nazar kardan-e-sher dar chah-o-didan-e-aks-e-kHud ra-o-an KHargosh ra dar aab
Interesting Fact
English Translation: Reynold. A. Nicholson
nazar kardan-e-sher dar chāh-o-dīdan-e-'aks-e-kHud rā-o-āñ ḳhargosh rā dar aab
How the lion looked into the well and saw the reflexion of himself and the hare.
chuuñ ki sher andar bar-e-kHveshash kashīd
dar panāh-e-sher tā chah mī davīd
When the lion took him to his side, under the lion's protection he began to run towards the well.
chuuñ ki dar chah bañgarīdand andar aab
andar aab az sher-o-ū dar taaft taab
As soon as they looked at the water in the well, there shone forth in the water the light (reflected) from the lion and him (the hare).
sher 'aks-e-kHvesh diid az aab taft
shakl shere dar barash ḳhargosh-e-zaft
The lion saw his own reflexion: from the water shone
the image of a lion with a plump hare at his side.
chuuñ ki ḳhasm-e-ḳhvesh rā dar aab diid
marv rā ba-guzāsht-o-andar chah jahīd
When he beheld his adversary in the water,
he left him (the hare) and sprang into the well.
dar fitād andar chahe kokanda buud
zāñki zulmash dar sarash āyañda buud
He fell into the well which he had dug,
because his iniquity was coming (back) on his own head.
chāh-e-muzlim gasht zulm-e-zālimāñ
iiñ chunīñ guftand jumla 'ālimāñ
The iniquity of evil-doers became (for them) a dark well:
so have said all the wise.
har ki zālim-tar chahash bā-haul-tar
'adl farmūda-st battar rā batar
The more iniquitous one is, the more frightful is his well: (Divine) Justice has ordained worse (punishment) for worse (sin).
ai ki tū az zulm chāhe mī kunī
az barā-e-kHvesh daame mī kunī
O you who on account of (your) high estate are committing an act of injustice, know that you are digging a well (pit) for yourself.
gird-e-kHud chuuñ kirm piila bar matan
bahr-e-ḳhud chah mī kunī andāza kan
Do not weave (a cocoon) round yourself, like the silkworm. You are digging a well for yourself (to fall in): dig with moderation (not too deep).
mar za'īfāñ rā tu be-kHasmī madāñ
az nabī zā-jā.a-nasrullāh ḳhvāñ
Deem not the weak to be without a champion:
recite from the Qur’án (the words), When the help of God shall come.
gar tū piilī kHasm-e-tū az tū ramīd
nak jazā tairan abābīlat rasīd
If you are an elephant and your foe fled from you, lo,
the retribution came upon you, birds in flocks.
gar za'īfe dar zamīñ ḳhvāhad amaañ
ġhulġhul uftad dar sipāh-e-āsmāñ
If any poor man on the earth beg for mercy,
a loud tumult falls on (arises among) the Host of Heaven.
gar ba-dandānash guzīñ pur-ḳhūñ kunī
dard-e-dandānat ba-gīrad chuuñ kunī
If you bite him with your teeth and make him bleed,
toothache will attack you—how will you do (then)?
sher ḳhud rā diid dar chah vaz ġhulū
ḳhvesh rā na-shanāḳht aan dam az 'adū
The lion saw himself in the well, and in his fury
he did not know himself at that moment from the enemy.
'aks ḳhud rā uu 'aduvv-e-kHvesh diid
lā-jaram bar ḳhvesh shamshīre kashīd
He regarded his own reflexion as his enemy:
necessarily he drew a sword against himself.
ai base zulme ki biinī az kasāñ
khū-e-tū bāshad dar īshāñ ai fulāñ
Oh, many an iniquity that you see in others is
your own nature (reflected) in them, O reader!
andar īshāñ tafta hastī-e-tū
az nifāq-o-zulm-o-bad-mastī-e-tū
In them shone forth all that you are in your
hypocrisy and iniquity and insolence.
aañ tuī-o-āñ zaḳhm bar ḳhud mī zanī
bar ḳhud aañ sā'at tu lā'nat mī kunī
You are that (evil-doer), and you are striking those blows at yourself:
you are weaving a curse upon yourself at that moment.
dar ḳhud aañ bud rā namī biinī 'ayāñ
varna dushman būda.i ḳhud rā ba-jāñ
You do not see clearly the evil in yourself,
else you would hate yourself with (all) your soul.
hamla bar ḳhud mī kunī ai saada mard
ham-chū aañ shere ki bar ḳhud hamla kard
You are assaulting yourself, O simpleton,
like the lion who made a rush at himself.
chuuñ ba-qā're-kHū-e-kHud andar rasī
pas ba-dānī kaz tu buud aañ nākasī
When you reach the bottom of your own nature,
then you will know that that vileness was from yourself.
sher rā dar qaa'r paidā shud ki buud
naqsh-e-ū aañ kash digar kas mī numūd
At the bottom (of the well) it became manifest to the lion that he who seemed to him to be another was (really) his own image.
