Sanai on the Skies of the Soul
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 1, section 99 of 171: Commentary on the verse of Hakím (Saná’í): “In the realm of the soul are skies lording over the sky of this world (تفسیر بیت حکیم). Below, each of its 22 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Commentary on the verse of Hakím (Saná’í): “In the realm of the soul are skies lording over the sky of this world. In the Way of the spirit there are lowlands and highlands, there are lofty mountains and seas تفسیر بیت حکیم: “آسمانهاست در ولایت جان کارفرمای آسمان جهان در ره روح پست و بالاهاست کوههای بلند و دریاهاست”
غیب را ابری و آبی دیگر است
آسمان و آفتابی دیگر است
The Unseen World has other clouds and water (than ours), it has another sky and sun.
ناید آن الا که بر خاصان پدید
باقیان فی لبس من خلق جدید
That is not discerned save by the elect; the rest are in doubt as to a new creation.
هست باران از پی پروردگی
هست باران از پی پژمردگی
There is rain for the sake of nurture; there is (also) rain for the sake of decay.
نفع باران بهاران بو العجب
باغ را باران پاییزی چو تب
Marvellous is the benefit of the rain of springtime, (but) to the garden the autumnal rain is like a (consuming) fever.
آن بهاری ناز پروردش کند
وین خزانی ناخوش و زردش کند
That vernal (rain) makes it tenderly nurtured (flourishing), while this autumnal (rain) makes it sickly and wan.
همچنین سرما و باد و آفتاب
بر تفاوت دان و سر رشته بیاب
Similarly know that cold and wind and sun are at variance (produce various effects); and find the clue.
همچنین در غیب انواع است این
در زیان و سود و در ربح و غبین
Even so in the Unseen World there are these different sorts, (consisting) in loss and gain and in profit and defraudment (damage).
این دم ابدال باشد ز آن بهار
در دل و جان روید از وی سبزه‌‌زار
This breath of the Abdál (saints) is from that (spiritual) springtide: from it there grows a green garden in heart and soul.
فعل باران بهاری با درخت
آید از انفاسشان در نیک بخت
From their breaths there comes (is produced) in him who is fortunate the (same) effect (as that) of the spring rain on the tree.
گر درخت خشک باشد در مکان
عیب آن از باد جان افزا مدان
If there be in the place a dry tree, do not deem its defect to be due to the life quickening wind.
باد کار خویش کرد و بروزید
آن که جانی داشت بر جانش گزید
The wind did its own work and blew on: he that had a soul chose it in preference to his soul.
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