baaz tarjīh nihādan-e-sher jehd rā bar tavakkul
How the lion pronounced exertion to be superior to trust in God.
guft sher aare vale rabbul-'ibād
nardabāne pesh-e-pā-e-mā nihād
Yes, said the lion; but the Lord of His servants
set a ladder before our feet.
paaya paaya raft bāyad sū-e-bām
hast jabrī būdan īñ-jā tama'-e-ḳhām
Step by step must we climb towards the roof: to be
a necessitarian here is (to indulge in) foolish hopes.
pā-e-dārī chuuñ kunī ḳhud rā tu lañg
dast-dārī chuuñ kunī pinhāñ tu chañg
You have feet: why do you make yourself out to be lame? you have hands:
why do you conceal the fingers (whereby you grasp)?
ḳhvāja chuuñ bele ba-dast-e-banda daad
be-zabāñ mā'lūm shud uu rā murād
When the master put a spade in the slave's hand, his object was made
known to him (the slave) without (a word falling from his) tongue.
dast-e-ham-chūñ bel ishārat-hā-e-ūst
ākHir andeshī 'ibārat-hā-e-ūst
Hand and spade alike are His (God's) implicit signs; (our powers of)
thinking upon the end are His explicit declarations.
chuuñ ishārat-hāsh rā bar jaañ nehī
dar vafā-e-āñ ishārat jaañ dehī
When you take His signs to heart, you will devote
your life to fulfilling that indication (of His will).
pas ishārat-hā-e-asrārat dehad
baar bar dārad za tū kārat dehad
Then He will give you hints (for the understanding) of mysteries,
He will remove the burden from you and give you (spiritual) authority.
hāmilī mahmūl gardānad turā
qābilī maqbūl gardānad turā
Do you bear (His burden)? He will cause you to be borne (aloft).
Do you receive (His commands)? He will cause you to be received (into His favour).
qābil-e-amr-e-vai qābil shavī
vasl juue baa'd az aañ vāsil shavī
If you accept His command, you will become the spokesman (thereof);
if you seek union (with Him), thereafter you will become united.
sa'ī-e-shukr-e-ne'matash qudrat buvad
jabr-e-tū inkār-e-āñ ne'amat buvad
Freewill is the endeavour to thank (God) for His beneficence:
your necessitarianism is the denial of that beneficence.
shukr-e-qudrat qudratat afzūñ kunad
jabr ne'amat az kafat bairūñ kunad
Thanksgiving for the power (of acting freely) increases your power;
necessitarianism takes the (Divine) gift (of freewill) out of your hand.
jabr-e-tū ḳhuftan buvad dar rah ma-ḳhusb
tā ba-bīnī aañ dar-o-dargah ma-ḳhusb
Your necessitarianism is (like) sleeping on the road: do not sleep!
Sleep not, until you see the gate and the threshold!
haañ ma-ḳhusb ai jabrī-e-be-e'tibār
juz ba-zer-e-āñ darakHt-e-mevah-dār
Beware! do not sleep, O inconsiderate sluggard,
save underneath that fruit-laden tree,
tā ki shāḳh afshāñ kunad har lahza baad
bar sar-e-kHufta ba-rezad nuql-o-zād
So that every moment the wind may shake the boughs and shower
upon the sleeper (spiritual) dessert and provision for the journey.
jabr ḳhuftan dar mayān-e-rahzanāñ
murġh-e-be-hañgām ke yābad amaañ
(How absurd) to be a necessitarian and sleep amidst
highwaymen! How should the untimely bird receive quarter?
var ishārat-hās rā biinī zanī
mard pndārī-o-chūñ biinī zanī
And if you turn up your nose at His signs, you deem (yourself) a man,
but when you consider (more deeply), you are (only) a woman.
iiñ qadr 'aqle ki daarī gum shavad
sar ki 'aql az vai ba-parrad dum shavad
This measure of understanding which you possess is lost:
a head from which the understanding flies away,
zāñ-ki be-shukrī buvad shūm-o-shanār
mī barad be-shukr rā dar kā'r-e-nār
Because ingratitude is wickedness and disgrace
and brings the ingrate to the bottom of Hell-fire.
