hikayat-e-nai
Interesting Fact
English Translation: Reynold. A. Nicholson
hikāyat-e-nai
Story of reed
bi-shino az nai chuñ hikāyat mī-kunad
vaz judā.īhā shikāyat mī-kunad
Listen to this reed how it complains,
telling a tale of separations
kaz niyastāñ tā marā ba-burīda-and
az nafīram mard-o-zan nalīda-and
Saying, “Ever since I was parted from the reed-bed,
man and woman have moaned in (unison with) my lament.
siina ḳhvāham sharha-sharha az firāq
tā ba-goyam sharh-e-dard-e-ishtiyāq
I want a bosom torn by severance,
that I may unfold (to such a one) the pain of love-desire.
har kase kū duur mānad az asl-e-ḳhvesh
baaz joyad rozgār-e-vasl-e-kHvesh
Every one who is left far from his source wishes
back the time when he was united with it.
man ba-har jam'īyate nālāñ shudam
juft-e-bad-hālāñ-o-kHush-hālāñ shudam
In every company I uttered my wailful notes,
I consorted with the unhappy and with them that rejoice.
har kase az zann-e-ḳhud shud yār-e-man
az darūn-e-man na-just asrār-e-man
Every one became my friend from his own opinion;
none sought out my secrets from within me.
sirr-e-man az nāla-e-man duur niist
lek chashm-o-gosh rā aañ nuur niist
My secret is not far from my plaint,
but ear and eye lack the light (whereby it should be apprehended).
tan ze-jān-o-jāñ ze-tan mastūr niist
lek kas rā dīd-e-jāñ dastūr niist
Body is not veiled from soul, nor soul from body,
yet none is permittd to see the soul.
ātishast iiñ bāñg-e-nāye-o-nīst baad
har ki iiñ ātish na-dārad niist baad
This noise of the reed is fire, it is not wind:
whoso hath not this fire, may he be naught!
ātish-e-'ishqast kandar nai fitād
joshish-e-'ishqast kandar mai fitād
Tis the fire of Love that is in the reed,
’tis the fervour of Love that is in the wine.
nai harīf-e-har ki az yaare burīd
parda-hā ash parda-hā.e mā darīd
The reed is the comrade of every one who has been
parted from a friend: its strains pierced our hearts.
ham chu nai zahre-o-tiryāqe ki diid
ham chu nai dam-sāz-o-mushtāqe ki diid
Who ever saw a poison and antidote like the reed?
Who ever saw a sympathiser and a longing lover like the reed?
nai hadīs-e-rāh-e-pur-kHūñ mī-kunad
qissa hā-e-'ishq majnūñ mī-kunad
The reed tells of the Way full of blood
and recounts stories of the passion of Majnún.
mahram-e-īñ hosh juz behosh niist
mar zabāñ rā mushtarī chuuñ gosh niist
Only to the senseless is this sense confided:
the tongue hath no customer save the ear.
dar ġham-e-mā rozhā begāh shud
rozhā bā-sozhā hamrāh shud
In our woe the days (of life) have become untimely:
our days travel hand in hand with burning griefs.
rozhā gar raft go rau baak niist
tū ba-amāñ ai aañ ki chuñ tū paak niist
If our days are gone, let them go!—’tis no matter.
Do Thou remain, for none is holy as Thou art!
har ki juz maahī ze-ābash sair shud
har ki be-rozī ast rozash der shud
Except the fish, everyone becomes sated with water;
whoever is without daily bread finds the day long.
dar nayābad hāl-e-pukHta hech ḳhaam
pas suḳhan kotāh bāyad vassalām
None that is raw understands the state of the ripe:
therefore my words must be brief. Farewell!
band ba-gusil baash āzād ai pisar
chand bāshī band-e-sīm-o-band-e-zar
O son, burst thy chains and be free!
How long wilt thou be a bondsman to silver and gold?
gar ba-rezī bahr rā dar kūza-i
chand gunjad qismat-e-yak roza-i
If thou pour the sea into a pitcher,
how much will it hold? One day's store.
kūza-e-chashm-e-harīsāñ pur-nashud
tā sadaf qaane na-shud pur dur na-shud
The pitcher, the eye of the covetous, never becomes full:
the oyster-shell is not filled with pearls until it is contented.
har ki rā jaama ze-'ishqe chaak shud
uu ze-hirs-o-ai'b-e-kullī paak shud
He (alone) whose garment is rent by a (mighty)
love is purged entirely of covetousness and defect.
shaad baash ai 'ishq-e-ḳhush saudā-e-mā
ai tabīb-e-jumla 'illathā-e-mā
Hail, our sweet-thoughted Love —
thou that art the physician of all our ills,
ai davā-e-nikHvat-o-nāmūs-e-mā
ai tū aflātūn-o-jālīnūs-e-mā
The remedy of our pride and vainglory,
our Plato and our Galen!
jism-e-ḳhāk az 'ishq bar aflāk shud
koh dar raqs āmad-o-chālāk shud
Through Love the earthly body soared to the skies:
the mountain began to dance and became nimble.
