guft ḳhargosh al-amāñ ’uzrem hast
gar dehad ’afv-e-kHudā-vandet dast
“Mercy!” cried the hare, “I have an excuse, if thy
Lordship's pardon come to my aid.”
guft che 'uzr ai qusūr-e-ablahāñ
iiñ zamāñ āyand dar pesh-e-shahāñ
“What excuse?” said he. “Oh, the shortsightedness of fools!
Is this the time for them to come into the presence of kings?
murġh-e-be-vaqtī sarat bāyad burīd
’uzr-e-ahmaq rā namī shāyad shanīd
Thou art an untimely bird: thy head must be cut off.
One ought not to hear the excuse of a fool.
'uzr-e-ahmaq bad-tar az jurmash buvad
'uzr-e-nādāñ zahr dānish kish buvad
The fool's excuse is worse than his crime;
the excuse of the ignorant is the poison of every knowledge.
'uzrat ai ḳhargosh az dānish tahī
man che ḳhar gosham ki dar gosham nahī
Thy excuse, O hare, is devoid of wisdom:
what hare am I that thou shouldst put it in my ear?
guft ai nā kase rā kas shumār
'uzr-e-istam dīda-i rā gosh daar
“O king,” he replied, account a worthless one to be worthy:
hearken to the excuse of one who has suffered oppression.
ḳhāssa az bahr-e-zakāt-e-jāh-e-ḳhud
gumrahe rā tū marāñ az rāh-e-ḳhud
In particular, as an alms (thank-offering) for thy high estate,
do not drive out of thy way one whose way is lost.
bahr-e-kū aabe ba-har jū mī dehad
har ḳhase rā bar sar-o-rū mī nehad
The ocean, which gives some water to every stream,
lays on its head and face (surface) every piece of rubbish.
kam na-ḳhvāhad gasht dariyā ziiñ karam
az karam dariyā na-gardad besh-o-kam
By this bounty the sea will not become less:
the sea is neither increased nor diminished by its bounty.
guft dāram man karam bar jā-e-ū
jāma-e-har kas buram bālā-e-ū
The lion said, “I will bestow bounty in its (proper) place,
I will cut every one's clothes according to his stature.”
guft ba-shino gar na-bāshad jā.e-lutf
sar nihādam pesh azhdar-hā-e-'unf
“Listen,” cried the hare, “if I am not a fit object for (thy) grace, I lay my head before the dragon of (thy) violence.
man ba-vaqt-e-chāsht dar raah āmdam
bā-rafīq-e-kHud sū-e-shāh āmdam
At breakfast-time I set out on the way,
I came towards the king with my comrade.
bā-man az bahr-e-tū ḳhargoshe digar
juft-o-ham-rah karde būdand aañ nafar
That party (of beasts) had appointed, for thy sake,
another hare to go along with me as consort and companion.
shere andar raah qasd-e-banda kard
qasd-e-har do ham-rah-e-āiñda kard
On the road a lion attacked thy humble slave,
attacked both the companions in travel who were coming (to thee).
guftamash mā banda-e-shāhanshahem
ḳhvāja tāshān-e-ki aañ dargahem
I said to him, ‘We are the slaves of the King of kings,
the lowly fellow-servants of that (exalted) court.’
guft shāhansha ki bāshad sharm-dār
pesh-e-man tū yaad har nā-kas miyār
He said, ‘The King of kings! Who is he? Be ashamed!
Do not make mention of every base loon in my presence.
ham turā-o-ham shahat rā bar diram
gar tū bā-yārat ba-gardīd az diram
Both thee and thy king I will tear to pieces,
if thou and thy friend turn back from my door.
guftamash ba-guzār tā baar digar
rū-e-shah bīnam baram az tū ḳhabar
I said to him, ‘Let me behold once more the face of
the king and bear the news of thee (to him).’
guft ham-rah rā giro neh pesh-e-man
varna qurbānī tū andar kesh-e-man
He said, ‘Place thy comrade with me (in my keeping) as a
pledge; otherwise, thou art a sacrifice (thy life is forfeit)
according to my law.’
laaba kardemash base suude na-kard
yār-e-man bastad marā ba-guzāsht fard
We entreated him much: it was no use.
He seized my friend and left me to go alone.
yāram az za fatā seh chandāñ bud ki man
ham ba-lutf-o-ham ba-ḳhūbī ham batan
My friend, from his plumpness, made two of me both in
comeliness and beauty and (size of) body.
baad aziiñ zaañ sher iiñ rah basta shud
rishta-e-īmān-e-mā ba-gusasta shud
Henceforth this road is barred by that lion: this is what
happened to me, and it has been told to thee (just as it
happened).
az vazīfa baad aziiñ ummīd bur
haq hamī goyam turā-o-al-haqu murr
Cut off (abandon) hope of the allowance henceforth;
I am telling thee the truth, and truth is bitter.
gar vazīfa bāyadat rah paak kun
hiiñ biyā-o-daf'-e-āñ be-bāk kun
If thou want the allowance, clear the way!
hey, come on and repel that irreverent one!
guft KHargosh al-aman ’uzrem hast
gar dehad ’afw-e-kHuda-wandet dast
“Mercy!” cried the hare, “I have an excuse, if thy
Lordship's pardon come to my aid.”
guft che 'uzr ai qusur-e-ablahan
in zaman aayand dar pesh-e-shahan
“What excuse?” said he. “Oh, the shortsightedness of fools!
