tafsīr-e-qaul-e-farīduddīn 'attār quddesallāhu sirrahu
Commentary on the saying of Farídu’ddín ‘Attár,
tū sāhib-e-nafsī ai ġhāfil mayān-e-kHāk ḳhuuñ mī-ḳhur
ki sāhib dil agar zahre ḳhurad aañ añgbīñ bāshad
-may God sanctify his spirit- “Thou art a sensualist: O heedless one, drink blood (mortify thyself) amidst the dust (of thy bodily existence),
For if the spiritualist drink a poison, it will be (to him as) an antidote.”
sāhib-e-dil rā na-dārad aañ ziyāñ
gar ḳhurad uu zahr-e-qātil rā 'ayāñ
It does not harm the spiritualist (saint) though
he drink deadly poison for all to see,
zāñ-ki sehat yāft-o-az parhez rast
tālib-e-miskīñ miyān-e-tab dar ast
Because he has attained to (spiritual) health and has been set free from (the need for) abstinence,
(while) the poor seeker (of God) is (still) in the (state of) fever.
guft paiġhambar ki ai tālib jari
haañ ma-kun bā hech matlūbe marī
The Prophet said, O seeker of the (Divine) allowance
(bounty), do not contend with anyone who is sought..
dar tū namrūdīst ātish dar maro
raft ḳhvāhī avval ibrāhīm sho
In thee is a Nimrod: do not go into the fire. If thou wish to go in, first become Abraham!
chuñ neh sabbāh-o-ne dariyā.ī-e
dar mī-afgan ḳhvesh az ḳhud rā.ī-e
When thou art neither a swimmer nor a seaman,
do not cast thyself (into the sea) from a (feeling of) self-conceit.
uu za qā'r-e-bahr gauhar āvarad
az ziyāñ-hā suud bar-sar āvarad
He (the saint) brings red roses from the fire,
from losses he brings gain to the surface.
kāmile gar ḳhaak gīrad zar shavad
nāqis ar zar burd ḳhākistar shavad
If a perfect man (saint) take earth, it becomes gold;
if an imperfect one has carried away gold, it becomes ashes.
chuuñ qubūl-e-haq buvad aañ mard-e-rāst
dast-e-ū dar kār-hā dast-e-kHudāst
Since that righteous man is accepted of God,
his hand in (all) things is the hand of God.
dast-e-nāqis dast-e-shaitānast-o-dev
zāñ-ki andar dām-e-taklīfast-o-rev
The hand of the imperfect man is the hand of Devil and demon,
because he is in the trap of imposition and guile.
jahl aayad pesh-e-ū dānish shavad
jahl shud 'ilme ki dar nāqis ravad
If ignorance come to him (the perfect man),
it becomes knowledge, (but) the knowledge that goes into the disbelieving man becomes ignorance.
har che gīrad 'illate 'illat shavad
kufr gīrad kāmile millat shavad
Whatever an ill man takes becomes illness,
(but) if a perfect man takes infidelity, it becomes religion.
ai mire darda pyāda bā-savār
sar naḳhvāhī burd aknūñ pā-e-dār
O thou who, being on foot, hast contended with a horseman, thou wilt not save thy head. Now hold thy foot (desist)!
tafsir-e-qaul-e-fariduddin 'attar quddesallahu sirrahu
Commentary on the saying of Farídu’ddín ‘Attár,
tu sahib-e-nafsi ai ghafil mayan-e-kHak KHun mi-KHur
ki sahib dil agar zahre KHurad aan angbin bashad
-may God sanctify his spirit- “Thou art a sensualist: O heedless one, drink blood (mortify thyself) amidst the dust (of thy bodily existence),
For if the spiritualist drink a poison, it will be (to him as) an antidote.”
sahib-e-dil ra na-darad aan ziyan
gar KHurad u zahr-e-qatil ra 'ayan
It does not harm the spiritualist (saint) though
he drink deadly poison for all to see,
zan-ki sehat yaft-o-az parhez rast
talib-e-miskin miyan-e-tab dar ast
Because he has attained to (spiritual) health and has been set free from (the need for) abstinence,
(while) the poor seeker (of God) is (still) in the (state of) fever.
guft paighambar ki ai talib jari
han ma-kun ba hech matlube mari
The Prophet said, O seeker of the (Divine) allowance
(bounty), do not contend with anyone who is sought..
dar tu namrudist aatish dar maro
raft KHwahi awwal ibrahim sho
In thee is a Nimrod: do not go into the fire. If thou wish to go in, first become Abraham!
chun neh sabbah-o-ne dariyai-e
dar mi-afgan KHwesh az KHud rai-e
When thou art neither a swimmer nor a seaman,
do not cast thyself (into the sea) from a (feeling of) self-conceit.
u za qa'r-e-bahr gauhar aawarad
az ziyan-ha sud bar-sar aawarad
He (the saint) brings red roses from the fire,
from losses he brings gain to the surface.
kaamile gar KHak girad zar shawad
naqis ar zar burd KHakistar shawad
If a perfect man (saint) take earth, it becomes gold;
if an imperfect one has carried away gold, it becomes ashes.
chun qubul-e-haq buwad aan mard-e-rast
dast-e-u dar kar-ha dast-e-kHudast
Since that righteous man is accepted of God,
his hand in (all) things is the hand of God.
dast-e-naqis dast-e-shaitanast-o-dew
zan-ki andar dam-e-taklifast-o-rew
The hand of the imperfect man is the hand of Devil and demon,
because he is in the trap of imposition and guile.
jahl aayad pesh-e-u danish shawad
jahl shud 'ilme ki dar naqis rawad
If ignorance come to him (the perfect man),
it becomes knowledge, (but) the knowledge that goes into the disbelieving man becomes ignorance.
har che girad 'illate 'illat shawad
kufr girad kaamile millat shawad
Whatever an ill man takes becomes illness,
(but) if a perfect man takes infidelity, it becomes religion.
ai mere darda pyaada ba-sawar
sar naKHwahi burd aknun pa-e-dar
O thou who, being on foot, hast contended with a horseman, thou wilt not save thy head. Now hold thy foot (desist)!
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