1Cademy - (۷) حکایت گبر که پُل ساخت / (7) The Tale of the Zoroastrian Who Built a Bridge

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Elahi Nameh

Poem

(۷) حکایت گبر که پُل ساخت / (7) The Tale of the Zoroastrian Who Built a Bridge

Original content

یکی گبری که بودی پیر نامش
که جدی بود در گبری تمامش

یکی پل او زمال خویشتن کرد
مسافر را محب از جان و تن کرد

مگر سلطان دین محمود یک روز
بدان پل در رسید از راه پیروز

یکی شایسته پل از سوی ره دید
که هم نیکو و هم بر جایگه دید

کسی راگفت کین خیری بلندست
که بنیاد چنین پل اوفکندست

بدو گفتند گبری پیرنامی
ز غیرت کرد شاه آنجا مقامی

بخواندش گفت پیری تو ولیکن
گمانم آن که هستی خصم مومن

بیا هر زر که کردی خرج پل تو
بهای آن ز من بستان بکل تو

که چون گبری تو جانت بی درودست
ترا چونین پلی زان سوی رودست

وگر نستانی این زر بگذری تو
کجا با من به پل بیرون بری تو

زبان بگشاد آن گبر آشکاره
که گر شخصم کند شه پاره پاره

نه بفروشم نه زر بستانم این را
که این بنیاد کردم بهر دین را

شهش محبوس کرد و در عذابش
نه نانی داد در زندان نه آبش

بآخر چون عذاب از حد برون شد
دل گبرش بخاک افتاد وخون شد

بشه پیغام داد و گفت برخیز
درآور پای این ساعت بشبدیز

یکی استاد بر با خود گرامی
که تا پل را کند قیمت تمامی

ازین دلشاد شد شاه زمانه
سوی پل گشت باخلقی روانه

چو شاه آنجا رسید و خلق بسیار
بران پل ایستاد آن گبر هشیار

زبان بگشاد و آنگه گفت ای شاه
تو اکنون قیمت این پل ز من خواه

هلاک خود درین سر پل کنم ساز
جواب تو دران سر پل دهم باز

ببین اینک بها ای شاه عالی
بگفت این و بآب افتاد حالی

چو در آب اوفکند او خویشتن را
ربودش آب و جان درباخت و تن را

تن و جان باخت و دل از دین نپرداخت
چو آن بودش غرض با این نپرداخت

در آب افکند خویش آتش پرستی
که تا در دین او ناید شکستی

ولی تو در مسلمانی چنانی
که بربودست آبت جاودانی

چو گبری بیش دارد از تو این سوز
مسلمانی پس از گبری بیاموز

که خواهدداشت در آفاق زهره
که پیش حق برد نقد نبهره

قیامت را قوی نقدی بباید
که آن معیار ناقد را بشاید

در آن ساعت که از جسم تو جان شد
دلی پر بت بر حق چون توان شد

بینداز این همه بت با تو در پوست
که با بتخانه نتوان شد بر دوست

اگر پای کسی را خفتن آید
ازو کی سوی منبر رفتن آید

چو نتوان شد بمنبر پای خفته
بحق نرسد دلی بر جای خفته

اگر یک دم کسی بیدار باشد
چه گر یکدم بود بسیار باشد

همه عمرت بغفلت آرمیدی
زمانی روی بیداری ندیدی

کرا خوابی چنین بی برگ باشد
که چون بیدار گردد مرگ باشد

غم خویشت چو نیست ای مرد آخر
غم تو پس که خواهد خورد آخر

بکش بی سرکشی باری که داری
بدست خویش کن کاری که داری

که کس غم خواری کار تو نکند
دمی حمالی بار تو نکند

English translation

There was a Zoroastrian whose name was Pir, Who was entirely earnest in his Zoroastrian faith. He built a bridge from his own wealth, Becoming a friend in body and soul to the traveler. It happened that Sultan Mahmud of the faith, one day, Arrived at that bridge from a victorious journey. He saw a worthy bridge along the way, Which he found both beautiful and well-placed. He said to someone, 'This is a great charity; Who has laid the foundation of such a bridge?' They told him, 'A Zoroastrian named Pir.' Out of religious zeal, the king made a stop there. He summoned him and said, 'You are Pir, but I believe you are an enemy of the believer. Come, whatever gold you have spent on this bridge, Take its full price from me. For since you are a Zoroastrian, your soul is without blessings, Why should you have such a bridge across the river? And if you do not take this gold and pass it by, How will you ever take the bridge outside with me?' The Zoroastrian openly opened his tongue, Saying, 'Even if the king tears my body to pieces, I will not sell it, nor will I take gold for this, For I built this foundation for the sake of religion.' The king imprisoned him and tortured him, Giving him neither bread nor water in prison. In the end, when the torment exceeded all bounds, The Zoroastrian's heart fell to the dust and bled. He sent a message to the king, saying, 'Arise, Put your foot in the stirrup of your black horse this very hour. Take an esteemed appraiser with you, So that he may fully evaluate the price of the bridge.' The king of the era became joyous at this, And set out towards the bridge with a crowd. When the king arrived there with many people, That alert Zoroastrian stood upon that bridge. He opened his tongue and then said, 'O king! Now demand the price of this bridge from me. I will arrange my own destruction at this end of the bridge, And I will give you my answer at the other end of the bridge! Behold the price now, O exalted king!' He said this and immediately threw himself into the water. When he threw himself into the water, The water carried him away, and he lost both his life and body. He lost his body and life, but did not turn his heart away from his religion, Since that was his purpose, he paid no attention to this (life). A fire-worshipper threw himself into the water, So that no breach would come to his faith. But you, in your Islam, are such, That the water has carried you away eternally. Since a Zoroastrian has more of this burning passion than you, Learn Islam, then, from a Zoroastrian! Who in the horizons will have the courage To take counterfeit coin before the Truth (God)? For the Resurrection, a strong coin is needed, That is worthy of the standard of the Critic (God). In that hour when the soul departs from your body, How can a heart full of idols go before the Truth? Throw away all these idols that are within your skin, For one cannot go to the Friend with an idol-temple. If someone's foot falls asleep, How can he walk towards the pulpit? Since one cannot go to the pulpit with a sleeping foot, A heart resting in sleep will not reach the Truth. If someone is awake for but a single breath, Even if it is just one breath, it is a great deal. You have rested in negligence all your life, And have never seen the face of wakefulness for a moment. Who has such a destitute sleep, That when he wakes up, it is death? Since you have no sorrow for yourself, O man, in the end, Who, then, will bear your sorrow in the end? Carry without rebellion the burden you have, Do the work you have with your own hands. For no one will sympathize with your work, No one will carry your burden for a single breath.

Updated 2026-07-03

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