کيا چرخ کج رو ، کيا مہر ، کيا ماہ
English title: The Sun, the Moon and Sphere all go astray
کيا چرخ کج رو ، کيا مہر ، کيا ماہسب راہرو ہيں واماندہ راہ
The Sun, the Moon and Sphere all go astray, are vagrants who still straggle on the way.
کڑکا سکندر بجلي کي مانندتجھ کو خبر ہے اے مرگ ناگاہ
Alexander fell on world like thunder clap, but death soon caught him in its deadly trap.
نادر نے لوٹي دلي کي دولتاک ضرب شمشير ، افسانہ کوتاہ
King Nadir plundered Delhi's hoarded wealth, whereas his Chiefs put him to sword by stealth.
افغان باقي ، کہسار باقي!الحکم للہ ! الملک للہ
The Afghans and their hills e'en now remain; authority and the country belong to Allah.
حاجت سے مجبور مردان آزادکرتي ہے حاجت شيروں کو روباہ
Free heroes are compelled by wont and need, these change a lion bold to fox indeed.
محرم خودي سے جس دم ہوا فقر!تو بھي شہنشاہ ، ميں بھي شہنشاہ
When Faqr with Self gets free and frank, both you and I attain the regal rank.
قوموں کي تقدير وہ مرد درويشجس نے نہ ڈھونڈي سلطاں کي درگاہ
That Darvesh can build up a nation's fate who never tries to seek the royal gate.
Sources and translator credits
- Original text transcription: Zarb-e-Kalim — کيا چرخ کج رو ، کيا مہر ، کيا ماہ — 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 — — 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