qissa-e-bāzargāñ ki tūtī-e-ū rā paiġhām daad ba-tūtiyān-e-hindustān hañgām-e-raftan ba-tijārat
The story of the merchant to whom the captive parrot gave a message for the parrots of India on the occasion of his going (thither) to trade.
buud bāzargān-e-ū rā tūtiye
dar qafas mahbūs zebā tūtiye
There was a merchant, and he had a parrot
imprisoned in a cage, a pretty parrot.
chūñki bāzargāñ safar rā saaz kard
sū-e-hindustāñ shudan āġhāz kard
When the merchant made ready for travel
and was about to depart to India,
har ġhulām-o-har kanīzak rā za juud
guft bahr-e-tū che aaram go.e-zūd
Because of his generosity he said to each male slave and each handmaid,
“What shall I bring (home) for you? Tell (me) quickly.”
har yake az vai murāde ḳhvāst kard
jumla rā vā'da ba-dād aañ nek mard
Each one asked him for some object of desire:
that good man gave his promise to them all.
guft tuutī rā che ḳhvāhī armuġhāñ
kārmat az kHitta-e-hindustāñ
He said to the parrot,
“What present would you like me to bring for you from the land of India?”
guft aañ tuutī ki āñ-jā tūtiyāñ
chuuñ ba-bīnī kun za hāl-e-mā bayāñ
The parrot said to him,
“When thou seest the parrots there, explain my plight (and say),
kaañ fulāñ tuutī ki mushtāq-e-shumāst
az qazā-e-āsmāñ dar habs-e-māst
‘Such and such a parrot, who is longing for you,
is in my prison by the destiny of Heaven.
bar shumā kard uu salām-o-dād ḳhvāst
vaz shumā chāra-o-rah irshād ḳhvāst
She salutes you and asks for justice and desires (to learn)
from you the means and way of being rightly guided.
guft mī-shāyad ki man dar ishtiyāq
jaañ deham īñ-jā ba-mīram dar firāq
She says, “Is it meet that I in yearning (after you)
should give up the ghost and die here in separation?
iiñ ravā bāshad ki man dar band-e-sakHt
gah shumā bar sabza-gāhe bar daraḳht
Is this right—(that) I (should be) in grievous bondage,
while ye are now on green plants, now on trees?
iiñ chunīñ bāshad vafā-e-dostāñ
man darīñ habs-o-shumā dar bostāñ
The faith kept by friends, is it like this?—I in this prison and ye in the rose-garden.
yaad aared ai mahāñ ziiñ murġh-e-zār
yak subūh-e-darmiyān-e-marġh-zār
O ye noble ones, call to mind this piteous bird,
(and drink in memory of me) a morning-draught amongst the meadows!
yād-e-yārāñ yaar rā maimūñ buvad
ḳhāsa kaañ laila-o-īñ majnūñ buvad
Happy it is for a friend to be remembered by friends,
in particular when that (beloved) is Laylá and this (lover) Majnún.
ai harīfān-e-but-e-mauzūn-e-ḳhud
man qadah-hā mī ḳhuram pur ḳhūn-e-ḳhud
O ye who consort with your charming and adored one,
am I to be drinking cups filled with my own blood?
yak qadah mai nosh kun bar yād-e-man
gar hamī ḳhvāhī ki ba-dehī dād-e-man
(O thou who art my beloved),
quaff one cup of wine in memory of me, if thou art unwilling to do me justice,
yā ba-yād-e-īñ fitāda kāk-bez
chūñki ḳhurdī jar'a ai bar kHāk-rez
Or (at least), when thou hast drunk,
spill one draught on the earth in memory of this fallen one who sifts dust.
ai 'ajab aañ 'ahad-o-āñ saugand kū
vā'da-hā-e-āñ lab-e-chūñ qand kū
Oh, where, I wonder, is that covenant and oath?
Where are the promises of that lip like candy?
gar firāq-e-banda az bad bandagīst
chuuñ tu bā-bad bad kunī pas farq chīst
If thy having forsaken thy slave is because of (his) ill service (to thee)—when thou doest ill to the ill-doer,
then what is the difference (between master and slave)?
ai badī ki tū kunī dar kHashm-o-jañg
bā-tarab tar az samā'-o-bāñg-e-chañg
Oh, the ill thou doest in wrath and quarrel is
more delightful than music and the sound of the harp.