'ishq jān-e-taur aamad 'āshiqā
tuur mast-o-kHarra muusā sā'iqā
Love inspired Mount Sinai, O lover, (so that) Sinai
(was made) drunken and Moses fell in a swoon.
bā-lab-e-damsā-e-ḳhud gar juftame
ham chu nai man guftnehā guftame
Were I joined to the lip of one in accord with me,
I too, like the reed, would tell all that may be told;
har ki uu az ham zabāne shud judā
be-navā shud garche dārad sad-navā
(But) whoever is parted from one who speaks his language
becomes dumb, though he have a hundred songs.
chūñki gul raft-o-gulistāñ dar guzasht
na-shinvī zaañ pas ze-bulbul sarguzisht
When the rose is gone and the garden faded,
thou wilt hear no more the nightingale's story.
jumla ma'ashūqast-o-'āshiq parda.i
zinda ma'ashūqast-o-'āshiq murda-i
The Beloved is all and the lover (but) a veil;
the Beloved is living and the lover a dead thing.
chuñ na-bāshad 'ishq rā pavā-e-ū
uu chu murġhe maañd be-par vā-e-ū
When Love hath no care for him, he is left
as a bird without wings. Alas for him then!
man che-gūna hosh dāram pesh-o-pas
chuñ na-bāshad nūr-e-yāram pesh-o-pas
How should I have consciousness (of aught) before or behind when
the light of my Beloved is not before me and behind?
'ishq ḳhvāhad ki.iin suḳhan bairūñ buvad
ā.īna-e-ġhammāz na-buvad chuñ buvad
Love wills that this Word should be shown forth:
if the mirror does not reflect, how is that?
ā.īna at daanī charā ġhammāz niist
zāñkī zañgār az ruḳhash mumtāz niist
Dost thou know why the mirror (of thy soul) reflects nothing?
Because the rust is not cleared from its face.
bishnavīd ai dostāñ iiñ dāstāñ
ḳhud haqīqat naqd-e-hāl-e-māst aañ
O my friends, hearken to this tale: in truth
it is the very marrow of our inward state.
hikayat-e-nai
Story of reed
bi-shino az nai chun hikayat mi-kunad
waz judaiha shikayat mi-kunad
Listen to this reed how it complains,
telling a tale of separations
kaz niyastan ta mara ba-burida-and
az nafiram mard-o-zan nalida-and
Saying, “Ever since I was parted from the reed-bed,
man and woman have moaned in (unison with) my lament.
sina KHwaham sharha-sharha az firaq
ta ba-goyam sharh-e-dard-e-ishtiyaq
I want a bosom torn by severance,
that I may unfold (to such a one) the pain of love-desire.
har kase ku dur manad az asl-e-KHwesh
baz joyad rozgar-e-wasl-e-kHwesh
Every one who is left far from his source wishes
back the time when he was united with it.
man ba-har jam'iyate nalan shudam
juft-e-bad-haalan-o-kHush-haalan shudam
In every company I uttered my wailful notes,
I consorted with the unhappy and with them that rejoice.
har kase az zann-e-KHud shud yar-e-man
az darun-e-man na-just asrar-e-man
Every one became my friend from his own opinion;
none sought out my secrets from within me.
sirr-e-man az nala-e-man dur nist
lek chashm-o-gosh ra aan nur nist
My secret is not far from my plaint,
but ear and eye lack the light (whereby it should be apprehended).
tan ze-jaan-o-jaan ze-tan mastur nist
lek kas ra did-e-jaan dastur nist
Body is not veiled from soul, nor soul from body,
yet none is permittd to see the soul.
aatishast in bang-e-naye-o-nist baad
har ki in aatish na-darad nist baad
This noise of the reed is fire, it is not wind:
whoso hath not this fire, may he be naught!
aatish-e-'ishqast kandar nai fitad
joshish-e-'ishqast kandar mai fitad
Tis the fire of Love that is in the reed,
’tis the fervour of Love that is in the wine.
nai harif-e-har ki az yare burid
parda-ha ash parda-hae ma darid
The reed is the comrade of every one who has been
parted from a friend: its strains pierced our hearts.
hum chu nai zahre-o-tiryaqe ki did
hum chu nai dam-saz-o-mushtaqe ki did
Who ever saw a poison and antidote like the reed?
