The Peasant Who Stroked a Lion
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 2, section 12 of 113: How a peasant stroked a lion in the dark, because he thought it was his ox (خاریدن روستایی در تاریکی شیر را به گمان آن که گاو اوست). Below, each of its 22 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How a peasant stroked a lion in the dark, because he thought it was his ox. خاریدن روستایی در تاریکی شیر را به گمان آن که گاو اوست
روستایی گاو در آخر ببست
شیر گاوش خورد و بر جایش نشست
A peasant tied an ox in the stable: a lion ate his ox and sat in its place.
روستایی شد در آخر سوی گاو
گاو را میجست شب آن کنج کاو
The peasant went into the stable to (see) the ox: the man, groping into corners, was seeking the ox at night.
دست میمالید بر اعضای شیر
پشت و پهلو گاه بالا گاه زیر
He was rubbing his hand on the limbs of the lion, back and side, now above, now below.
گفت شیر ار روشنی افزون شدی
زهرهاش بدریدی و دل خون شدی
The lion said, “If the light were to become greater, his gall-bladder would burst and his heart would turn to blood.
این چنین گستاخ ز آن میخاردم
کاو درین شب گاو میپنداردم
He is stroking me like this so boldly because in this (dark) night he thinks I am the ox.”
حق همیگوید که ای مغرور کور
نه ز نامم پاره پاره گشت طور
God is saying, “O blind dupe, did not Túr (Sinai) fall in pieces at My Name?
که لو انزلنا کتابا للجبل
لانصدع ثم انقطع ثم ارتحل
For if We had sent down (revealed) a Book to the mountain, it would have been riven asunder, then cut to pieces, and then it would have departed (disappeared).
از من ار کوه احد واقف بدی
پاره گشتی و دلش پر خون شدی
If Mount Uhud had been acquainted with Me, it would have been shivered to pieces and its heart would have been filled with blood.”
از پدر وز مادر این بشنیدهای
لاجرم غافل در این پیچیدهای
You have heard this from your father and mother; in consequence you have embraced it thoughtlessly.
گر تو بیتقلید از این واقف شوی
بینشان از لطف چون هاتف شوی
If you become acquainted with this without blind imitation, by (His) grace you will become immaterial, like a voice from Heaven.
بشنو این قصه پی تهدید را
تا بدانی آفت تقلید را
Hear this (following) story as a deterrent, in order that you may know the banefulness of blind imitation.
Special Offers
← Previous sectionMasnavi Book 2 contentsNext section →
More Rumi: the Song of the Reed (Book 1 proem), real Rumi quotes in Persian and the Persian poetry quiz.
Take this lesson further
Serious about Persian? Get all 30 of our Persian learning books for $199.99 (55% less than buying them one by one).
Free Persian Starter Kit (PDF)
The Persian alphabet chart and the 101 most common Persian words with pronunciation, in one printable PDF. You also get a one-time 15% code for any of our books.
We will email you new lessons and book news from Learn Persian Online. Unsubscribe any time.Love Persian poetry? Learn to read it: free Starter Pack
Get the 14-page printable Starter Pack (all 32 letters, a 7-day reading plan, 100 core words and 20 survival phrases) and a short 5-email course. Free.
by: Reza about (category: Masnavi)
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.
What people say about "The Peasant Who Stroked a Lion"?
No one replied yet.