Comparison of this world to a bath-stove and of piety to the bath. مثال دنیا چون گولخن و تقوی چون حمام
شهوت دنیا مثال گلخنست
که ازو حمام تقوی روشنست
The lust of this world is like the bath-stove by which the bath, piety, is (made) resplendent;
لیک قسم متقی زین تون صفاست
زانک در گرمابه است و در نقاست
But the pious man’s portion from this stove is (naught but) purity, because he is in the hot-bath and in cleanliness.
اغنیا ماننده‌ی سرگین‌کشان
بهر آتش کردن گرمابه‌بان
The rich resemble those who carry dung for the bath-keeper’s fire-making.
اندریشان حرص بنهاده خدا
تا بود گرمابه گرم و با نوا
God hath implanted cupidity in them, in order that the bath may be hot and well-provided.
ترک این تون گوی و در گرمابه ران
ترک تون را عین آن گرمابه دان
Abandon this stove and advance into the hot-bath: know that abandonment of the stove is the very essence of that bath.
هر که در تونست او چون خادمست
مر ورا که صابرست و حازمست
Any one who is in the stove is as a servant to him that is self-denying and on his guard.
هر که در حمام شد سیمای او
هست پیدا بر رخ زیبای او
Whosoever has entered the bath, his (characteristic) sign is visible upon his comely face.
تونیان را نیز سیما آشکار
از لباس و از دخان و از غبار
The signs of the stokers are conspicuous too in their dress and in the smoke and dust (which blacken them).
ور نبینی روش بویش را بگیر
بو عصا آمد برای هر ضریر
And if you see not his (the stoker’s) face, smell him; smell is (as) a staff for every one that is blind;
ور نداری بو در آرش در سخن
از حدیث نو بدان راز کهن
And if you have not (the sense of) smell, induce him to speak, and from the new talk learn the old secret.
پس بگوید تونیی صاحب ذهب
بیست سله چرک بردم تا به شب
Then a gold-possessing stoker will say, “I have brought in twenty baskets of filth, (working from dawn) till nightfall.”
حرص تو چون آتشست اندر جهان
باز کرده هر زبانه صد دهان
Your cupidity is like fire in the (material) world: every (flaming) tongue (thereof) has opened a hundred mouths (to swallow filthy lucre).
پیش عقل این زر چو سرگین ناخوشست
گرچه چون سرگین فروغ آتشست
In the sight of Reason, this gold is foul as dung, although, like dung, it is (the cause of) the blazing of the fire.
آفتابی که دم از آتش زند
چرک تر را لایق آتش کند
The sun, which emulates the fire, makes the moist filth fit for the fire.
آفتاب آن سنگ را هم کرد زر
تا بتون حرص افتد صد شرر
The sun also made the stone gold, in order that a hundred sparks might fall into the stove of cupidity.
آنک گوید مال گرد آورده‌ام
چیست یعنی چرک چندین برده‌ام
He who says, “I have collected riches” what is (the meaning of) it? It means, “I have brought in all this filth.”
این سخن گرچه که رسوایی‌فزاست
در میان تونیان زین فخرهاست
Albeit this saying is exceedingly disgraceful, there are boasts on this account amongst the stokers.
که تو شش سله کشیدی تا به شب
من کشیدم بیست سله بی کرب
(One of them says), “Thou hast carried (only) six baskets ere nightfall; I have carried twenty baskets without trouble.”
آنک در تون زاد و پاکی را ندید
بوی مشک آرد برو رنجی پدید
He that was born in the stove and never saw purity, the smell of musk produces a painful effect upon him.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
Reza is an experienced Persian instructor who has been tutoring students since 2008. He is the founder of Learn Persian Online, a tutoring company that has helped many students learn Persian, this beautiful language. He works with students individually and in group settings, he tutors both live and online Persian courses. Reza provides an individualized custom learning plan and the personalized attention that makes a difference in how people view Persian learning process.
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