bayān-e-kHasārat-e-vazīr dar iiñ makar
Setting forth how the vizier incurred perdition (by engaging) in this plot.
ham-chu shah nādān-o-ġhāfil bud vazīr
panja mī zad bā qadīm-e-nā-guzīr
The vizier was ignorant and heedless, like the (Jewish)
king: he was wrestling with the eternal and inevitable,
bā chunāñ qādir ḳhudā.e kaz 'adam
sad chu 'ālam hast gardānad badam
With a God so mighty that in a moment He causes a hundred
worlds like ours to come into existence from non-existence:
sad chu 'ālam dar nazar paidā kunad
chūñki chashmat rā ba-ḳhud biinā kunad
A hundred worlds like ours He displays to the sight,
when He makes your eye seeing by (the light of) Himself.
gar jahāñ peshat buzurg-o-be-bunīst
pehs-e-qudrat zarra-e-mī-dāñ ki niist
If the world appears to you vast and bottomless,
know that to Omnipotence it is not (so much as) an atom.
iiñ jahāñ ḳhud habs jān-hā-e-shumāst
hiiñ ravīd aañ sū ki sahrā.e shumāst
This world, indeed, is the prison of your souls: oh,
go in yonder direction, for there lies your open country.
iiñ jahāñ mahdūd-o-āñ ḳhud be-hadast
naqsh-o-sūrat pesh-e-āñ mā'nī sadast
This world is finite, and truly that (other) is infinite:
image and form are a barrier to that Reality.
sad hazārāñ neza-fir'aun rā
dar shikast az muusā bā yak 'asā
The myriads of Pharaoh's lances were shattered by
(the hand of) Moses (armed) with a single staff.
sad hazārāñ tibb-e-jālīnūs buud
pesh-e-'īsā-o-damash afsos buud
Myriads were the therapeutic arts of Galen: before Jesus and his
(life-giving) breath they were a laughing-stock.
sad hazārāñ daftar-e-ash'ār buud
pesh-e-harf-e-ummiyash aañ 'aar buud
Myriads were the books of (pre-Islamic) poems:
at the word of an illiterate (prophet) they were (put to) shame.
bā chunīñ ġhālib ḳhudāvande kase
chuuñ na-mīrad gar na-bāshad uu ḳhase
(Confronted) with such an all-conquering Lord,
how should any one not die (to self), unless he be a vile wretch?
bas dil-e-chūñ koh rā añgekHt uu
murġh-e-zīrak bā-do pā āveḳht uu
Many a mind (strong and firm) as a mountain did He uproot;
the cunning bird He hung up by its two feet.
fahm-o-kHātir tez kardan niist raah
juz shikasta mī na-gīrad fazl-e-shāh
To sharpen the intelligence and wits is not the (right) way:
none but the broken (in spirit) wins the favour of the King.
ai basā ganj āgnān-e-kuñj kaav
kaañ ḳhayāl andesh rā shud rish-e-gāv
Oh, many the amassers of treasure, digging holes (in search of treasure),
who became an ox's beard (dupe) to that vain schemer (the vizier)!
gaav ki buvad tā tū rīsh-e-ū shavī
ḳhaak che buvad tā hashīsh-e-ū shavī
Who is the ox that you should become his beard?
What is earth that you should become its stubble?
chuuñ zane az kār-e-bad shud rū-e-zard
masḳh kard uu rā kHudā-o-zohra kard
When a woman became pale-faced (ashamed) of (her) wickedness,
God metamorphosed her and made her Zuhra (the planet Venus).
'aurate rā zohra kardan masḳh buud
kHāk-o-gil gashtan che bāshad ai 'anūd
To make a woman Zuhra was metamorphosis: is it not metamorphosis
to become earth and clay, O contumacious one?
ruuh mī burdat sū-e-charḳh-e-barīñ
sū-e-āb-o-gil shudī dar asfalīñ
Your spirit was bearing you towards the highest sphere (of heaven):
you went towards the water and the clay amongst the lowest
(of the low).
