baz tarjih nihadan-e-sher jehd ra bar tawakkul-o-fawaid-e-jehd ra bayan kardan
Interesting Fact
English Translation: Reynold. A. Nicholson
baaz tarjīh nihādan-e-sher jehd rā bar tavakkul-o-favā.id-e-jehd rā bayān kardan
How the lion again declared exertion to be
superior to trust in God and expounded the advantages of exertion.
sher guft āre-o-lekin ham ba-bīñ
jehd-hā-e-ambiyā-o-mo.minīñ
Yes, said the lion; but at the same time consider
the exertions of the prophets and the true believers.
haq tā'lā jahd-e-shāñ rā raast kard
āñ-che dīdand az jafā-o-garm-o-sard
God, exalted is He, prospered their exertion
and what they suffered of oppression and heat and cold.
hīla-hā shaañ jumla haal aamad latīf
kullu-shai.in min zarīfin hū zarīf
Their plans were excellent in all circumstances:
everything done by a goodly man is goodly.
dām-hā shaañ murġh-e-gardūnī giraft
naqsh-hā shaañ jumla afzūnī giraft
Their snares caught the Heavenly bird,
all their deficiencies turned to increment.
jahd mī kun tā tavānī ai kiyā
dar tarīq-e-ambiyā-o-auliyā
O master, exert thyself so long as thou canst in
(following) the way of the prophets and saints!
bā-qazā panja zadan na-buvad jihād
zāñ-ki iiñ rā ham qazā bar mā nihād
Endeavour is not a struggle with Destiny,
because Destiny itself has laid this (endeavour) upon us.
kāfiram man gar ziyāñ kardast kas
dar rah-e-īmān-o-tā'at yak-nafas
I am an infidel if any one has suffered loss a single moment
(while walking) in the way of faith and obedience.
sar shikasta niist iiñ sar rā ma-band
yak do roze jehd kun baaqī ba-kHand
Your head is not broken: do not bandage this head. Exert yourself
(in doing good works) for one or two little days (i.e. during this brief life), and laugh unto everlasting!
bad muhāle just kū duniyā ba-just
nek haale just kū 'uqbā ba-just
An evil resort sought he that sought this world;
a good state sought he that sought the world to come.
makr-hā dar kasb-e-duniyā bār-e-dast
makr-hā dar tark-e-duniyā vār-e-dast
Plots for gaining (the things of) this world are worthless,
(but) plots for renouncing this world are inspired (by God).
makar aañ bāshad ki zindāñ hufrah kard
āñ-ki hufra-e-bast aañ makrest sard
The (right) plot is that he (the prisoner) digs a hole in his prison
(in order to escape); if he blocks up the hole, that is a foolish plot.
iiñ jahāñ zindān-o-mā zindāniyāñ
hufrah kun zindān-o-kHud rā vārahāñ
This world is the prison, and we are the prisoners:
dig a hole in the prison and let yourself out!
chīst duniyā az ḳhudā ġhāfil budan
be-qimāsh-o-nuqra-o-mīzān-o-zan
What is this world? To be forgetful of God; it is not
merchandise and silver and weighing-scales and women.
maal rā kaz bahr-e-dīñ bāshī hamūl
ne'ma mālun sālehun kHvāndash rasūl
As regards the wealth that you carry for religion's sake,
How good is righteous wealth (for the righteous man)! as the Prophet recited.
aab dar kashtī halāk-e-kashtī ast
aab andar zer-e-kashtī pushtī ast
Water in the boat is the ruin of the boat,
(but) water underneath the boat is a support.
chūñ-kī māl-o-mulk rā az dil bar and
zaañ sulaimāñ ḳhvesh juz miskīñ na-kHvānd
Since he cast out from his heart (the desire for) wealth and possessions,
on that account Solomon did not call himself (by any name) but poor.
kūza-e-sar-basta andar āb-e-raft
az dil-e-pur-bād fauq-e-āb raft
The stoppered jar, (though) in rough water,
floated on the water because of its wind-filled (empty) heart.
bād-e-darveshī chu dar bātin buvad
bar sar-e-āb-e-jahāñ sākin buvad
When the wind of poverty is within (any one),
he rests at peace on the surface of the water of the world;
gar-che jumla iiñ jahāñ mulk-e-vai-ast
mulk dar chashm-e-dil-e-ū lā-shai-ast
Although the whole of this world is his kingdom,
in the eye of his heart the kingdom is nothing.
pas dahān-e-dil ba-band-o-mohar kun
pur-kunash az bād-e-gīr-e-min-ladun
Therefore stopper and seal the mouth of your heart,
and fill it from the Divine ventilator.