har ki dandān-e-za'īfī mī kunad
kā'r-e-āñ sher-e-ġhalat-bīñ mī kunad
Whoever tears out the teeth of a poor wretch is
doing what the falsely-seeing lion did.
ai ba-dīda 'aks-e-bad ba-rū-e-'am
bad na 'amast aañ tuī az ḳhud maram
O you who see the bad reflexion on the face of your uncle,
it is not your uncle that is bad, it is you: do not run away from yourself!
momināñ ā.īna-e-ham-dīgrāñd
iiñ ḳhabar mī az payambar āvrand
The Faithful are mirrors to one another:
this saying is related from the Prophet.
pesh-e-chashmat dāshtī shīsha kabūd
zaañ sabab 'ālam kabūdat mī namūd
You held a blue glass before your eye:
for that reason the world seemed to you to be blue.
gar na kuurī iiñ kabūdī-dāñ za ḳhvesh
ḳhvesh rā bad go ma-go kas rā tu besh
Unless you are blind, know that this blueness comes from yourself:
speak ill of yourself, speak no more ill of any one (else).
momin ar yanzur bi-nūrillāh na-būd
'aib-e-momin rā barahna chuuñ numūd
If the true believer was not seeing by the Light of God,
how did things unseen appear naked (plainly revealed) to the true believer?
chūñ-kī tu yanzur bi-nūrillah budī
nekuī rā vā na-dīdī az badī
In as much as you were seeing by the Fire of God,
in (your) badness you became forgetful of goodness.
andak-ankad aab bar ātish ba-zan
tā shavad nār-e-tu nuur ai bul-hazan
Little by little throw water on the fire,
that your fire may become light, O man of sorrow!
tū ba-zan yā-rabbanā āb-e-tahūr
tā shavad iiñ nār-e-'ālam jumla nuur
Throw Thou, O Lord, the purifying water,
that this world-fire may become wholly light.
āb-e-dariyā jumla dar farmān-e-tust
āb-o-ātish ai ḳhudāvand ān-e-tust
All the water of the sea is under Thy command;
water and fire, O Lord, are Thine.
gar tū ḳhvāhī ātish āb-e-ḳhush shavad
var na-ḳhvāhī aab ham ātish shavad
If Thou willest, fire becomes sweet water;
and if Thou willest not, even water becomes fire.
iiñ talab dar mā ham az ījād-e-tust
rustan az be-dād yā-rab dād-e-tust
This search (aspiration) in us is also brought into existence by Thee; deliverance from iniquity is Thy gift, O Lord.
be-talab tū iiñ talab maañ dāda-i
be-shumār-o-hadd 'atā-hā dāda-i
Without (our) seeking Thou hast given us this search,
Thou hast opened to all the treasure of (Thy) beneficence.
nazar kardan-e-sher dar chah-o-didan-e-'aks-e-kHud ra-o-an KHargosh ra dar aab
How the lion looked into the well and saw the reflexion of himself and the hare.
chun ki sher andar bar-e-kHweshash kashid
dar panah-e-sher ta chah mi dawid
When the lion took him to his side, under the lion's protection he began to run towards the well.
chun ki dar chah bangaridand andar aab
andar aab az sher-o-u dar taft tab
As soon as they looked at the water in the well, there shone forth in the water the light (reflected) from the lion and him (the hare).
sher 'aks-e-kHwesh did az aab taft
shakl shere dar barash KHargosh-e-zaft
The lion saw his own reflexion: from the water shone
the image of a lion with a plump hare at his side.
chun ki KHasm-e-KHwesh ra dar aab did
marw ra ba-guzasht-o-andar chah jahid
When he beheld his adversary in the water,
he left him (the hare) and sprang into the well.
dar fitad andar chahe kokanda bud
zanki zulmash dar sarash aayanda bud
He fell into the well which he had dug,
because his iniquity was coming (back) on his own head.
chah-e-muzlim gasht zulm-e-zaliman
in chunin guftand jumla 'aliman
The iniquity of evil-doers became (for them) a dark well:
so have said all the wise.
har ki zalim-tar chahash ba-haul-tar
'adl farmuda-st battar ra batar
The more iniquitous one is, the more frightful is his well: (Divine) Justice has ordained worse (punishment) for worse (sin).
ai ki tu az zulm chahe mi kuni
az bara-e-kHwesh dame mi kuni
O you who on account of (your) high estate are committing an act of injustice, know that you are digging a well (pit) for yourself.
gird-e-kHud chun kirm pila bar matan
bahr-e-KHud chah mi kuni andaza kan
Do not weave (a cocoon) round yourself, like the silkworm. You are digging a well for yourself (to fall in): dig with moderation (not too deep).
mar za'ifan ra tu be-kHasmi madan
az nabi za-jaa-nasrullah KHwan
Deem not the weak to be without a champion:
recite from the Qur’án (the words), When the help of God shall come.
