burdan-e-baadshah aan tabib ra bar-sar-e-bimar ta-haal-e-u ra ba-binad
Interesting Fact
English Translation: Reynold. A. Nicholson
burdan-e-bādshāh aañ tabīb rā bar-sar-e-bīmār tā-hāl-e-ū rā ba-bīnad
How the king led the physician to the bedside of the sick girl, that he might see her condition.
chuuñ guzasht aañ majlis-o-kHvān-e-karam
dast-e-ū-ba-girift-o-burd andar haram
When that meeting and bounteous (spiritual) repast was over,
he took his hand and conducted him to the harem.
qissa-e-ī rañjūr-o-ranjūrī na-ḳhvānd
ba.ad az aañ dar pesh ranjūrash na-shāñd
He rehearsed the tale of the invalid and her illness,
and then seated him beside the sick (girl).
rañg-o-rū-o-nabz-o-qārūrah badīd
ham 'alāmātash ham asbābash shunīd
The physician observed the colour of her face, (felt) her pulse,
and (inspected) her urine; he heard both the symptoms and the (secondary) causes of her malady.
guft har daarū ki īshāñ karda and
aañ 'imārat niist vīrāñ karda and
He said, None of the remedies which they have applied builds
up (health): they (the false physicians) have wrought destruction.
be-ḳhabar būdand az hāl-e-darūn
ast'īzuallaha-mimā-yaftarūn
They were ignorant of the inward state.
I seek refuge with God from that which they invent.
diid rañgj-o-kashf shud bar vai na-huft
laik pinhāñ kard-o-sultāñ na-guft
He saw the pain, and the secret became open to him,
but he concealed it and did not tell the king.
ranjish az saudā-o-az safarā na-būd
bū-e-har haizum padīd aayad ze-dūd
Her pain was not from yellow or black bile:
the smell of every firewood appears from the smoke.
diid az zāresh kū zār-e-dilast
tan kHushast-o-ū giraftār-e-dilast
From her sore grief he perceived that she was heart-sore;
well in body, but stricken in heart.
āshiqī paidāst az zārī-e-dil
niist bīmārī chū bīmārī-e-dil
Being in love is made manifest by soreness of heart:
there is no sickness like heartsickness.
'illat-e-'āshiq ze-'illathā judāst
'ishq usturlāb-e-asrār-e-ḳhudāst
The lover's ailment is separate from all other ailments:
love is the astrolabe of the mysteries of God.
'āshiqī gar ziiñ sar-o-gar zaañ sarast
'āqibat mā rā badāñ shah rahbarast
Whether love be from this (earthly) side or from that
(heavenly) side, in the end it leads us yonder.
har che goyam 'ishq rā sharh-o-bayāñ
chuñ ba-'ishq aayam ḳhajil bāsham az aañ
Whatsoever I say in exposition and explanation of Love,
when I come to Love (itself) I am ashamed of that (explanation).
gar che tafsīr-e-zabāñ raushan grast
laik 'ishq-e-be-zabāñ raushan trast
Although the commentary of the tongue makes (all) clear,
yet tongueless love is clearer.
chuñ qalam andar navishtan mī-shitāft
chuñ ba-'ishq aamad qalam bar ḳhud shigāft
Whilst the pen was making haste in writing,
.it split upon itself as soon as it came to Love.
'aql dar sharhash chū ḳhar dar gil ba-ḳhuft
sharh-e-'ishq-o-'āshiqī ham 'ishq guft
In expounding it (Love), the intellect lay down (helplessly) like an ass in the mire:
it was Love (alone) that uttered the explanation of love and loverhood.
āftāb aamad dalīl-e-āftāb
gar dalīlat bāyad az vai rū ma-tāb
The proof of the sun is the sun (himself):
if thou require the proof, do not avert thy face from him!
az vai ar saaya nishāne mī-dehad
shams har dam nūr-e-jāne mī-dehad
If the shadow gives an indication of him,
the sun (himself) gives spiritual light every moment.
saaya ḳhvāb aarad turā ham chuñ samar
chuñ bar aayad shams inshaqqal-qamar
The shadow, like chat in the night-hours, brings sleep to thee;
when the sun rises the moon is cloven asunder.