gar tavakkul mī kunī dar kaar kun
kasb kun pas takiya bar jabbār kun
If you are putting trust in God, put trust (in Him) as regards
(your) work: sow (the seed), then rely upon the Almighty.
baz tarjih nihadan-e-sher jehd ra bar tawakkul
How the lion pronounced exertion to be superior to trust in God.
guft sher aare wale rabbul-'ibaad
nardabane pesh-e-pa-e-ma nihad
Yes, said the lion; but the Lord of His servants
set a ladder before our feet.
paya paya raft bayad su-e-baam
hast jabri budan in-ja tama'-e-KHam
Step by step must we climb towards the roof: to be
a necessitarian here is (to indulge in) foolish hopes.
pa-e-dari chun kuni KHud ra tu lang
dast-dari chun kuni pinhan tu chang
You have feet: why do you make yourself out to be lame? you have hands:
why do you conceal the fingers (whereby you grasp)?
KHwaja chun bele ba-dast-e-banda dad
be-zaban ma'lum shud u ra murad
When the master put a spade in the slave's hand, his object was made
known to him (the slave) without (a word falling from his) tongue.
dast-e-ham-chun bel ishaarat-ha-e-ust
aakHir andeshi 'ibarat-ha-e-ust
Hand and spade alike are His (God's) implicit signs; (our powers of)
thinking upon the end are His explicit declarations.
chun ishaarat-hash ra bar jaan nehi
dar wafa-e-an ishaarat jaan dehi
When you take His signs to heart, you will devote
your life to fulfilling that indication (of His will).
pas ishaarat-ha-e-asrarat dehad
bar bar darad za tu karat dehad
Then He will give you hints (for the understanding) of mysteries,
He will remove the burden from you and give you (spiritual) authority.
hamili mahmul gardanad tura
qabili maqbul gardanad tura
Do you bear (His burden)? He will cause you to be borne (aloft).
Do you receive (His commands)? He will cause you to be received (into His favour).
qabil-e-amr-e-wai qabil shawi
wasl jue ba'd az aan wasil shawi
If you accept His command, you will become the spokesman (thereof);
if you seek union (with Him), thereafter you will become united.
sa'i-e-shukr-e-ne'matash qudrat buwad
jabr-e-tu inkar-e-an ne'amat buwad
Freewill is the endeavour to thank (God) for His beneficence:
your necessitarianism is the denial of that beneficence.
shukr-e-qudrat qudratat afzun kunad
jabr ne'amat az kafat bairun kunad
Thanksgiving for the power (of acting freely) increases your power;
necessitarianism takes the (Divine) gift (of freewill) out of your hand.
jabr-e-tu KHuftan buwad dar rah ma-KHusb
ta ba-bini aan dar-o-dargah ma-KHusb
Your necessitarianism is (like) sleeping on the road: do not sleep!
Sleep not, until you see the gate and the threshold!
han ma-KHusb ai jabri-e-be-e'tibar
juz ba-zer-e-an darakHt-e-mewah-dar
Beware! do not sleep, O inconsiderate sluggard,
save underneath that fruit-laden tree,
ta ki shaKH afshan kunad har lahza baad
bar sar-e-kHufta ba-rezad nuql-o-zad
So that every moment the wind may shake the boughs and shower
upon the sleeper (spiritual) dessert and provision for the journey.
jabr KHuftan dar mayan-e-rahzanan
murgh-e-be-hangam ke yabad aman
(How absurd) to be a necessitarian and sleep amidst
highwaymen! How should the untimely bird receive quarter?
war ishaarat-has ra bini zani
mard pndari-o-chun bini zani
And if you turn up your nose at His signs, you deem (yourself) a man,
but when you consider (more deeply), you are (only) a woman.
in qadr 'aqle ki dari gum shawad
sar ki 'aql az wai ba-parrad dum shawad
This measure of understanding which you possess is lost:
a head from which the understanding flies away,
zan-ki be-shukri buwad shum-o-shanar
mi barad be-shukr ra dar ka'r-e-nar
Because ingratitude is wickedness and disgrace
and brings the ingrate to the bottom of Hell-fire.
gar tawakkul mi kuni dar kar kun
kasb kun pas takiya bar jabbar kun
If you are putting trust in God, put trust (in Him) as regards
(your) work: sow (the seed), then rely upon the Almighty.
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