Oh, thy cruelty is better than felicity,
and thy vengeance dearer than life.
ai jafā-e-tū za daulat ḳhūb-tar
o intiqām-e-tū za jaañ mahbūb-tar
This is thy fire: how (what) must be thy light!
This is (thy) mourning, so how (what) indeed must be thy festival!
nār-e-tu iin.st nūr̤at chuuñ buvad
mātam iiñ tā ḳhud ki sūrat chuuñ buvad
In respect of the sweetnesses which thy cruelty hath,
and in respect of thy beauty, no one gets to the bottom of thee.
az halāvat-hā ki dārad jaur-e-tū
vaz latāfat kas nayābad ġhaur-e-tū
I complain, and (yet) I fear lest he believe me
and from kindness make that cruelty less.
nālam-o-tarsam ki uu bāvar kunad
vaz karam aañ jaur rā kamtar kunad
I am exceedingly enamoured of his violence and his
gentleness:
’tis marvelous (that) I (am) in love with both these contraries.
'āshiqam bar qahr-o-bar lutfash ba-jid
bul-'ajab man 'āshiq-e-īñ har do zid
By God, if (I escape) from this thorn (of sorrow) and enter the garden (of joy),
because of this I shall begin to moan like the nightingale.
vallāh ar ziiñ ḳhaar dar bustāñ shavam
ham-chu bulbul ziiñ sabab nālāñ shavam
This is a wondrous nightingale that opens his
mouth to eat thorns and roses together.
iiñ 'ajab bulbul ki ba-gushāyad dahāñ
tā-kHurad uu ḳhaar rā bā-gulistāñ
What nightingale is this? (Nay), ’tis a fiery monster:
because of (his) love all unsweet things are sweetness to him.
iiñ che bulbul iiñ nahañg-e-ātishīst
jumla nā-kHush-hā za 'ishq uu rā kHushīst
He is a lover of the Universal, and he himself is the Universal:
he is in love with himself and seeking his own love.
'āshiq-e-kullast-o-kHud kullast uu
'āshiq-e-kHveshast-o-'ishq-e-kHvesh jū
qissa-e-bazargan ki tuti-e-u ra paigham dad ba-tutiyan-e-hindustan hangam-e-raftan ba-tijarat
The story of the merchant to whom the captive parrot gave a message for the parrots of India on the occasion of his going (thither) to trade.
bud bazargan-e-u ra tutiye
dar qafas mahbus zeba tutiye
There was a merchant, and he had a parrot
imprisoned in a cage, a pretty parrot.
chunki bazargan safar ra saz kard
su-e-hindustan shudan aaghaz kard
When the merchant made ready for travel
and was about to depart to India,
har ghulam-o-har kanizak ra za jud
guft bahr-e-tu che aaram goe-zud
Because of his generosity he said to each male slave and each handmaid,
“What shall I bring (home) for you? Tell (me) quickly.”
har yake az wai murade KHwast kard
jumla ra wa'da ba-dad aan nek mard
Each one asked him for some object of desire:
that good man gave his promise to them all.
guft tuti ra che KHwahi armughan
karmat az kHitta-e-hindustan
He said to the parrot,
“What present would you like me to bring for you from the land of India?”
guft aan tuti ki aan-ja tutiyan
chun ba-bini kun za haal-e-ma bayan
The parrot said to him,
“When thou seest the parrots there, explain my plight (and say),
kan fulan tuti ki mushtaq-e-shumast
az qaza-e-asman dar habs-e-mast
‘Such and such a parrot, who is longing for you,
is in my prison by the destiny of Heaven.
bar shuma kard u salam-o-dad KHwast
waz shuma chaara-o-rah irshad KHwast
She salutes you and asks for justice and desires (to learn)
from you the means and way of being rightly guided.
guft mi-shayad ki man dar ishtiyaq
jaan deham in-ja ba-miram dar firaq
She says, “Is it meet that I in yearning (after you)
should give up the ghost and die here in separation?
