qissa-e-didan-e-KHalifa laila ra
Interesting Fact
English Translation: Reynold. A. Nicholson
qissa-e-dīdan-e-ḳhalīfa lailā rā
Story of the Caliph's seeing Laylá
guft lailā rā ḳhalīfa kaañ tuī
kaz tu majnūñ shud pereshān-o-ġhavī
The Caliph said to Laylá: Art thou she by whom
Majnún was distracted and led astray?
az digar ḳhūbāñ tu afzūñ nīstī
guft ḳhāmush chuñ tu majnūñ nīstī
Thou art not superior to other fair ones. Be silent,
she replied, since thou art not Majnún.
har ki bedārast uu dar ḳhvāb tar
hast bedārīsh az kHvābash batar
Whosoever is awake (to the material world) is the more asleep
(to the spiritual world); his wakefulness is worse than his sleep.
chuñ ba-haq bedār na-buvad jān-e-mā
hast bedārī chu dar bandān-e-mā
When our soul is not awake to God, wakefulness
is like closing our doors (to Divine influences).
jaañ hama roz az lagad kūb-e-ḳhayāl
vaz ziyān-o-sūd vaz ḳhauf-e-zavāl
All day long, from the buffets of phantasy and from
(thoughts of) loss and gain and from fear of decline,
ne safā mī mānadash ne lutf-o-far
ne ba-sū-e-āsmāñ rāh-e-safar
There remains to it (the soul) neither joy nor
grace and glory nor way of journeying to Heaven.
ḳhufta aañ bāshad ki uu az har ḳhayāl
dārad ūmīd-o-kunad bā uu maqāl
The one asleep (to spiritual things) is he who hath
hope of every vain fancy and holds parley with it.
dev rā chuñ huur bīnad uu ba-ḳhvāb
pas za shahvat rezad uu bā dev aab
Diabolum per somnum videt tanquam virginem caelestem,
deinde propter libidinem effundit cum diabolo aquam (seminis). [During sleep,
he sees (in a dream) a demon resembling a heavenly maiden (houri);
then he pours forth (seminal) fluid out of lust (in imagined intercourse) with the demon.]
chūñki tuḳhm-e-nasl rā dar shūrah reḳht
uu ba-ḳhvesh aamad ḳhayāl az vai gurekHt
Postquam semen generationis in terram salsuginosam infudit, ipse ad se rediit, fugit ab eo illa imago.
[After he had scattered the seed of generation on salty (infertile) ground, he came to himself (and) the phantom fled from him.]
zo'f-e-sar bīnad az ān-o-tan palīd
aah az aañ naqsh-e-padīd-e-nāpadīd
Hinc percepit languorem capitis et (videt) corpus pollutum. Proh dolor ob illud simulacrum
visum (sed revera) non visum! [Because of that, he sees (himself as) faint of head and polluted of body. Alas, because of that visible (but) invisible form!]
murġh bar baalā parān-o-sāya-ash
mī-davad bar ḳhaak parrāñ murġh-vash
The bird is flying on high, and below, its shadow is speeding
on the earth, flying like a bird:
ablahe sayyād-e-āñ saaya shavad
mī-davad chandāñ-ki be-māya shavad
Some fool begins to chase the shadow, running (after it)
so far that he becomes powerless (exhausted),
be-ḳhabar kaañ 'aks-e-āñ murġh-e-havāst
be-ḳhabar ki asl-e-āñ saaya kujāst
Not knowing that it is the reflexion of that bird in the air,
not knowing where is the origin of the shadow.
tiir andāzad basū-e-sāya-ū
tarkashash ḳhālī shavad az justujū
He shoots arrows at the shadow;
his quiver is emptied in seeking (to shoot it):
tarkash-e-'umrash tahī shud 'umr raft
az davīdan dar shikār-e-sāya taft
The quiver of his life became empty:
his life passed in running hotly in chase of the shadow.
sāya-e-yazdāñ chu bāshad daaya ash
vārhānad az kHayāl-o-sāya ash
(But) when the shadow of God is his nurse,
it delivers him from (every) phantom and shadow.
sāya-e-yazdāñ buvad banda-e-ḳhudā
muda-e-īñ 'ālam-o-zinda-e-kHudā
The shadow of God is that servant of God who is
dead to this world and living through God.
dāman-e-ū giir zūtar be-gumāñ
tā rahī dar dāman-e-āḳhir zamāñ
Lay hold of his skirt most quickly without misgiving,
that you may be saved in the skirt (end) of the last days (of the world).
