In Book One of the Masnavi, after the hare successfully defeats the tyrannical lion, he warns the other animals not to rejoice over their newly acquired freedom and "turn-taking kingship." Rumi uses the hare's admonition to illustrate a profound spiritual lesson: worldly power and physical relief are temporary and illusory. The hare cautions the prey that true freedom is not found in escaping a physical oppressor or gaining material dominion, but rather in transcending the physical realm entirely. True and abiding kingship belongs only to those who have elevated their spirits beyond the material world to engage in continuous communion with the Divine.

The Illusion of Worldly Kingship and True Spiritual Freedom

## متن و ترجمه / Text and Translation
<div data-farsi-poem-layout="v1" style="overflow-x: auto; margin: 0.75rem 0;">
<table dir="rtl" aria-label="Persian poem with couplet translations" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 1.9;">
<tbody>
<tr data-poem-unit="0" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="1" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">هین به ملک نوبتی شادی مکن</td>
<td data-source-line="2" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">ای تو بستهٔ نوبت آزادی مکن</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="0">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>Beware, do not rejoice in a turn-taking kingship;<br />
O you bound to turn-taking, do not claim freedom.</em></td>
</tr>
<tr data-poem-unit="1" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="3" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">آنک ملکش برتر از نوبت تنند</td>
<td data-source-line="4" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">برتر از هفت انجمش نوبت زنند</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="1">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>Those whose kingdom is above the turn of the body<br />
have the royal drum beaten for them above the seven stars.</em></td>
</tr>
<tr data-poem-unit="2" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="5" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">برتر از نوبت ملوک باقیند</td>
<td data-source-line="6" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">دور دایم روحها با ساقیند</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="2">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>Beyond such turn-taking, the abiding kings remain;<br />
the spirits are in perpetual circling with the Cupbearer.</em></td>
</tr>
<tr data-poem-unit="3" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="7" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">ترک این شرب ار بگویی یک دو روز</td>
<td data-source-line="8" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">در کنی اندر شراب خلد پوز</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="3">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>If you give up this drink for a day or two,<br />
you will put your snout into the wine of eternity.</em></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>

Google

## Original content
<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right; line-height: 2; margin-top: 0.5rem;">

<p>زین نمط بسیار برهان گفت شیر<br />
کز جواب آن جبریان گشتند سیر</p>
<p>روبه و آهو و خرگوش و شغال<br />
جبر را بگذاشتند و قیل و قال</p>
<p>عهدها کردند با شیر ژیان<br />
کاندرین بیعت نیفتد در زیان</p>
<p>قسم هر روزش بیاید بی جگر<br />
حاجتش نبود تقاضایی دگر</p>
<p>قرعه بر هر که فتادی روز روز<br />
سوی آن شیر او دویدی همچو یوز</p>
<p>چون به خرگوش آمد این ساغر بدور<br />
بانگ زد خرگوش کاخر چند جور</p>

</div>

## English translation
In this fashion the lion advanced many arguments, until those determinists grew weary of replying. The fox, gazelle, hare, and jackal gave up fatalism and disputation. They made covenants with the fierce lion that he would suffer no loss in this pact: each day his allotted share would come to him without his needing to take trouble, and he would need no further demanding. Day by day, whoever the lot fell upon would run toward that lion like a cheetah. When this cup came round to the hare, the hare cried out, “How long, after all, this oppression?”

دفتر اول - بخش ۵۱ - مقرر شدن ترجیح جهد بر توکل / Book One - Section 51 - The Establishment of the Preference for Exertion over Trust

## متن و ترجمه / Text and Translation
<div data-farsi-poem-layout="v1" style="overflow-x: auto; margin: 0.75rem 0;">
<table dir="rtl" aria-label="Persian poem with couplet translations" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 1.9;">
<tbody>
<tr data-poem-unit="0" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="1" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">جمع گشتند آن زمان جمله وحوش</td>
<td data-source-line="2" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">شاد و خندان از طرب در ذوق و جوش</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="0">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>All the beasts gathered then, joyful and laughing, seething with delight and rapture.</em></td>
</tr>
<tr data-poem-unit="1" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="3" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">حلقه کردند او چو شمعی در میان</td>
<td data-source-line="4" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">سجده آوردند و گفتندش که هان</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="1">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>They formed a circle, with him like a candle in the middle; they bowed and said to him: “Come now, are you a heavenly angel or a fairy?</em></td>
</tr>
<tr data-poem-unit="2" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="5" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">تو فرشتهٔ آسمانی یا پری</td>
<td data-source-line="6" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">نی تو عزرائیل شیران نری</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="2">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>No, you are the Azrael of male lions.</em></td>
</tr>
<tr data-poem-unit="3" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="7" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">هرچه هستی جان ما قربان تست</td>
<td data-source-line="8" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">دست بردی دست و بازویت درست</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="3">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>Whatever you are, our lives are sacrificed to you; you have performed a feat: may your hand and arm be sound.</em></td>
</tr>
<tr data-poem-unit="4" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="9" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">راند حق این آب را در جوی تو</td>
<td data-source-line="10" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">آفرین بر دست و بر بازوی تو</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="4">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>God has driven this water into your channel; praise to your hand and arm.</em></td>
</tr>
<tr

دفتر اول - بخش ۷۴ - جمع شدن نخچیران گرد خرگوش و ثنا گفتن او را / Book One - Section 74 - The Gathering of the Prey Around the Hare and Praising Him

Root URL: https://ganjoor.net/
Source URL: https://ganjoor.net/

This Reference node represents the source used by the Literature-to-1Cademy migration agent.

