ज़रा सा तो दिल हूँ मगर शोख़ इतना वही लन-तरानी सुना चाहता हूँ
— Allama Iqbal
Meaning

I am just a tiny heart, yet so daring and bold that I long to hear that very same divine refusal: 'You shall never see Me.'

Explanation

Here, the poet smiles tenderly at the wild audacity of his own fragile heart. The phrase 'lan-tarani' ('thou shalt not see Me') invokes the iconic story of Moses on Mount Sinai, who dared to ask for a direct vision of the Divine and was gently denied. Though this human heart is small and frail, it possesses such fearless longing that it insists on seeking the ultimate beloved, yearning to hear that very same divine refusal just to experience the thrill of the encounter.

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

Audio

RecitationUnavailable
Hindi MeaningUnavailable
English MeaningUnavailable
Hindi ExplainerUnavailable
English ExplainerUnavailable
Comments · 0

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

No comments yet. Be the first.