jahd haq-ast-o-davā haqast-o-dard
munkir andar jahd-e-jahdash jahd kard
Exertion is a reality, and medicine and disease are realities:
the sceptic in his denial of exertion practised (and thereby affirmed) exertion.
baz tarjih nihadan-e-sher jehd ra bar tawakkul-o-fawaid-e-jehd ra bayan kardan
How the lion again declared exertion to be
superior to trust in God and expounded the advantages of exertion.
sher guft aare-o-lekin hum ba-bin
jehd-ha-e-ambiya-o-mominin
Yes, said the lion; but at the same time consider
the exertions of the prophets and the true believers.
haq ta'la jahd-e-shan ra rast kard
aan-che didand az jafa-o-garm-o-sard
God, exalted is He, prospered their exertion
and what they suffered of oppression and heat and cold.
hila-ha shan jumla haal aamad latif
kullu-shain min zarifin hu zarif
Their plans were excellent in all circumstances:
everything done by a goodly man is goodly.
dam-ha shan murgh-e-garduni giraft
naqsh-ha shan jumla afzuni giraft
Their snares caught the Heavenly bird,
all their deficiencies turned to increment.
jahd mi kun ta tawani ai kiya
dar tariq-e-ambiya-o-auliya
O master, exert thyself so long as thou canst in
(following) the way of the prophets and saints!
ba-qaza panja zadan na-buwad jihad
zan-ki in ra hum qaza bar ma nihad
Endeavour is not a struggle with Destiny,
because Destiny itself has laid this (endeavour) upon us.
kafiram man gar ziyan kardast kas
dar rah-e-iman-o-ta'at yak-nafas
I am an infidel if any one has suffered loss a single moment
(while walking) in the way of faith and obedience.
sar shikasta nist in sar ra ma-band
yak do roze jehd kun baqi ba-kHand
Your head is not broken: do not bandage this head. Exert yourself
(in doing good works) for one or two little days (i.e. during this brief life), and laugh unto everlasting!
bad muhaale just ku duniya ba-just
nek haale just ku 'uqba ba-just
An evil resort sought he that sought this world;
a good state sought he that sought the world to come.
makr-ha dar kasb-e-duniya bar-e-dast
makr-ha dar tark-e-duniya war-e-dast
Plots for gaining (the things of) this world are worthless,
(but) plots for renouncing this world are inspired (by God).
makar aan bashad ki zindan hufrah kard
aan-ki hufra-e-bast aan makrest sard
The (right) plot is that he (the prisoner) digs a hole in his prison
(in order to escape); if he blocks up the hole, that is a foolish plot.
in jahan zindan-o-ma zindaniyan
hufrah kun zindan-o-kHud ra warahan
This world is the prison, and we are the prisoners:
dig a hole in the prison and let yourself out!
chist duniya az KHuda ghafil budan
be-qimash-o-nuqra-o-mizan-o-zan
What is this world? To be forgetful of God; it is not
merchandise and silver and weighing-scales and women.
mal ra kaz bahr-e-din bashi hamul
ne'ma malun salehun kHwandash rasul
As regards the wealth that you carry for religion's sake,
How good is righteous wealth (for the righteous man)! as the Prophet recited.
aab dar kashti halak-e-kashti ast
aab andar zer-e-kashti pushti ast
Water in the boat is the ruin of the boat,
(but) water underneath the boat is a support.
chun-ki mal-o-mulk ra az dil bar and
zan sulaiman KHwesh juz miskin na-kHwand
Since he cast out from his heart (the desire for) wealth and possessions,
on that account Solomon did not call himself (by any name) but poor.
kuza-e-sar-basta andar aab-e-raft
az dil-e-pur-baad fauq-e-ab raft
The stoppered jar, (though) in rough water,
floated on the water because of its wind-filled (empty) heart.
baad-e-darweshi chu dar baatin buwad
bar sar-e-ab-e-jahan sakin buwad
When the wind of poverty is within (any one),
he rests at peace on the surface of the water of the world;
gar-che jumla in jahan mulk-e-wai-ast
mulk dar chashm-e-dil-e-u la-shai-ast
Although the whole of this world is his kingdom,
in the eye of his heart the kingdom is nothing.
pas dahan-e-dil ba-band-o-mohar kun
pur-kunash az baad-e-gir-e-min-ladun
Therefore stopper and seal the mouth of your heart,
and fill it from the Divine ventilator.
jahd haq-ast-o-dawa haqast-o-dard
munkir andar jahd-e-jahdash jahd kard
Exertion is a reality, and medicine and disease are realities:
the sceptic in his denial of exertion practised (and thereby affirmed) exertion.
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