ḳhud ġharībe dar jahāñ chuñ shams niist
shams-e-jāñ bāqīst uu rā ams niist
There is nothing in the world so wondrous strange as the Sun,
the everlasting spiritual Sun which hath no yesterday.
shams dar ḳhārij agar che hast fard
mī-tavāñ ham misl-e-ū tasvīr kard
Although the external sun is unique,
still it is possible to imagine one resembling it;
shams-e-jāñ kū ḳhārij aamad az asiir
na-buvadash dar zehn-o-dar ḳhārij nazīr
But the Sun by which the aether was
brought into existence hath no peer.
dar tasavvur zāt-e-ū rā guñj kū
tā dar aayad dar tasavvur misl-e-ū
Where is room in the imagination for His essence,
that the like of Him should come into the imagination?
chuñ hadīs-e-rū-e-shamsuddīñ rasīd
shams-e-chārum āsmāñ sar dar kashīd
When news arrived of the face of Shamsu’ddín (the Sun of the Religion),
the sun of the fourth heaven drew in its head (hid itself for shame).
vājib aayad chūñki aamad nām-e-ū
sharh ramze guftan az in'ām-e-ū
Since his name has come (to my lips),
it behoves me to set forth some hint of his bounty.
iiñ nafas jaañ dāmanam bar tāfatast
bū-e-pairahān-e-yūsuf yāftast
At this moment my Soul has plucked my skirt:
he has caught the perfume of Joseph's vest.
az barā-e-haqq-e-sohbat sālahā
baaz go haale az aañ ḳhush-hāl-hā
(He said): For the sake of our years of companionship,
recount one of those sweet ecstasies,
tā zamīn-o-āsmāñ ḳhandāñ shavad
'aql-o-rūh-o-dīda sad chandāñ shavad
That earth and heaven may laugh (with joy), that intellect
and spirit and eye may increase a hundredfold.
lā tukallifnī fa-innī fil-fanā
kallat afhāmī falā uhsī sanā
(I said): Do not lay tasks on me, for I have passed away from myself (faná);
my apprehensions are blunted and I know not how to praise.
kullu shai.in qālahu ġhairul-mufīq
in takallaf au sallaf lā yalīq
Everything that is said by one who has not returned to consciousness,
if he constrains himself or boastfully exaggerates, is unseemly.
man che goyam yak ragam hushyār niist
sharh-e-āñ yaare ki uu rā yaar niist
How should I—not a vein of mine is sensible—
describe that Friend who hath no peer?
sharh-e-īñ hijrāñ-o-īñ kHūn-e-jigar
iiñ zamāñ ba-guzār tā-vaqt-e-digar
The description of this severance and this heart's blood
do thou at present leave over till another time.
qaal at'imnī fa-innī jā'iun
va-a'atajil fal-vaqtu saifun qāti'un
He said: Feed me, for I am hungry,
and make haste, for Time is a cutting sword.
suufī ibn-ul-vaqt bāshad ai rafīq
niist fardā guftan az shart-e-tarīq
The Súfí is the son of the (present) time, O comrade:
it is not the rule of the Way to say ‘To-morrow.’
tū magar ḳhud mard-e-sūfī nīstī
hast rā az nasya kHezad nīstī
Art not thou indeed a Súfí, then? That which is (in hand)
is reduced to naught by postponing the payment.
guftamash poshīda ḳhush-tar sirr-e-yār
ḳhud tū dar zimn-e-hikāyat gosh daar
I said to him: It is better that the secret of the Friend should be disguised:
do thou hearken (to it as implied) in the contents of the tale.
ḳhush-tar aañ bāshad ki sirr-e-dilbrāñ
gufta aayad dar hadīs-e-dīgarāñ
It is better that the lovers' secret should be told in the talk of others.
guft makshūf-o-barhana-o-be-ġhulūl
baaz go daf'am ma-deh ai bul-fuzūl
He said: Tell this openly and nakedly:
talk of religion is better overt than covert.
parda-bardār-o-barhana go ki man
mī-na-kHasbam bā-sanam bā-pairahan
Lift the veil and speak nakedly, for I do not
wear a shirt when I sleep with the Adored One.
guftam ar uryāñ shavad uu dar 'ayāñ
ne tū maanī ne kanārat ne mayāñ
I said: If He should become naked in (thy) vision,
neither wilt thou remain nor thy bosom nor thy waist.
aarzū mī-kHvāh laik andāzah ḳhvāh
bar na-tābad koh rā yak barg-e-kāh
Ask thy wish, but ask with measure:
a blade of straw will not support the mountain.
