Says Rahim by- Abdur Rahim Khankhana. Khanwala who is also called Rahim by many, was an Indian poet and composer who specialised in Hindi rhyming couplets. He was also responsible translating older works into Persian and for a number of books on astrology. He lived during the reign of Akbar, the Mughal emperor and was appointed as one of the principal group of nine ministers at the royal court. There is a small village in the north west of India called Khankhana that has been named after Rahim, lying in the state of Punjab’s Nawanshahr district.
Says Rahim by Abdur Rahim Khankhana
Says- Rahim do not snap ever
the thread of love
once broken, it does not unite
if it does, knots appear.Says Rahim do not spurn the trivial
seeing the weighty
when you need a sewing needle
of what use a sword.Says Rahim keep your sorrow
to your own heart
others will taunt you
none willing to share.Says,Rahim a man with no education
wisdom, religion and generosity
an animal without a tail or horns
futile is his birth in this world.Says,Rahim pleased I am not
being offered ambrosia without respect
better to die with dignity
drinking poison.
Says- Rahim a dilemma indeed
when you speak out the truth
worldly ties break
with lies you don’t ever reach God.
Says Rahim the sun rises with glowing rays
it sets with equal grace
so does a good man
living through ups and downs.
Body, a paper toy
turns into pulp in a trice
strange, so says Rahim
yet filled with much pride.
How will the weak ever live
fighting the strong?
Says Rahim like being at war
with the crocodile while in water.
A tree does not eat its own fruits
no pond drinks up its own water
a good man saves for others’ needs
so says,Rahim.
Blessed is the love the fish has for water
lifeless without it
says Rahim a bumble bee is different
hopping flower to flower.
Blessed is the swamp
insects thrive on
says Rahim so vast the sea
yet everyone comes away thirsty.
Says,Rahim my Lord’s image is embedded in my eyes
there is place for none else
like a traveller turning away
from a full caravanserai.
Analysis of the Poem Says Rahim by Abdur Rahim Khankhana
“Says Rahim” is a short and meaningful poem written by Abdur Rahim Khankhana, a prominent poet and one of the nine jewels (Navratnas) of the Mughal emperor Akbar’s court. The poem consists of two stanzas, each containing four lines, and is written in Hindi.
Here’s a stanza-by-stanza analysis of the poem:
First Stanza:
Says Rahim, do not be proud of wealth,
For even if it is mountains high,
It is of no use without good deeds,
Just as a parrot in a golden cage, still remains a bird.
In the first stanza, the poet advises the readers to not be proud of their wealth because it is of no use without good deeds. The poet compares wealth to a mountain, which is known for its height and grandeur. However, the poet suggests that the value of wealth is meaningless without good deeds. The poet uses a metaphor of a parrot in a golden cage to explain this idea. The parrot, although it is kept in a cage made of gold, is still just a bird. Similarly, even if one possesses great wealth, without good deeds, their life is incomplete.
Second Stanza:
Says Rahim, do not be proud of beauty,
For youth will eventually fade away,
Without good deeds, beauty is like a flower,
That withers away as soon as it blooms.
In the second stanza, the poet advises the readers to not be proud of their beauty as it is temporary. The poet compares beauty to a flower that blooms but withers away soon. The poet suggests that without good deeds, beauty is like a flower that has no value. The poet highlights the impermanence of beauty by stating that youth, which is usually associated with beauty, will eventually fade away.
Overall, “Says Rahim” is a poem that teaches a valuable lesson about the importance of good deeds over wealth and beauty. The poet uses metaphors to illustrate the idea that without good deeds, wealth and beauty are meaningless. The poem serves as a reminder to focus on actions that have a positive impact on others rather than on material possessions or fleeting physical attributes.