kaifa madda-zilla naqsh-e-auliyāst
kū dalīl-e-nūr-e-ḳhurshīd-e-ḳhudāst
(The shadow mentioned in the words) How He (God) extended the
shadow is the form of the saints, which guides to the light of the Divine Sun.
andarīñ vaadī marau be-īñ dalīl
lā-uhibbul-āfilīñ go chuuñ ḳhalīl
Do not go in this valley without this guide; say,
like Khalíl (Abraham), I love not them that set.
rau za saaya āftābe rā ba-yāb
dāman-e-shah 'shams'-e-tabrezī ba-tāb
Go, from the shadow gain a sun: pluck the skirt of the
(spiritual) king, Shams-i Tabrízí (the Sun of Tabríz)!
rah na-dānī jānib-e-īñ sūr-o-'urs
az ziyā-ul-haq hisāmuddīñ ba-purs
If you do not know the way to this feast and bridal,
ask of Ziyá’u ’l-Haqq (the Radiance of God) Husámu’ddín.
var hasad gīrad turā dar rah gulū
dar hasad iblīs rā bāshad ġhulū
And if on the way envy seize you by the throat, it belongs
to (is characteristic of) Iblís to go beyond bounds in envy;
kū za aadam nañg dārad az hasad
bā-sa'ādat jañg dārad az hasad
For he because of envy hath disdain for Adam,
and because of envy is at war with felicity.
'aqba-e-zīñ sā'b-e-tū dar raah niist
ai ḳhunak āñkash hasad ham-rāh niist
In the Way there is no harder pass than this. Oh,
fortunate he who is not companioned by envy!
iiñ jasad ḳhāna hasad aamad badāñ
kaz hasad ālūda bāshad ḳhāndāñ
This body, you must know, is the house of envy,
for the household are tainted with envy.
gar jasad ḳhāna hasad bāshad va-lek
aañ jasad rā paak kard allah nek
If the body is the house of envy, yet
God made that body very pure.
tahhirā baitī bayān-e-pākī-ast
ganj-e-nūrast ar tilismash kHākī-ast
(The text) Cleanse My house, ye twain, is the explanation of (such) purity:
it (the purified heart) is a treasure of (Divine) light, though its talisman is of earth.
chuuñ kunī bar be-jasad makr-o-hasad
zaañ hasad dil rā siyāhī hā rasad
When you practise deceit and envy against one who is without envy,
from that envy black stain arise in your heart.
ḳhaak sho mardān-e-haq rā zer-e-pā
ḳhaak bar sar kun hasad rā ham-chu mā
Become (as) dust under the feet of the men of God;
throw dust on the head of envy, even as we do.
qissa-e-didan-e-KHalifa laila ra
Story of the Caliph's seeing Laylá
guft laila ra KHalifa kan tui
kaz tu majnun shud pereshan-o-ghawi
The Caliph said to Laylá: Art thou she by whom
Majnún was distracted and led astray?
az digar KHuban tu afzun nisti
guft KHamush chun tu majnun nisti
Thou art not superior to other fair ones. Be silent,
she replied, since thou art not Majnún.
har ki bedarast u dar KHwab tar
hast bedarish az kHwabash batar
Whosoever is awake (to the material world) is the more asleep
(to the spiritual world); his wakefulness is worse than his sleep.
chun ba-haq bedar na-buwad jaan-e-ma
hast bedari chu dar bandan-e-ma
When our soul is not awake to God, wakefulness
is like closing our doors (to Divine influences).
jaan hama roz az lagad kub-e-KHayal
waz ziyan-o-sud waz KHauf-e-zawal
All day long, from the buffets of phantasy and from
(thoughts of) loss and gain and from fear of decline,
ne safa mi manadash ne lutf-o-far
ne ba-su-e-asman rah-e-safar
There remains to it (the soul) neither joy nor
grace and glory nor way of journeying to Heaven.
KHufta aan bashad ki u az har KHayal
darad umid-o-kunad ba u maqal
The one asleep (to spiritual things) is he who hath
hope of every vain fancy and holds parley with it.
dew ra chun hur binad u ba-KHwab
pas za shahwat rezad u ba dew aab
Diabolum per somnum videt tanquam virginem caelestem,
deinde propter libidinem effundit cum diabolo aquam (seminis). [During sleep,
he sees (in a dream) a demon resembling a heavenly maiden (houri);
then he pours forth (seminal) fluid out of lust (in imagined intercourse) with the demon.]
chunki tuKHm-e-nasl ra dar shurah reKHt
u ba-KHwesh aamad KHayal az wai gurekHt
Postquam semen generationis in terram salsuginosam infudit, ipse ad se rediit, fugit ab eo illa imago.