āftābe kaz vai iiñ 'ālam faroḳht
añdke gar pesh aayad jumla soḳht
If the Sun, by whom this world is illumined,
should approach a little (nearer), all will be burned.
fitna-o-āshob-o-kHūñrezī majo
besh aziiñ az 'shams'-e-tabrezī ma-go
Do not seek trouble and turmoil and bloodshed:
say no more concerning the Sun of Tabriz!
iiñ na-dārad āḳhir az āġhāz go
rau tamām-e-īñ hikāyat baaz go
This (mystery) hath no end: tell of the beginning.
Go, relate the conclusion of this tale.
burdan-e-baadshah aan tabib ra bar-sar-e-bimar ta-haal-e-u ra ba-binad
How the king led the physician to the bedside of the sick girl, that he might see her condition.
chun guzasht aan majlis-o-kHwan-e-karam
dast-e-u-ba-girift-o-burd andar haram
When that meeting and bounteous (spiritual) repast was over,
he took his hand and conducted him to the harem.
qissa-e-i ranjur-o-ranjuri na-KHwand
baad az aan dar pesh ranjurash na-shand
He rehearsed the tale of the invalid and her illness,
and then seated him beside the sick (girl).
rang-o-ru-o-nabz-o-qarurah badid
hum 'alamatash hum asbabash shunid
The physician observed the colour of her face, (felt) her pulse,
and (inspected) her urine; he heard both the symptoms and the (secondary) causes of her malady.
guft har daru ki ishan karda and
aan 'imarat nist viran karda and
He said, None of the remedies which they have applied builds
up (health): they (the false physicians) have wrought destruction.
be-KHabar budand az haal-e-darun
ast'izuallaha-mima-yaftarun
They were ignorant of the inward state.
I seek refuge with God from that which they invent.
did rangj-o-kashf shud bar wai na-huft
laik pinhan kard-o-sultan na-guft
He saw the pain, and the secret became open to him,
but he concealed it and did not tell the king.
ranjish az sauda-o-az safara na-bud
bu-e-har haizum padid aayad ze-dud
Her pain was not from yellow or black bile:
the smell of every firewood appears from the smoke.
did az zaresh ku zar-e-dilast
tan kHushast-o-u giraftar-e-dilast
From her sore grief he perceived that she was heart-sore;
well in body, but stricken in heart.
aashiqi paidast az zari-e-dil
nist bimari chu bimari-e-dil
Being in love is made manifest by soreness of heart:
there is no sickness like heartsickness.
'illat-e-'ashiq ze-'illatha judast
'ishq usturlab-e-asrar-e-KHudast
The lover's ailment is separate from all other ailments:
love is the astrolabe of the mysteries of God.
'ashiqi gar zin sar-o-gar zan sarast
'aqibat ma ra badan shah rahbarast
Whether love be from this (earthly) side or from that
(heavenly) side, in the end it leads us yonder.
har che goyam 'ishq ra sharh-o-bayan
chun ba-'ishq aayam KHajil basham az aan
Whatsoever I say in exposition and explanation of Love,
when I come to Love (itself) I am ashamed of that (explanation).
gar che tafsir-e-zaban raushan grast
laik 'ishq-e-be-zaban raushan trast
Although the commentary of the tongue makes (all) clear,
yet tongueless love is clearer.
chun qalam andar nawishtan mi-shitaft
chun ba-'ishq aamad qalam bar KHud shigaft
Whilst the pen was making haste in writing,
.it split upon itself as soon as it came to Love.
'aql dar sharhash chu KHar dar gil ba-KHuft
sharh-e-'ishq-o-'ashiqi hum 'ishq guft
In expounding it (Love), the intellect lay down (helplessly) like an ass in the mire:
it was Love (alone) that uttered the explanation of love and loverhood.
aaftab aamad dalil-e-aftab
gar dalilat bayad az wai ru ma-tab
The proof of the sun is the sun (himself):
if thou require the proof, do not avert thy face from him!
az wai ar saya nishane mi-dehad
shams har dam nur-e-jaane mi-dehad
If the shadow gives an indication of him,
the sun (himself) gives spiritual light every moment.
saya KHwab aarad tura hum chun samar
chun bar aayad shams inshaqqal-qamar
The shadow, like chat in the night-hours, brings sleep to thee;
when the sun rises the moon is cloven asunder.
