The vizier brought the Christians into doubt and perplexity.
pas ba-goyam man ba-sirr nasrāniyam
ai kHudā-e-rāzdāñ mī dāniyam
Then I will say (to them), ‘I am secretly a Christian.
O God who knowest (all) things hidden, Thou knowest me.
shaah vāqif gasht az īmān-e-man
vaz ta'assub kard qasd-e-jān-e-man
The king was informed of my (Christian)
faith and from bigotry sought to take my life.
ḳhvāstam tā diiñ za-shah pinhāñ kunam
āñ-ki dīn-e-ūst zāhir aañ kunam
I wished to hide my religion from the
king and profess his religion,
shaah bū-e-burd az asrār-e-man
muttahim shud pesh-e-shah guftār-e-man
(But) the king got a scent of my inmost beliefs,
and my words were suspected (when I stood) before the king.
guft guft-e-tū chū dar naañ sozanast
az dil-e-man tā dil-e-tū rozanast
He said, Your words are like a needle in bread
(specious but pernicious); there is a window between my heart and yours.
man az aañ rauzan ba-dīdam hāl-e-tū
hāl-e-tū dīdam nayūsham qāl-e-tū
Through that window I have seen your (real) state:
I see your state and will not heed your words.
gar na-būde jān-e-'īsā chāra-am
uu jahūdāna ba-karde pāra-am
Had not the spirit of Jesus been my aid, he would
in Jewish fashion have torn me to pieces.
bahr-e-'īsā jaañ sipāram sardeham
sad hazārāñ minnatash bar ḳhud naham
For Jesus' sake I would yield my life and give my head and
lay on myself (confess) myriads of obligations to him.
jaañ dareġham niist az 'iisā va-lek
vāqifam bar 'ilm-e-dīnash nek nek
I do not grudge Jesus my life, but full well am
I versed in the knowledge of his religion.
haif mī aamad marā ki-āñ dīn-e-pāk
darmiyān-e-jāhilāñ gardad halāk
Grief was coming over me (it seemed to me a pity) that holy religion should perish amongst those who are ignorant (of it).
shukr-e-īzad rā-o-'īsā rā ki-mā
gashta aim aañ kaish-e-haq rā rahnumā
Thanks be to God and to Jesus that
I have become a guide to the true faith.
az jahūd-o-az jahūde rasta-am
tā ba-zunnārī mayāñ rā basta-am
I have escaped from Jews and Judaism so (entirely)
that I have bound my waist with a (Christian) girdle.
duur dūr-e-'īsā ast ai mardumāñ
ba-shunvīd asrār-e-kaish-e-ū ba-jāñ
The (present) epoch is the epoch of Jesus. O men,
hearken with your souls unto the mysteries of his religion!’
kard bā vai shaah aañ kaare ki guft
ḳhalq andar kār-e-ū māndah shaguft
The king did to him that deed (mutilation) which he had proposed:
the people remained in amazement at that hidden (mysterious) plot.
raañd uu rā jānib-e-nasrāniyāñ
kard dar dā'vat shurūa uu baa'd azaañ
He (the king) drove him away to the Christians.
After that, he (the vizier) began to proselytise.
The vizier brought the Christians into doubt and perplexity.
pas ba-goyam man ba-sirr nasraniyam
ai kHuda-e-raazdan mi daniyam
Then I will say (to them), ‘I am secretly a Christian.
O God who knowest (all) things hidden, Thou knowest me.
shah waqif gasht az iman-e-man
waz ta'assub kard qasd-e-jaan-e-man
The king was informed of my (Christian)
faith and from bigotry sought to take my life.
KHwastam ta din za-shah pinhan kunam
aan-ki din-e-ust zahir aan kunam
I wished to hide my religion from the
king and profess his religion,
shah bu-e-burd az asrar-e-man
muttahim shud pesh-e-shah guftar-e-man
(But) the king got a scent of my inmost beliefs,
and my words were suspected (when I stood) before the king.
guft guft-e-tu chu dar nan sozanast
az dil-e-man ta dil-e-tu rozanast
He said, Your words are like a needle in bread
(specious but pernicious); there is a window between my heart and yours.
man az aan rauzan ba-didam haal-e-tu
haal-e-tu didam nayusham qal-e-tu
Through that window I have seen your (real) state:
I see your state and will not heed your words.
gar na-bude jaan-e-'isa chaara-am
u jahudana ba-karde para-am
Had not the spirit of Jesus been my aid, he would
in Jewish fashion have torn me to pieces.
bahr-e-'isa jaan siparam sardeham
sad hazaran minnatash bar KHud naham
For Jesus' sake I would yield my life and give my head and
lay on myself (confess) myriads of obligations to him.
jaan daregham nist az 'isa wa-lek
waqifam bar 'ilm-e-dinash nek nek
I do not grudge Jesus my life, but full well am
I versed in the knowledge of his religion.
haif mi aamad mara ki-an din-e-pak
darmiyan-e-jahilan gardad halak
Grief was coming over me (it seemed to me a pity) that holy religion should perish amongst those who are ignorant (of it).
shukr-e-izad ra-o-'isa ra ki-ma
gashta aim aan kaish-e-haq ra rahnuma
Thanks be to God and to Jesus that
I have become a guide to the true faith.
az jahud-o-az jahude rasta-am
ta ba-zunnari mayan ra basta-am
I have escaped from Jews and Judaism so (entirely)
that I have bound my waist with a (Christian) girdle.
dur dur-e-'isa ast ai marduman
ba-shunwid asrar-e-kaish-e-u ba-jaan
The (present) epoch is the epoch of Jesus. O men,
hearken with your souls unto the mysteries of his religion!’
kard ba wai shah aan kare ki guft
KHalq andar kar-e-u mandah shaguft
The king did to him that deed (mutilation) which he had proposed:
the people remained in amazement at that hidden (mysterious) plot.
rand u ra jaanib-e-nasraniyan
kard dar da'wat shurua u ba'd azan
He (the king) drove him away to the Christians.
After that, he (the vizier) began to proselytise.
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