gar tu pili kHasm-e-tu az tu ramid
nak jaza tairan ababilat rasid
If you are an elephant and your foe fled from you, lo,
the retribution came upon you, birds in flocks.
gar za'ife dar zamin KHwahad aman
ghulghul uftad dar sipah-e-asman
If any poor man on the earth beg for mercy,
a loud tumult falls on (arises among) the Host of Heaven.
gar ba-dandanash guzin pur-KHun kuni
dard-e-dandanat ba-girad chun kuni
If you bite him with your teeth and make him bleed,
toothache will attack you—how will you do (then)?
sher KHud ra did dar chah waz ghulu
KHwesh ra na-shanaKHt aan dam az 'adu
The lion saw himself in the well, and in his fury
he did not know himself at that moment from the enemy.
'aks KHud ra u 'aduww-e-kHwesh did
la-jaram bar KHwesh shamshire kashid
He regarded his own reflexion as his enemy:
necessarily he drew a sword against himself.
ai base zulme ki bini az kasan
khu-e-tu bashad dar ishan ai fulan
Oh, many an iniquity that you see in others is
your own nature (reflected) in them, O reader!
andar ishan tafta hasti-e-tu
az nifaq-o-zulm-o-bad-masti-e-tu
In them shone forth all that you are in your
hypocrisy and iniquity and insolence.
aan tui-o-an zaKHm bar KHud mi zani
bar KHud aan sa'at tu la'nat mi kuni
You are that (evil-doer), and you are striking those blows at yourself:
you are weaving a curse upon yourself at that moment.
dar KHud aan bud ra nami bini 'ayan
warna dushman budai KHud ra ba-jaan
You do not see clearly the evil in yourself,
else you would hate yourself with (all) your soul.
hamla bar KHud mi kuni ai sada mard
ham-chu aan shere ki bar KHud hamla kard
You are assaulting yourself, O simpleton,
like the lion who made a rush at himself.
chun ba-qa're-kHu-e-kHud andar rasi
pas ba-dani kaz tu bud aan nakasi
When you reach the bottom of your own nature,
then you will know that that vileness was from yourself.
sher ra dar qa'r paida shud ki bud
naqsh-e-u aan kash digar kas mi numud
At the bottom (of the well) it became manifest to the lion that he who seemed to him to be another was (really) his own image.
har ki dandan-e-za'ifi mi kunad
ka'r-e-an sher-e-ghalat-bin mi kunad
Whoever tears out the teeth of a poor wretch is
doing what the falsely-seeing lion did.
ai ba-dida 'aks-e-bad ba-ru-e-'am
bad na 'amast aan tui az KHud maram
O you who see the bad reflexion on the face of your uncle,
it is not your uncle that is bad, it is you: do not run away from yourself!
mominan aaina-e-ham-digrand
in KHabar mi az payambar aawrand
The Faithful are mirrors to one another:
this saying is related from the Prophet.
pesh-e-chashmat dashti shisha kabud
zan sabab 'alam kabudat mi namud
You held a blue glass before your eye:
for that reason the world seemed to you to be blue.
gar na kuri in kabudi-dan za KHwesh
KHwesh ra bad go ma-go kas ra tu besh
Unless you are blind, know that this blueness comes from yourself:
speak ill of yourself, speak no more ill of any one (else).
momin ar yanzur bi-nurillah na-bud
'aib-e-momin ra barahna chun numud
If the true believer was not seeing by the Light of God,
how did things unseen appear naked (plainly revealed) to the true believer?
chun-ki tu yanzur bi-nurillah budi
nekui ra wa na-didi az badi
In as much as you were seeing by the Fire of God,
in (your) badness you became forgetful of goodness.
andak-ankad aab bar aatish ba-zan
ta shawad nar-e-tu nur ai bul-hazan
Little by little throw water on the fire,
that your fire may become light, O man of sorrow!
tu ba-zan ya-rabbana aab-e-tahur
ta shawad in nar-e-'alam jumla nur
Throw Thou, O Lord, the purifying water,
that this world-fire may become wholly light.
aab-e-dariya jumla dar farman-e-tust
aab-o-atish ai KHudawand aan-e-tust
All the water of the sea is under Thy command;
water and fire, O Lord, are Thine.
gar tu KHwahi aatish aab-e-KHush shawad
war na-KHwahi aab hum aatish shawad
If Thou willest, fire becomes sweet water;
and if Thou willest not, even water becomes fire.
in talab dar ma hum az ijad-e-tust
rustan az be-dad ya-rab dad-e-tust
This search (aspiration) in us is also brought into existence by Thee; deliverance from iniquity is Thy gift, O Lord.
be-talab tu in talab man dada-i
be-shumar-o-hadd 'ata-ha dada-i
Without (our) seeking Thou hast given us this search,
Thou hast opened to all the treasure of (Thy) beneficence.
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