Shama Hi Sar Na De Gai Barbaad / Kushta Apni Zabaan Ke Hum Bhi Hain — Mir Taqi Mir
Meaning
I am ruined by my own tongue, not by the sword or the arrow. This means that the speaker's downfall comes from their own words rather than from external weapons.
Explanation
This powerful couplet speaks to the self-destructive nature of our own words. Mir Taqi Mir says that even a candle, a small source of light, couldn't utterly ruin him; no, the real devastation comes from our own tongue. It suggests that the greatest enemies are not external forces, but the uncontrolled thoughts and words we speak. A profound reminder that sometimes, the sharpest wound is the one we give ourselves.
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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