Is this the time for them to come into the presence of kings?
murgh-e-be-waqti sarat bayad burid
’uzr-e-ahmaq ra nami shayad shanid
Thou art an untimely bird: thy head must be cut off.
One ought not to hear the excuse of a fool.
'uzr-e-ahmaq bad-tar az jurmash buwad
'uzr-e-nadan zahr danish kish buwad
The fool's excuse is worse than his crime;
the excuse of the ignorant is the poison of every knowledge.
'uzrat ai KHargosh az danish tahi
man che KHar gosham ki dar gosham nahi
Thy excuse, O hare, is devoid of wisdom:
what hare am I that thou shouldst put it in my ear?
guft ai na kase ra kas shumar
'uzr-e-istam dida-i ra gosh dar
“O king,” he replied, account a worthless one to be worthy:
hearken to the excuse of one who has suffered oppression.
KHassa az bahr-e-zakat-e-jah-e-KHud
gumrahe ra tu maran az rah-e-KHud
In particular, as an alms (thank-offering) for thy high estate,
do not drive out of thy way one whose way is lost.
bahr-e-ku aabe ba-har ju mi dehad
har KHase ra bar sar-o-ru mi nehad
The ocean, which gives some water to every stream,
lays on its head and face (surface) every piece of rubbish.
kam na-KHwahad gasht dariya zin karam
az karam dariya na-gardad besh-o-kam
By this bounty the sea will not become less:
the sea is neither increased nor diminished by its bounty.
guft daram man karam bar ja-e-u
jama-e-har kas buram baala-e-u
The lion said, “I will bestow bounty in its (proper) place,
I will cut every one's clothes according to his stature.”
guft ba-shino gar na-bashad jae-lutf
sar nihadam pesh azhdar-ha-e-'unf
“Listen,” cried the hare, “if I am not a fit object for (thy) grace, I lay my head before the dragon of (thy) violence.
man ba-waqt-e-chasht dar rah aamdam
ba-rafiq-e-kHud su-e-shah aamdam
At breakfast-time I set out on the way,
I came towards the king with my comrade.
ba-man az bahr-e-tu KHargoshe digar
juft-o-ham-rah karde budand aan nafar
That party (of beasts) had appointed, for thy sake,
another hare to go along with me as consort and companion.
shere andar rah qasd-e-banda kard
qasd-e-har do ham-rah-e-ainda kard
On the road a lion attacked thy humble slave,
attacked both the companions in travel who were coming (to thee).
guftamash ma banda-e-shahanshahem
KHwaja tashan-e-ki aan dargahem
I said to him, ‘We are the slaves of the King of kings,
the lowly fellow-servants of that (exalted) court.’
guft shahansha ki bashad sharm-dar
pesh-e-man tu yaad har na-kas miyar
He said, ‘The King of kings! Who is he? Be ashamed!
Do not make mention of every base loon in my presence.
hum tura-o-ham shahat ra bar diram
gar tu ba-yarat ba-gardid az diram
Both thee and thy king I will tear to pieces,
if thou and thy friend turn back from my door.
guftamash ba-guzar ta bar digar
ru-e-shah binam baram az tu KHabar
I said to him, ‘Let me behold once more the face of
the king and bear the news of thee (to him).’
guft ham-rah ra giro neh pesh-e-man
warna qurbani tu andar kesh-e-man
He said, ‘Place thy comrade with me (in my keeping) as a
pledge; otherwise, thou art a sacrifice (thy life is forfeit)
according to my law.’
laba kardemash base sude na-kard
yar-e-man bastad mara ba-guzasht fard
We entreated him much: it was no use.
He seized my friend and left me to go alone.
yaram az za fata seh chandan bud ki man
hum ba-lutf-o-ham ba-KHubi hum batan
My friend, from his plumpness, made two of me both in
comeliness and beauty and (size of) body.
baad azin zan sher in rah basta shud
rishta-e-iman-e-ma ba-gusasta shud
Henceforth this road is barred by that lion: this is what
happened to me, and it has been told to thee (just as it
happened).
az wazifa baad azin ummid bur
haq hami goyam tura-o-al-haqu murr
Cut off (abandon) hope of the allowance henceforth;
I am telling thee the truth, and truth is bitter.
gar wazifa bayadat rah pak kun
hin biya-o-daf'-e-an be-bak kun
If thou want the allowance, clear the way!
hey, come on and repel that irreverent one!
Additional information available
Click on the INTERESTING button to view additional information associated with this sher.
rare Unpublished content
This ghazal contains ashaar not published in the public domain. These are marked by a red line on the left.
