1Cademy - جواب پدر / The Fathers Answer

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Elahi Nameh

Poem

جواب پدر / The Father's Answer

Original content

پدر گفتش چرا ملکت بکارست
که گر دستت دهد ناپایدارست

چنین ملکی چنان به، هم تو دانی،
که در باقی کنی چون هست فانی

وگر در ملک ظلمی کرده باشی
که تا یک گرده روزی خورده باشی

جهان چون حسرت آبادیست جمله
کفی خاکست یا بادیست جمله

مشو غره بملک باد و خاکی
بجانی کرده پیوند هلاکی

کرا آن زندگی با برگ باشد
که انجامش بزاری مرگ باشد

جهان پر نوش داروی الهی
مکش خود را بزهر پادشاهی

اگرچه روستم را دل بپژمرد
چه سود ازنوش دارو چون پسر مرد

طلب کن ای پسر ملکی دگر را
که سر باید برید آنجا پسر را

جهان را پادشاهانی که بودند
که سر در گنبد گردنده سودند

بملک اندر نبودی پشتشان گرم
مگر بر پشتی آن پارهٔ چرم

همه در زیر چرم آرام کرده
درفش کاویانش نام کرده

ز ملکی چون نمی گیری کناره
که بر پایست از یک چرم پاره؟

چو شاهی از درفش لخت چرمست
بغایت کفشگر زان پشت گرمست

مرا ملکی که اصلش چرم باشد
بدان گر فخر آرم شرم باشد

چو سر کارها معلوم گردد
بسا آهن که در دم موم گردد

در آن موضع که عقل آنجاست مدهوش
اگر کوهست گردد عهن منفوش

چو ملک این جهانی بس جهانست
چو نیکو بنگری ملک آن جهانست

زهی آدم که پیگ عشق دریافت
بیک گندم ز ملک خلد سر تافت

اگر خواهی که یابی ملک جاوید
ترا قرصی ز عالم بس چو خورشید

English translation

The father said to him: 'Why do you need a kingdom? For even if it falls into your hands, it is unstable. Such a kingdom is better, as you well know, That you invest in the eternal, since it is mortal. And if you have committed oppression in the kingdom, Even if it was just to eat a single loaf of bread, The world is entirely an abode of regret; It is a handful of dust or entirely a wind. Do not be deceived by a kingdom of wind and dust, Tying your soul to destruction. For whom is that life well-provisioned, Whose end is a miserable death? The world is full of divine antidote, Do not kill yourself with the poison of kingship. Although Rostam's heart withered, What use was the antidote when the son died? Seek, O son, another kingdom, For there the son's head must be cut off. The kings of the world who existed, Who rubbed their heads against the revolving dome, Were not supported in their kingdom, Except by the backing of that piece of leather. They all found rest beneath the leather, Naming it the Kaviani Banner. Why do you not withdraw from a kingdom, That stands upon a piece of leather? Since kingship comes from a bare piece of leather banner, The cobbler is extremely encouraged by it. A kingdom whose foundation is leather, I would be ashamed to take pride in it. When the secret of affairs becomes known, Many an iron becomes wax in an instant. In that place where the intellect is confounded, Even a mountain becomes like carded wool. Since the kingdom of this world is but this world, If you look closely, the true kingdom is of the other world. Hail to Adam, who received the messenger of love, And for a single grain of wheat turned away from the kingdom of eternity. If you wish to attain the eternal kingdom, A single loaf from the world, like the sun, is enough for you.'

Updated 2026-07-03

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