KHud gharibe dar jahan chun shams nist
shams-e-jaan baqist u ra ams nist
There is nothing in the world so wondrous strange as the Sun,
the everlasting spiritual Sun which hath no yesterday.
shams dar KHarij agar che hast fard
mi-tawan hum misl-e-u taswir kard
Although the external sun is unique,
still it is possible to imagine one resembling it;
shams-e-jaan ku KHarij aamad az asir
na-buwadash dar zehn-o-dar KHarij nazir
But the Sun by which the aether was
brought into existence hath no peer.
dar tasawwur zat-e-u ra gunj ku
ta dar aayad dar tasawwur misl-e-u
Where is room in the imagination for His essence,
that the like of Him should come into the imagination?
chun hadis-e-ru-e-shamsuddin rasid
shams-e-chaarum aasman sar dar kashid
When news arrived of the face of Shamsu’ddín (the Sun of the Religion),
the sun of the fourth heaven drew in its head (hid itself for shame).
wajib aayad chunki aamad nam-e-u
sharh ramze guftan az in'am-e-u
Since his name has come (to my lips),
it behoves me to set forth some hint of his bounty.
in nafas jaan damanam bar tafatast
bu-e-pairahan-e-yusuf yaftast
At this moment my Soul has plucked my skirt:
he has caught the perfume of Joseph's vest.
az bara-e-haqq-e-sohbat salaha
baz go haale az aan KHush-haal-ha
(He said): For the sake of our years of companionship,
recount one of those sweet ecstasies,
ta zamin-o-asman KHandan shawad
'aql-o-ruh-o-dida sad chandan shawad
That earth and heaven may laugh (with joy), that intellect
and spirit and eye may increase a hundredfold.
la tukallifni fa-inni fil-fana
kallat afhami fala uhsi sana
(I said): Do not lay tasks on me, for I have passed away from myself (faná);
my apprehensions are blunted and I know not how to praise.
kullu shain qalahu ghairul-mufiq
in takallaf au sallaf la yaliq
Everything that is said by one who has not returned to consciousness,
if he constrains himself or boastfully exaggerates, is unseemly.
man che goyam yak ragam hushyar nist
sharh-e-an yare ki u ra yar nist
How should I—not a vein of mine is sensible—
describe that Friend who hath no peer?
sharh-e-in hijran-o-in kHun-e-jigar
in zaman ba-guzar ta-waqt-e-digar
The description of this severance and this heart's blood
do thou at present leave over till another time.
qal at'imni fa-inni ja'iun
wa-a'atajil fal-waqtu saifun qati'un
He said: Feed me, for I am hungry,
and make haste, for Time is a cutting sword.
sufi ibn-ul-waqt bashad ai rafiq
nist farda guftan az shart-e-tariq
The Súfí is the son of the (present) time, O comrade:
it is not the rule of the Way to say ‘To-morrow.’
tu magar KHud mard-e-sufi nisti
hast ra az nasya kHezad nisti
Art not thou indeed a Súfí, then? That which is (in hand)
is reduced to naught by postponing the payment.
guftamash poshida KHush-tar sirr-e-yar
KHud tu dar zimn-e-hikayat gosh dar
I said to him: It is better that the secret of the Friend should be disguised:
do thou hearken (to it as implied) in the contents of the tale.
KHush-tar aan bashad ki sirr-e-dilbran
gufta aayad dar hadis-e-digaran
It is better that the lovers' secret should be told in the talk of others.
guft makshuf-o-barhana-o-be-ghulul
baz go daf'am ma-deh ai bul-fuzul
He said: Tell this openly and nakedly:
talk of religion is better overt than covert.
parda-bardar-o-barhana go ki man
mi-na-kHasbam ba-sanam ba-pairahan
Lift the veil and speak nakedly, for I do not
wear a shirt when I sleep with the Adored One.
guftam ar uryan shawad u dar 'ayan
ne tu mani ne kanarat ne mayan
I said: If He should become naked in (thy) vision,
neither wilt thou remain nor thy bosom nor thy waist.
aarzu mi-kHwah laik andazah KHwah
bar na-tabad koh ra yak barg-e-kah
Ask thy wish, but ask with measure:
a blade of straw will not support the mountain.
aaftabe kaz wai in 'alam faroKHt
andke gar pesh aayad jumla soKHt
If the Sun, by whom this world is illumined,
should approach a little (nearer), all will be burned.
fitna-o-ashob-o-kHunrezi majo
besh azin az 'shams'-e-tabrezi ma-go
Do not seek trouble and turmoil and bloodshed:
say no more concerning the Sun of Tabriz!
in na-darad aaKHir az aaghaz go
rau tamam-e-in hikayat baz go
This (mystery) hath no end: tell of the beginning.
Go, relate the conclusion of this tale.
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