mana' kardan-e-kHargosh raaz rā az īshān
How the hare withheld the secret from them.
guft har raaze na-shāyad baaz guft
juft taaq aayad gahe gah taaq juft
He said, One ought not to say forth every secret: sometimes the
even number turns out to be odd, and sometimes the odd number to be even.
az safā gar dam zane bā-ā.īna
tiira gardad zuud bā mā ā.īna
If from guilelessness you breathe words to a mirror,
the mirror at once becomes dim to us.
dar bayān-e-īñ seh kam jumbāñ labat
az zahāb-o-az zahab vaz mazhabat
Do not move your lip in explanation of these three things,
(namely) concerning your departure and your gold and your religion;
kiiñ seh rā kHasmast bisyār-o-'adū
dar kamīnat īstad chuuñ dānad uu
For to these three there is many an adversary and foe
standing in wait for you when he knows (about any of them).
var ba-go.e bā-yake do alvidā'
kullu-sirrin-jāvaz-al-isnain shaa'
And if you tell (only) one or two (a few people), farewell (to your secret):
every secret that goes beyond the twain (who share it) is published abroad.
gar do seh parranda rā bandī baham
bar zamīñ mānind mahbūs az alam
If you tie two or three birds together,
they will remain on the ground, imprisoned by grief;
mashvarat dārand sar poshīda kHuub
dar kināyat bā-ġhalat afgan mashūb
(But in truth) they hold a consultation well-disguised and mingled, in its (apparent) significance,
with that which casts error (into the mind of any one who observes them).
mashvarat karde payambar basta sar
gufta īshānash javāb-o-be-ḳhabar
(Similarly) the Prophet used to take counsel, (speaking) cryptically,
and they (his companions) would answer him and (would be) without knowledge (of his real meaning).
dar misāle basta gufte raa.e rā
tā na-dānad ḳhasm az sar paa.e rā
He would speak his opinion in a covert parable,
in order that the adversary might not know foot from head.
uu javāb-e-ḳhvesh ba-girifte azū
vaz savālash mī na-burde ġhair bū
He (the Prophet) would receive his answer from him (the adversary),
while the other would not catch the smell (drift) of his question.
mana' kardan-e-kHargosh raaz ra az ishan
How the hare withheld the secret from them.
guft har raaze na-shayad baz guft
juft taq aayad gahe gah taq juft
He said, One ought not to say forth every secret: sometimes the
even number turns out to be odd, and sometimes the odd number to be even.
az safa gar dam zane ba-aina
tera gardad zud ba ma aaina
If from guilelessness you breathe words to a mirror,
the mirror at once becomes dim to us.
dar bayan-e-in seh kam jumban labat
az zahab-o-az zahab waz mazhabat
Do not move your lip in explanation of these three things,
(namely) concerning your departure and your gold and your religion;
kin seh ra kHasmast bisyar-o-'adu
dar kaminat istad chun danad u
For to these three there is many an adversary and foe
standing in wait for you when he knows (about any of them).
war ba-goe ba-yake do alwida'
kullu-sirrin-jawaz-al-isnain sha'
And if you tell (only) one or two (a few people), farewell (to your secret):
every secret that goes beyond the twain (who share it) is published abroad.
gar do seh parranda ra bandi baham
bar zamin manind mahbus az alam
If you tie two or three birds together,
they will remain on the ground, imprisoned by grief;
mashwarat darand sar poshida kHub
dar kinayat ba-ghalat afgan mashub
(But in truth) they hold a consultation well-disguised and mingled, in its (apparent) significance,
with that which casts error (into the mind of any one who observes them).
mashwarat karde payambar basta sar
gufta ishanash jawab-o-be-KHabar
(Similarly) the Prophet used to take counsel, (speaking) cryptically,
and they (his companions) would answer him and (would be) without knowledge (of his real meaning).
dar misale basta gufte rae ra
ta na-danad KHasm az sar pae ra
He would speak his opinion in a covert parable,
in order that the adversary might not know foot from head.
u jawab-e-KHwesh ba-girifte azu
waz sawalash mi na-burde ghair bu
He (the Prophet) would receive his answer from him (the adversary),
while the other would not catch the smell (drift) of his question.
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