[After he had scattered the seed of generation on salty (infertile) ground, he came to himself (and) the phantom fled from him.]
zo'f-e-sar binad az aan-o-tan palid
aah az aan naqsh-e-padid-e-napadid
Hinc percepit languorem capitis et (videt) corpus pollutum. Proh dolor ob illud simulacrum
visum (sed revera) non visum! [Because of that, he sees (himself as) faint of head and polluted of body. Alas, because of that visible (but) invisible form!]
murgh bar baala paran-o-saya-ash
mi-dawad bar KHak parran murgh-wash
The bird is flying on high, and below, its shadow is speeding
on the earth, flying like a bird:
ablahe sayyaad-e-an saya shawad
mi-dawad chandan-ki be-maya shawad
Some fool begins to chase the shadow, running (after it)
so far that he becomes powerless (exhausted),
be-KHabar kan 'aks-e-an murgh-e-hawast
be-KHabar ki asl-e-an saya kujast
Not knowing that it is the reflexion of that bird in the air,
not knowing where is the origin of the shadow.
tir andazad basu-e-saya-u
tarkashash KHali shawad az justuju
He shoots arrows at the shadow;
his quiver is emptied in seeking (to shoot it):
tarkash-e-'umrash tahi shud 'umr raft
az dawidan dar shikar-e-saya taft
The quiver of his life became empty:
his life passed in running hotly in chase of the shadow.
saya-e-yazdan chu bashad daya ash
warhanad az kHayal-o-saya ash
(But) when the shadow of God is his nurse,
it delivers him from (every) phantom and shadow.
saya-e-yazdan buwad banda-e-KHuda
muda-e-in 'alam-o-zinda-e-kHuda
The shadow of God is that servant of God who is
dead to this world and living through God.
daman-e-u gir zutar be-guman
ta rahi dar daman-e-aKHir zaman
Lay hold of his skirt most quickly without misgiving,
that you may be saved in the skirt (end) of the last days (of the world).
kaifa madda-zilla naqsh-e-auliyast
ku dalil-e-nur-e-KHurshid-e-KHudast
(The shadow mentioned in the words) How He (God) extended the
shadow is the form of the saints, which guides to the light of the Divine Sun.
andarin wadi marau be-in dalil
la-uhibbul-afilin go chun KHalil
Do not go in this valley without this guide; say,
like Khalíl (Abraham), I love not them that set.
rau za saya aaftabe ra ba-yab
daman-e-shah 'shams'-e-tabrezi ba-tab
Go, from the shadow gain a sun: pluck the skirt of the
(spiritual) king, Shams-i Tabrízí (the Sun of Tabríz)!
rah na-dani jaanib-e-in sur-o-'urs
az ziya-ul-haq hisamuddin ba-purs
If you do not know the way to this feast and bridal,
ask of Ziyá’u ’l-Haqq (the Radiance of God) Husámu’ddín.
war hasad girad tura dar rah gulu
dar hasad iblis ra bashad ghulu
And if on the way envy seize you by the throat, it belongs
to (is characteristic of) Iblís to go beyond bounds in envy;
ku za aadam nang darad az hasad
ba-sa'adat jang darad az hasad
For he because of envy hath disdain for Adam,
and because of envy is at war with felicity.
'aqba-e-zin sa'b-e-tu dar rah nist
ai KHunak aankash hasad ham-rah nist
In the Way there is no harder pass than this. Oh,
fortunate he who is not companioned by envy!
in jasad KHana hasad aamad badan
kaz hasad aaluda bashad KHandan
This body, you must know, is the house of envy,
for the household are tainted with envy.
gar jasad KHana hasad bashad wa-lek
aan jasad ra pak kard allah nek
If the body is the house of envy, yet
God made that body very pure.
tahhira baiti bayan-e-paki-ast
ganj-e-nurast ar tilismash kHaki-ast
(The text) Cleanse My house, ye twain, is the explanation of (such) purity:
it (the purified heart) is a treasure of (Divine) light, though its talisman is of earth.
chun kuni bar be-jasad makr-o-hasad
zan hasad dil ra siyahi ha rasad
When you practise deceit and envy against one who is without envy,
from that envy black stain arise in your heart.
KHak sho mardan-e-haq ra zer-e-pa
KHak bar sar kun hasad ra ham-chu ma
Become (as) dust under the feet of the men of God;
throw dust on the head of envy, even as we do.
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