Ganjoor

## Original content
<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right; line-height: 2; margin-top: 0.5rem;">

<p>قوم گفتندش که ای خر گوش دار<br />
خویش را اندازهٔ خرگوش دار</p>
<p>هین چه لافست این که از تو بهتران<br />
در نیاوردند اندر خاطر آن</p>
<p>معجبی یا خود قضامان در پیست<br />
ور نه این دم لایق چون تو کیست</p>

</div>

## English translation
The group said to him: "Listen, you donkey! Keep yourself to the measure of a hare. Look, what boasting is this, that those better than you did not even conceive of in their minds? Are you self-deluded, or is it that our doom is chasing us? Otherwise, who is suitable for such talk as yours?"

دفتر اول - بخش ۵۴ - اعتراض نخچیران بر سخن خرگوش / Book One - Section 54 - The Objection of the Prey to the Hare's Words

دفتر اول - بخش ۷۵ - پند دادن خرگوش نخچیران را کی بدین شاد مشوید / Book One - Section 75 - The Hare Giving Advice to the Prey Not to Rejoice at This

## متن و ترجمه / Text and Translation
<div data-farsi-poem-layout="v1" style="overflow-x: auto; margin: 0.75rem 0;">
<table dir="rtl" aria-label="Persian poem with couplet translations" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 1.9;">
<tbody>
<tr data-poem-unit="0" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="1" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">قوم گفتندش که چندین گاه ما</td>
<td data-source-line="2" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">جان فدا کردیم در عهد و وفا</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="0">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>The folk said to him: &quot;For so long now<br />
We have sacrificed our lives in covenant and fidelity.</em></td>
</tr>
<tr data-poem-unit="1" data-kind="couplet">
<td data-source-line="3" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 1rem 0.2rem 0;">تو مجو بدنامی ما ای عنود</td>
<td data-source-line="4" lang="fa" style="width: 50%; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0.45rem 0 0.2rem 1rem;">تا نرنجد شیر رو رو زود زود</td>
</tr>
<tr data-translation-for="1">
<td colspan="2" lang="en" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding: 0.15rem 1rem 0.8rem; font-size: 0.92em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(128, 128, 128, 0.28);"><em>Do not seek our dishonor, O stubborn one,<br />
Lest the lion be angered — go, go, quickly, quickly!&quot;</em></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>

دفتر اول - بخش ۵۲ - انکار کردن نخچیران بر خرگوش در تاخیر رفتن بر شیر / Book One - Section 52 - The Objection of the Prey to the Hare's Delay in Going to the Lion

In Book 1 of Jalaluddin Rumi's *Masnavi*, the fable of the lion and the prey beasts serves as a profound allegorical debate between the Islamic concepts of *tawakkul* (absolute trust in divine providence) and *jahd* (personal exertion or effort). The beasts argue that since God is the ultimate provider and destiny is preordained, human effort is a form of spiritual agitation that challenges the divine decree; therefore, they advocate for passive surrender. The lion, representing the spiritual master or the active intellect, counters this by arguing that God provided humans with limbs and faculties, and failing to use them is an act of ingratitude. He cites the Prophetic tradition to 'trust in God, but tie your camel', presenting a synthesis where human effort is not contradictory to, but rather the practical manifestation of, true trust in God.

The Debate Between Trust (Tawakkul) and Exertion (Jahd) in the Masnavi

In Book One, Section 74 of the Masnavi, after the hare successfully tricks the lion into the well, the other animals gather to praise his extraordinary wit and strength. However, the hare immediately redirects their praise, attributing his success entirely to divine aid (*ta'yid-i Khuda*). He states, 'It was the aid of God, O chiefs; otherwise, who is a hare in this world?' This interaction highlights a central theme in Rumi's thought: true power, intellect, and victory do not stem from the individual ego or physical form, but are granted through divine grace and confirmation.

Learn Before

متن و ترجمه / Text and Translation

Related

Learn After

هین به ملک نوبتی شادی مکن	ای تو بستهٔ نوبت آزادی مکن
Beware, do not rejoice in a turn-taking kingship; O you bound to turn-taking, do not claim freedom.
آنک ملکش برتر از نوبت تنند	برتر از هفت انجمش نوبت زنند
Those whose kingdom is above the turn of the body have the royal drum beaten for them above the seven stars.
برتر از نوبت ملوک باقیند	دور دایم روحها با ساقیند
Beyond such turn-taking, the abiding kings remain; the spirits are in perpetual circling with the Cupbearer.
ترک این شرب ار بگویی یک دو روز	در کنی اندر شراب خلد پوز
If you give up this drink for a day or two, you will put your snout into the wine of eternity.