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hikayat-e-nai

Rumi

hikayat-e-nai

Rumi

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 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

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 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 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 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 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 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

ba-amāñ ai aañ ki chuñ 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 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

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 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 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 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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