For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.

https://urdushahkar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ddsh-agar-Khuda-na-mila-audio.mp3

Recitation

اگر  خدا  نہ  ملا  ۔  دوارکا  داس  شعلہؔ

۱

کسی  کو  بھول  بھلیّاں  میں  راستہ  نہ  ملا

خدا  کا  نام  بڑا  ہے  مگر  پتہ  نہ  ملا

۲

زہے  نصیب  کہ  بجلی  نے  شمع  دکھلا  دی

بڑی  تلاش  کے  بعد  آج  آشیانہ  ملا

۳

گیا  میں  کعبہ  بھی  اور  بتکدے  بھی  ہو  آیا

کہیں  بھی  تیرے  سوا  کوئی  دوسرا  نہ  ملا

۴

تلاشِ  حق  میں  نہ  دنیا  کو  چھوڑ  اے  زاہد

کہیں  کا  بھی  نہ  رہے  گا  اگر  خدا  نہ  ملا

۵

تمام  عمر  تلاشِ  معاش  میں  گزری

ملی  تو  زیست  مگر  زیست  کا  مزہ  نہ  ملا

۶

بتوں  کو  چھوڑ  کے  کھوئے  گئے  کِدھر  شعلہؔ

خدا  کی  راہ  میں  اپنا  بھی  کچھ  پتہ  نہ  ملا

अगर ख़ुदा न मिला – द्वारका दास शोला

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Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion   dwarka das sho’la (1910-1983), lahore and later punjab and dehli. He started learning urdu because he liked ‘urdu-vaale’ around him. He inherited a pharmacy business and grew it enough to get a mention in Who’s Who, India Trade Directory, 1942. He received formal schooling only up to 8th grade because his father recruited him in the family business. While washing bottles/vials he kept humming ash’aar. Later, hafiz jalandhari became his ustaad. He says they clicked because hafiz jaalandhari was equally unschooled (formally) and talked in panjabi.

dwarka das sho’la (1910-1983), lahore and later punjab and dehli.  He started learning urdu because he liked ‘urdu-vaale’ around him.  He inherited a pharmacy business and grew it enough to get a mention in Who’s Who, India Trade Directory, 1942.  He received formal schooling only up to 8th grade because his father recruited him in the family business.  While washing bottles/vials he kept humming ash’aar.  Later, hafiz jalandhari became his ustaad.  He says they clicked because hafiz jaalandhari was equally unschooled (formally) and talked in panjabi.

1.labyrinthine maze 2.address, whereabouts, clue

The poet describes life as a labyrinth/maze bhuul bhulayyaN where no one finds a way out of it.  While god’s name is known to all, everyone talks about him, his actual presence/address remains elusive.

1.good fortune 2.lightning flash 3.lamp 4.search 5.nest, home

Here bijli could symbolize a flash of insight/brain wave or even divine inspiration and sham’a could symbolize knowledge while aashiyaana may mean home/refuge from the confusion of the world.  Thus by a stroke of good fortune a flash of insight saved him and he was able to find a refuge.  Any number of simpler interpretations are possible.  I think that the reader should be left free to choose their own.

1.sanctuary in makkah, mosque 2.idol-house, temple 3.except for 4.other, different

I went to the mosque as well as to the temple.  Nowhere did I find anyone other than you (a universal god of all human beings).

1.search 2.truth, god 3.observant of orthodox rituals

O observant ascetic zaahid, don’t abandon the (pleasures of the) world in your truth/god-seeking.  If god isn’t found you’ll have missed out on the pleasures of the world without getting the promised rewards of the afterlife.

1.total, whole 2.life 3.search 4.livelihood 5.passed, spent 6.life

My whole life passed in the struggle for a livelihood talaash-e m’aash.  I did get to live but did not get to enjoy life.

1.idols, also used for beloved 2.lost 3.where 4.pen-name 5.path 6.clue, identity

Here idols but can symbolize a faith in idolatory, beautiful women and/or worldly pleasures.  After abandoning idols look where you got lost, O sho’la.  In the path towards god, you lost your own identity-purpose in life.

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