in rawa bashad ki man dar band-e-sakHt
gah shuma bar sabza-gahe bar daraKHt
Is this right—(that) I (should be) in grievous bondage,
while ye are now on green plants, now on trees?
in chunin bashad wafa-e-dostan
man darin habs-o-shuma dar bostan
The faith kept by friends, is it like this?—I in this prison and ye in the rose-garden.
yaad aared ai mahan zin murgh-e-zar
yak subuh-e-darmiyan-e-margh-zar
O ye noble ones, call to mind this piteous bird,
(and drink in memory of me) a morning-draught amongst the meadows!
yaad-e-yaran yar ra maimun buwad
KHasa kan laila-o-in majnun buwad
Happy it is for a friend to be remembered by friends,
in particular when that (beloved) is Laylá and this (lover) Majnún.
ai harifan-e-but-e-mauzun-e-KHud
man qadah-ha mi KHuram pur KHun-e-KHud
O ye who consort with your charming and adored one,
am I to be drinking cups filled with my own blood?
yak qadah mai nosh kun bar yaad-e-man
gar hami KHwahi ki ba-dehi dad-e-man
(O thou who art my beloved),
quaff one cup of wine in memory of me, if thou art unwilling to do me justice,
ya ba-yaad-e-in fitada kak-bez
chunki KHurdi jar'a ai bar kHak-rez
Or (at least), when thou hast drunk,
spill one draught on the earth in memory of this fallen one who sifts dust.
ai 'ajab aan 'ahad-o-an saugand ku
wa'da-ha-e-an lab-e-chun qand ku
Oh, where, I wonder, is that covenant and oath?
Where are the promises of that lip like candy?
gar firaq-e-banda az bad bandagist
chun tu ba-bad bad kuni pas farq chist
If thy having forsaken thy slave is because of (his) ill service (to thee)—when thou doest ill to the ill-doer,
then what is the difference (between master and slave)?
ai badi ki tu kuni dar kHashm-o-jang
ba-tarab tar az sama'-o-bang-e-chang
Oh, the ill thou doest in wrath and quarrel is
more delightful than music and the sound of the harp.
Oh, thy cruelty is better than felicity,
and thy vengeance dearer than life.
ai jafa-e-tu za daulat KHub-tar
o intiqam-e-tu za jaan mahbub-tar
This is thy fire: how (what) must be thy light!
This is (thy) mourning, so how (what) indeed must be thy festival!
nar-e-tu inst nur̤at chun buwad
matam in ta KHud ki surat chun buwad
In respect of the sweetnesses which thy cruelty hath,
and in respect of thy beauty, no one gets to the bottom of thee.
az halawat-ha ki darad jaur-e-tu
waz latafat kas nayabad ghaur-e-tu
I complain, and (yet) I fear lest he believe me
and from kindness make that cruelty less.
nalam-o-tarsam ki u bawar kunad
waz karam aan jaur ra kamtar kunad
I am exceedingly enamoured of his violence and his
gentleness:
’tis marvelous (that) I (am) in love with both these contraries.
'ashiqam bar qahr-o-bar lutfash ba-jid
bul-'ajab man 'ashiq-e-in har do zid
By God, if (I escape) from this thorn (of sorrow) and enter the garden (of joy),
because of this I shall begin to moan like the nightingale.
wallah ar zin KHar dar bustan shawam
ham-chu bulbul zin sabab nalan shawam
This is a wondrous nightingale that opens his
mouth to eat thorns and roses together.
in 'ajab bulbul ki ba-gushayad dahan
ta-kHurad u KHar ra ba-gulistan
What nightingale is this? (Nay), ’tis a fiery monster:
because of (his) love all unsweet things are sweetness to him.
in che bulbul in nahang-e-atishist
jumla na-kHush-ha za 'ishq u ra kHushist
He is a lover of the Universal, and he himself is the Universal:
he is in love with himself and seeking his own love.
'ashiq-e-kullast-o-kHud kullast u
'ashiq-e-kHweshast-o-'ishq-e-kHwesh ju
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