ख़ुदावंदा ये तेरे सादा-दिल बंदे किधर जाएँ कि दरवेशी भी अय्यारी है सुल्तानी भी अय्यारी
— Allama Iqbal
Meaning

Oh, God-loving, simple-hearted person, where shall we go? Even dervishism is a form of flirtation, and royalty is also a form of flirtation.

Explanation

This powerful couplet captures a deep sense of existential crisis and disillusionment. The poet asks, 'Where should these simple-hearted devotees go?' because he realizes that both the life of the ascetic mendicant (Darveshi) and the life of the powerful ruler (Sultani) are equally deceptive. It suggests that true truth or peace cannot be found in any established path, forcing the seeker into a state of profound spiritual confusion.

Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.

Audio

Recitation
Hindi Meaning
English Meaning
Hindi Explainer
English Explainer
Comments · 0

Free — just your email. You'll come right back here.

No comments yet. Be the first.