Your life and honor depend on this; if the self remains, the royalty remains; if it departs, the sorrow remains.
This profound couplet by Allama Iqbal speaks to the supreme importance of 'Khudi'—the self, the unique identity. The Shayar tells us that both your life and your honor are contingent upon maintaining this inner self. If your identity remains intact, your life has a royal dignity. But if you lose your sense of self, your life becomes like smudged ink—losing all clarity and nobility. It is a powerful call to self-respect.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
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