ḳhveshtan rā masḳh kardī ziiñ sufūl
za aañ vujūde ki bud aañ rashk-e-'uqūl
By this fall you metamorphosed yourself from that (state of)
existence which was the envy of the (spiritual) intelligences.
pas ba-bīñ kiiñ masḳh kardan chuuñ buvad
pesh-e-āñ masḳh iiñ ba-ġhāyat duuñ buvad
Consider, then, how is (what is the character of) this metamorphosis:
compared with that metamorphosis (of the woman) this (which you have suffered) is exceedingly vile.
asb-e-himmat sū-e-akHtar tākHtī
ādam-e-masjūd rā na-shanāḳhtī
You urged the steed of ambition towards the stars:
you did not acknowledge Adam who was worshipped (by the angels).
ākHir aadam zāda-e-ai nā-ḳhalaf
chand pindārī tu pastī rā sharaf
After all, you are a son of Adam. O degenerate!
how long will you regard lowness as nobility?
chand go.e man ba-gīram 'ālame
iiñ jahāñ rā pur kunam az ḳhud hame
How long will you say, I will conquer a whole world,
I will make this world full of myself?
gar jahāñ pur-barf gardad sar-basar
tāb-e-kHur ba-gudāzadash bā-yak nazar
If the world should be filled with snow from end to end,
the glow of the sun would melt it with a single look.
vizr-e-ū-o-sad vazīr-o-sad hazār
niist gardānad ḳhudā az yak sharār
God by a single spark (of His mercy) maketh naught his (the vizier's)
burden (of sin) and (the burden) of a hundred viziers and a hundred thousand.
'ain-e-āñ takHyīl rā hikmat kunad
'ain-e-āñ zahr aab rā sharbat kunad
He maketh the essence of that (false) imagination to be wisdom;
He maketh the essence of that poisoned water to be a (wholesome) drink.
aañ gumāñ añgez rā sāzad yaqīñ
mehr-hā rūyānad az asbāb-e-kīñ
That which raises doubt He turneth into certainty;
He maketh loving kindnesses grow from the causes of hatred.
parvard dar ātish ibrāhīm rā
aimanī-e-rūh sāzad biim rā
He cherisheth Abraham in the fire;
He turneth fear into security of spirit.
az sabab sozīsh man soudā.iyam
dar kHayālatash chu sufistā.iyam
By His burning (destroying) of secondary causes I am distraught;
in (my) fancies of Him I am like a sophist (sceptic or agnostic).
bayan-e-kHasarat-e-wazir dar in makar
Setting forth how the vizier incurred perdition (by engaging) in this plot.
ham-chu shah nadan-o-ghafil bud wazir
panja mi zad ba qadim-e-na-guzir
The vizier was ignorant and heedless, like the (Jewish)
king: he was wrestling with the eternal and inevitable,
ba chunan qadir KHudae kaz 'adam
sad chu 'alam hast gardanad badam
With a God so mighty that in a moment He causes a hundred
worlds like ours to come into existence from non-existence:
sad chu 'alam dar nazar paida kunad
chunki chashmat ra ba-KHud bina kunad
A hundred worlds like ours He displays to the sight,
when He makes your eye seeing by (the light of) Himself.
gar jahan peshat buzurg-o-be-bunist
pehs-e-qudrat zarra-e-mi-dan ki nist
If the world appears to you vast and bottomless,
know that to Omnipotence it is not (so much as) an atom.
in jahan KHud habs jaan-ha-e-shumast
hin rawid aan su ki sahrae shumast
This world, indeed, is the prison of your souls: oh,
go in yonder direction, for there lies your open country.
in jahan mahdud-o-an KHud be-hadast
naqsh-o-surat pesh-e-an ma'ni sadast
This world is finite, and truly that (other) is infinite:
image and form are a barrier to that Reality.
sad hazaran neza-fir'aun ra
dar shikast az musa ba yak 'asa
The myriads of Pharaoh's lances were shattered by
(the hand of) Moses (armed) with a single staff.
sad hazaran tibb-e-jalinus bud
pesh-e-'isa-o-damash afsos bud
Myriads were the therapeutic arts of Galen: before Jesus and his
(life-giving) breath they were a laughing-stock.
sad hazaran daftar-e-ash'ar bud
pesh-e-harf-e-ummiyash aan 'ar bud
Myriads were the books of (pre-Islamic) poems:
at the word of an illiterate (prophet) they were (put to) shame.
