Learn Before
Poem

بخش ۲ - الحكایة و التمثیل / Section 2 - The Tale and the Parable

Original content

در رهی میرفت هارون الرشید
بود تابستان و آبی ناپدید

تشنگی غالب شد و در تف و تاب
چشم را بود ای عجب گربود آب

عابدی گفتش که ای شاه جهان
تشنگی چون برتو افتاد این زمان

گر دلت از تشنگی گردد خراب
ور نیابی فی المثل ده روز آب

گر کسی یک نیمه خواهد ملک شاه
تاترا یک شربت آب ارد براه

از سر آن بر توانی خاست تو
کژنشین با من بگو این راست تو

گفت ملک خود کنم نیمی نثار
تا رسد جانم بآب خوشگوار

گفت اگر آن شربت آبت در درون
ره نیابد تا بزیر آید برون

گر طبیبی خواهد آن نیمی دگر
تا دهد آن آب را در تو گذر

آن دگر نیمه توانی داد خوش
برتوانی خاست زان آزاد خوش

گفت چون در من بود صد پیچ پیچ
ملک با آن درد نبود هیچ هیچ

من بگویم ترک ملک و مرد خویش
تا خلاصی باشدم از درد خویش

گفت آن ملکت که در دفع عذاب
میتوان کردن عوض با یک من آب

دل درو بیهوده چندینی مبند
وز کفی دو آب چندینی مخند

ملکتی کان یک من آب ارزد ترا
دل برو چندین چرا لرزد ترا

ملک عقبی خواه تا خرم بود
ذرهٔ زان ملک صد عالم بود

عدل کن تادر میان این نشست
ذرهٔ زان مملکت آری بدست

عدل نبود این که بنشینی خوشی
میزنی در هر سرائی آتشی

گر چو خود خواهی رعیت را مدام
مملکت را عادلی باشی تمام

English translation

Harun al-Rashid was traveling on a path, It was summer and water was nowhere to be found. Thirst overcame him and in the intense heat, His eyes searched with wonder if there was any water. An ascetic said to him, 'O King of the world, Since thirst has fallen upon you at this time, If your heart is ruined by thirst, And you cannot find water for ten days, for example, If someone asks for half the king's kingdom To bring you a drink of water on the way, Would you be able to give it up? Sit crookedly but tell me the truth.' He said, 'I would sacrifice half my kingdom So that my soul may reach sweet water.' He said, 'If that drink of water inside you Finds no way to come out below, If a doctor asks for the other half To make that water pass through you, Would you gladly give that other half? Would you gladly give it up and be free?' He said, 'Since I would have a hundred twists and pains, The kingdom would be absolutely nothing with that pain. I would abandon my kingdom and my people So that I might have deliverance from my pain.' He said, 'That kingdom of yours, which in repelling torment, Can be exchanged for a single measure of water, Do not vainly attach your heart to it so much, And do not boast so much for a sip of water. A kingdom that is worth one measure of water to you, Why does your heart tremble so much for it? Seek the kingdom of the hereafter so that it may be joyful, A speck of that kingdom is a hundred worlds. Practice justice so that in the midst of this dwelling, You may attain a speck of that kingdom. It is not justice that you sit comfortably, Setting fire to every home. If you constantly want the subjects to be like yourself, You will be a complete and just ruler for the kingdom.'

0

1

Updated 2026-07-03

Contributors are:

Who are from:

References


Tags

Humanities

Literature

Persian Literature Prerequisite Course

Related