نصيحت
English title: ADVICE
اک لرد فرنگي نے کہا اپنے پسر سےمنظر وہ طلب کر کہ تري آنکھ نہ ہو سير
A Frankish Lord advised his son to seek such aim that is always pleasant ne'er bleak.
بيچارے کے حق ميں ہے يہي سب سے بڑا ظلمبرے پہ اگر فاش کريں قاعدہ شير
If lion's temper is to lamb revealed, it will entirely make its blood congealed.
سينے ميں رہے راز ملوکانہ تو بہترکرتے نہيں محکوم کو تيغوں سے کبھي زير
Much good, if regal point remains in heart, in dominating men sword plays no part.
تعليم کے تيزاب ميں ڈال اس کي خودي کوہو جائے ملائم تو جدھر چاہے ، اسے پھير
Pour the Self in culture's acid strong, when it becomes soft, mould it as you long.
تاثير ميں اکسير سے بڑھ کر ہے يہ تيزابسونے کا ہمالہ ہو تو مٹي کا ہے اک ڈھير
On this Elexir's efficacy you can count, to heap of dust can change a mighty mount!
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Zarb-e-Kalim — نصيحت — 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: Zarb-e-Kalim — 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
- Zarb-e-Kalim English translation at allama-iqbal.com — Advice — Public digital poem page, retrieved 2026-10-06; pinned to allama-iqbal.com commit 82547635bb6b758c45082084b2f152fc453a8056.Translation by Syed Akbar Ali Shah; English Translation by: Syed Akbar Ali ShahSource