There was a verdant pasture somewhere
Whose land was the very picture of beauty
How can the beauty of that elegance be described
Brooks of sparkling water were running on every side
Many were the pomegranate trees
And so were the shady peepul trees
Cool breeze flowed everywhere
Birds were singing everywhere
A goat arrived at a brook's bank from somewhere
It came browsing from somewhere in the nearby land
As she stopped and looked around
She noticed a cow standing by
The goat first presented her compliments to the cow
Then respectfully started this conversation
"How are you! Madam Cow"?
The cow replied, "Not too well
"My life is a mere existence
My life is a complete agony
My life is in danger, what can I say?
My luck is bad, what can I say?
I am surprised at the state of affairs
I am cursing the evil people
The poor ones like us are powerless
Misfortunes surround the ones like us
None should nicely deal with Man
May God protect us from Man!
He murmurs if my milk declines
He sells me if my weight declines
He subdues us with cleverness!
Alluring, he always subjugates us!
I nurse his children with milk
I give them new life with milk
My goodness is repaid with evil
My prayer to God is for mercy!"
Having heard the cow's story like this
The goat replied, "This complaint is unjust
Though truth is always bitter
I shall speak what is fair
This pasture, and this cool breeze
This green grass and this shade
Such comforts, were beyond our lot!
They were a far cry for us speechless poor!
We owe these pleasures to Man
We owe all our happiness to Man
We derive all our prosperity from him
What is better for us, freedom or bondage to him?
Hundreds of dangers lurk in the wilderness
May God protect us from the wilderness!
We are heavily indebted to him
Unjust is our complaint against him
If you appreciate the life's comforts
You would never complain against Man"
Hearing all this the cow felt embarrassed
She was sorry for complaining against Man
She mused over the good and the bad
And thoughtfully she said this
"Small though is the body of the goat
Convincing is the advice of the goat!"
Notes
Glossary
1. Peepul - A large shady tree of the Indian sub-continent.
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A beautifully executed poem , and is so much balanced in every respect.i really look upto this poem as a great inspiration.
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Allama perhaps had greater empathy with birds than the four-legged animals and more imaginative about them.His "aataa hai yaad mujhko' is a simpler and moving poem. Both the Cow and the Goat here appear impositions of logic of Allama's socio-politcalor civilized mind rather than the creations of his imaginations- or creations of his "Fancy" rather than Imagination, in terms of Coleridgean categories.JKS
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introduction
The lesson of this apologue is that the peace and prosperity of the denizens of the earth is possible only through the proper management of the unlimited resources bestowed by God on the earth and that such management can produce the desired results only by the judicious use of the talents very graciously bestowed by God upon Man. In this respect Man is the masterpiece of creation and is higher than the rest of God's creation. -
great
"If you appreciate the life's comforts
You would never complain against Man"
This is a very great metaphorical rather allegorical expression about the human being the most superior of all creatures but with the conditions and responsibilities. Although the basic concept is derived from an old English rhyme but with the touch of Allama Iqbal this concept has reached its peak. Great thought! -
Wonderful analysis peacelink... I would have to agree with you on that. Iqbal's words are very wise indeed. May be today's world will learn something from that as well
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an allegorical poem. Iqbal is making man realise his follies for only seeing the bad side and never realising the good fortunes he has. Man is forever ungrateful, the cow here is Man. perhaps Iqbal is also addressing certain sections of soceity of the times for blaming all their misfortunes onto others and not facing up to the facts that certain misfortunes might be the results of their own shortcomings or lack of trying. A section of soceity that has fallen into a state of apathy.
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