ba chunin ghaalib KHudawande kase
chun na-mirad gar na-bashad u KHase
(Confronted) with such an all-conquering Lord,
how should any one not die (to self), unless he be a vile wretch?
bas dil-e-chun koh ra angekHt u
murgh-e-zirak ba-do pa aaweKHt u
Many a mind (strong and firm) as a mountain did He uproot;
the cunning bird He hung up by its two feet.
fahm-o-kHatir tez kardan nist rah
juz shikasta mi na-girad fazl-e-shah
To sharpen the intelligence and wits is not the (right) way:
none but the broken (in spirit) wins the favour of the King.
ai basa ganj aagnan-e-kunj kaw
kan KHayal andesh ra shud rish-e-gaw
Oh, many the amassers of treasure, digging holes (in search of treasure),
who became an ox's beard (dupe) to that vain schemer (the vizier)!
gaw ki buwad ta tu rish-e-u shawi
KHak che buwad ta hashish-e-u shawi
Who is the ox that you should become his beard?
What is earth that you should become its stubble?
chun zane az kar-e-bad shud ru-e-zard
masKH kard u ra kHuda-o-zohra kard
When a woman became pale-faced (ashamed) of (her) wickedness,
God metamorphosed her and made her Zuhra (the planet Venus).
'aurate ra zohra kardan masKH bud
kHak-o-gil gashtan che bashad ai 'anud
To make a woman Zuhra was metamorphosis: is it not metamorphosis
to become earth and clay, O contumacious one?
ruh mi burdat su-e-charKH-e-barin
su-e-ab-o-gil shudi dar asfalin
Your spirit was bearing you towards the highest sphere (of heaven):
you went towards the water and the clay amongst the lowest
(of the low).
KHweshtan ra masKH kardi zin suful
za aan wujude ki bud aan rashk-e-'uqul
By this fall you metamorphosed yourself from that (state of)
existence which was the envy of the (spiritual) intelligences.
pas ba-bin kin masKH kardan chun buwad
pesh-e-an masKH in ba-ghayat dun buwad
Consider, then, how is (what is the character of) this metamorphosis:
compared with that metamorphosis (of the woman) this (which you have suffered) is exceedingly vile.
asb-e-himmat su-e-akHtar takHti
aadam-e-masjud ra na-shanaKHti
You urged the steed of ambition towards the stars:
you did not acknowledge Adam who was worshipped (by the angels).
aakHir aadam zada-e-ai na-KHalaf
chand pindari tu pasti ra sharaf
After all, you are a son of Adam. O degenerate!
how long will you regard lowness as nobility?
chand goe man ba-giram 'alame
in jahan ra pur kunam az KHud hame
How long will you say, I will conquer a whole world,
I will make this world full of myself?
gar jahan pur-barf gardad sar-basar
tab-e-kHur ba-gudazadash ba-yak nazar
If the world should be filled with snow from end to end,
the glow of the sun would melt it with a single look.
wizr-e-u-o-sad wazir-o-sad hazar
nist gardanad KHuda az yak sharar
God by a single spark (of His mercy) maketh naught his (the vizier's)
burden (of sin) and (the burden) of a hundred viziers and a hundred thousand.
'ain-e-an takHyil ra hikmat kunad
'ain-e-an zahr aab ra sharbat kunad
He maketh the essence of that (false) imagination to be wisdom;
He maketh the essence of that poisoned water to be a (wholesome) drink.
aan guman angez ra sazad yaqin
mehr-ha ruyanad az asbab-e-kin
That which raises doubt He turneth into certainty;
He maketh loving kindnesses grow from the causes of hatred.
parward dar aatish ibrahim ra
aimani-e-ruh sazad bim ra
He cherisheth Abraham in the fire;
He turneth fear into security of spirit.
az sabab sozish man soudaiyam
dar kHayalatash chu sufistaiyam
By His burning (destroying) of secondary causes I am distraught;
in (my) fancies of Him I am like a sophist (sceptic or agnostic).
Additional information available
Click on the INTERESTING button to view additional information associated with this sher.
rare Unpublished content
This ghazal contains ashaar not published in the public domain. These are marked by a red line on the left.
