoxicated with the wine of arrogance; Gautam’s candle is alight in the assembly of strangers.*
However, the temple again became lighted after eons; the house of Azar became lighted with Ibrahim’s light.
At last the call of Tawhid rose from the Punjab again! A perfect man roused India from its slumber again!
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Bang-e-Dara — نانک — 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
- Bang-e-Dara English translation at allama-iqbal.com — Nanak (reference to Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism) — 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