Who ever saw a sympathiser and a longing lover like the reed?
nai hadis-e-rah-e-pur-kHun mi-kunad
qissa ha-e-'ishq majnun mi-kunad
The reed tells of the Way full of blood
and recounts stories of the passion of Majnún.
mahram-e-in hosh juz behosh nist
mar zaban ra mushtari chun gosh nist
Only to the senseless is this sense confided:
the tongue hath no customer save the ear.
dar gham-e-ma rozha begah shud
rozha ba-sozha hamrah shud
In our woe the days (of life) have become untimely:
our days travel hand in hand with burning griefs.
rozha gar raft go rau bak nist
tu ba-aman ai aan ki chun tu pak nist
If our days are gone, let them go!—’tis no matter.
Do Thou remain, for none is holy as Thou art!
har ki juz mahi ze-abash sair shud
har ki be-rozi ast rozash der shud
Except the fish, everyone becomes sated with water;
whoever is without daily bread finds the day long.
dar nayabad haal-e-pukHta hech KHam
pas suKHan kotah bayad wassalam
None that is raw understands the state of the ripe:
therefore my words must be brief. Farewell!
band ba-gusil bash aazad ai pisar
chand bashi band-e-sim-o-band-e-zar
O son, burst thy chains and be free!
How long wilt thou be a bondsman to silver and gold?
gar ba-rezi bahr ra dar kuza-i
chand gunjad qismat-e-yak roza-i
If thou pour the sea into a pitcher,
how much will it hold? One day's store.
kuza-e-chashm-e-harisan pur-nashud
ta sadaf qane na-shud pur dur na-shud
The pitcher, the eye of the covetous, never becomes full:
the oyster-shell is not filled with pearls until it is contented.
har ki ra jama ze-'ishqe chaak shud
u ze-hirs-o-ai'b-e-kulli pak shud
He (alone) whose garment is rent by a (mighty)
love is purged entirely of covetousness and defect.
shad bash ai 'ishq-e-KHush sauda-e-ma
ai tabib-e-jumla 'illatha-e-ma
Hail, our sweet-thoughted Love —
thou that art the physician of all our ills,
ai dawa-e-nikHwat-o-namus-e-ma
ai tu aflatun-o-jalinus-e-ma
The remedy of our pride and vainglory,
our Plato and our Galen!
jism-e-KHak az 'ishq bar aflak shud
koh dar raqs aamad-o-chaalak shud
Through Love the earthly body soared to the skies:
the mountain began to dance and became nimble.
'ishq jaan-e-taur aamad 'ashiqa
tur mast-o-kHarra musa sa'iqa
Love inspired Mount Sinai, O lover, (so that) Sinai
(was made) drunken and Moses fell in a swoon.
ba-lab-e-damsa-e-KHud gar juftame
hum chu nai man guftneha guftame
Were I joined to the lip of one in accord with me,
I too, like the reed, would tell all that may be told;
har ki u az hum zabane shud juda
be-nawa shud garche darad sad-nawa
(But) whoever is parted from one who speaks his language
becomes dumb, though he have a hundred songs.
chunki gul raft-o-gulistan dar guzasht
na-shinwi zan pas ze-bulbul sarguzisht
When the rose is gone and the garden faded,
thou wilt hear no more the nightingale's story.
jumla ma'ashuqast-o-'ashiq pardai
zinda ma'ashuqast-o-'ashiq murda-i
The Beloved is all and the lover (but) a veil;
the Beloved is living and the lover a dead thing.
chun na-bashad 'ishq ra pawa-e-u
u chu murghe mand be-par wa-e-u
When Love hath no care for him, he is left
as a bird without wings. Alas for him then!
man che-guna hosh daram pesh-o-pas
chun na-bashad nur-e-yaram pesh-o-pas
How should I have consciousness (of aught) before or behind when
the light of my Beloved is not before me and behind?
'ishq KHwahad kiin suKHan bairun buwad
aaina-e-ghammaz na-buwad chun buwad
Love wills that this Word should be shown forth:
if the mirror does not reflect, how is that?
aaina at dani chara ghammaz nist
zanki zangar az ruKHash mumtaz nist
Dost thou know why the mirror (of thy soul) reflects nothing?
Because the rust is not cleared from its face.
bishnawid ai dostan in dastan
KHud haqiqat naqd-e-haal-e-mast aan
O my friends, hearken to this tale: in truth
it is the very marrow of our inward state.
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