Chapter 8. If

Explanation of the Poem

This poem is "If—" by Rudyard Kipling, where he imparts wisdom to his son, laying out qualities that define a true and complete man. The poem outlines the virtues of patience, humility, self-confidence, resilience, and balance in life.

Difficult Words and Their Meanings

1. Allowance

   • Meaning (English): Consideration, tolerance

   • Meaning (Hindi): सहनशीलता, ध्यान रखना

2. Imposters

   • Meaning (English): Deceivers, frauds

   • Meaning (Hindi): धोखेबाज़, कपटी

3. Knaves

   • Meaning (English): Dishonest people

   • Meaning (Hindi): बदमाश, दुष्ट व्यक्ति

4. Worn-out

   • Meaning (English): Exhausted, used up

   • Meaning (Hindi): थका हुआ, जीर्ण

5. Sinew

   • Meaning (English): Strength, muscle

   • Meaning (Hindi): मांसपेशी, ताकत

6. Foes

   • Meaning (English): Enemies

   • Meaning (Hindi): दुश्मन

7. Heap

   • Meaning (English): A large pile

   • Meaning (Hindi): ढेर, बहुत बड़ी राशि

8. Pitch-and-toss

   • Meaning (English): A gambling game where coins are tossed

   • Meaning (Hindi): सिक्के उछालने का खेल

9. Virtue

   • Meaning (English): Moral excellence

   • Meaning (Hindi): सद्गुण, नैतिकता

10. Unforgiving

    • Meaning (English): Relentless, harsh

    • Meaning (Hindi): कठोर, निर्दयी

Line by Line Explanation in Hindi

1. "If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too;"
   अगर तुम खुद पर भरोसा कर सकते हो जब सभी लोग तुम पर संदेह करते हैं, लेकिन उनके संदेह को भी ध्यान में रखते हो;

2. "If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,"
   अगर तुम इंतजार कर सकते हो और इंतजार से थकते नहीं हो, या अगर तुम्हारे बारे में झूठ बोला जाता है, तो तुम झूठ से दूर रहते हो;

3. "Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;"
   अगर तुमसे नफरत की जाती है, फिर भी तुम नफरत में नहीं पड़ते, और फिर भी तुम बहुत अच्छे या बहुत समझदार नहीं दिखते;

4. "If you can dream – and not make dreams your master; If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;"
   अगर तुम सपने देख सकते हो लेकिन सपनों को अपना मालिक नहीं बनाते, अगर तुम सोच सकते हो लेकिन अपने विचारों को ही जीवन का लक्ष्य नहीं बनाते;

5. "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two imposters just the same;"
   अगर तुम सफलता और विफलता का सामना कर सकते हो और उन दोनों धोखेबाजों को एक जैसा मान सकते हो;

6. "If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,"
   अगर तुम सहन कर सकते हो कि तुम्हारे द्वारा कही गई सच्चाई को धोखेबाज लोग इस तरह से तोड़-मरोड़कर पेश करते हैं जिससे मूर्ख लोग फंस जाएं;

7. "Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;"
   या फिर तुम उन चीजों को देख सकते हो जिन्हें तुमने अपने जीवन का आधार बनाया था, टूटते हुए, और फिर से पुरानी और घिसी हुई चीजों से उन्हें खड़ा कर सकते हो;

8. "If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,"
   अगर तुम अपनी सारी कमाई का एक ढेर बना सकते हो और उसे सिक्के उछालने के एक खेल में दांव पर लगा सकते हो;

9. "And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss;"
   और हारने के बाद फिर से अपनी शुरुआत कर सकते हो और अपनी हार के बारे में कभी एक शब्द नहीं कहते;

10. "If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone,"
    अगर तुम अपने दिल, तंत्रिका, और ताकत को उस समय तक काम में ला सकते हो जब तक कि वे समाप्त नहीं हो जाते;

11. "And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'"
    और तब भी आगे बढ़ते रहते हो जब तुम्हारे अंदर कुछ नहीं बचा होता सिवाय उस इच्छा के जो कहती है, "डटे रहो!"

12. "If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,"
    अगर तुम भीड़ के साथ बातचीत कर सकते हो और अपनी नैतिकता बनाए रख सकते हो, या राजा के साथ चल सकते हो और फिर भी आम आदमी जैसा रह सकते हो;

13. "If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much;"
    अगर न तो दुश्मन और न ही प्रिय दोस्त तुम्हें चोट पहुंचा सकते हैं, अगर सभी लोग तुम्हारे साथ हैं, लेकिन कोई बहुत ज़्यादा नहीं;

14. "If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,"
    अगर तुम उस निष्ठुर समय को 60 सेकंड की दौड़ के योग्य बना सकते हो;

15. "Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And – which is more – you'll be a Man, my son!"
    तो यह पृथ्वी और इसमें जो कुछ भी है, सब तुम्हारा होगा, और जो सबसे ज्यादा महत्वपूर्ण है – तुम एक सच्चे इंसान बन जाओगे, मेरे बेटे!

Summary

The poem encourages one to cultivate virtues like patience, self-trust, humility, and resilience in the face of life's challenges. Kipling advises maintaining balance in emotions, thoughts, and actions while striving for greatness. The ultimate reward, he concludes, is to become a complete and mature human being.

Exercise 

A. Complete the sentences

1. According to the poet, one should trust themselves when
   everyone else doubts them, but still consider others' doubts.

2. When one sees the things they gave their life to broken, they should
   stoop and rebuild them with worn-out tools.

3. If one loses, they should
   start again at the beginning without complaining or talking about the loss.

4. The poet says that while walking with Kings, one should not
   lose the common touch or forget their humility.

B. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;

1. Do you think the poet values dreams? How?
   Yes, the poet values dreams but cautions against becoming obsessed with them. He advises not to let dreams control one's life.

2. Who are the 'two imposters' referred to here?
   The 'two imposters' are Triumph and Disaster, representing success and failure, both of which can be deceiving if taken too seriously.

3. What would happen if one made thoughts the sole aim of one's life?
   If one made thoughts the sole aim, they would become too focused on intellectual pursuits without turning those thoughts into meaningful actions.

C. Answer the following questions

1. What does the poet mean when he says 'If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you?'
   The poet means that one should have confidence in themselves and their decisions, even when others question their ability or actions.

2. Why would the knaves twist the truth one has spoken?
   The knaves, or dishonest people, would twist the truth to manipulate others or trap the innocent for their own benefit.

3. According to the poet, how should you respond if you fail in meeting your goals?
   You should start again from the beginning without complaining or dwelling on the failure. Resilience is key.

4. Why does the poet call the minute 'unforgiving'?
   The minute is 'unforgiving' because time is relentless and does not stop for anyone. Every moment must be used wisely, as it cannot be regained.