Moses Promises Pharaoh Four Rewards
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 4, section 96 of 137: How Moses, explained those four excellent qualities (which should be bestowed) as a reward for Pharaoh's coming into the Faith (شرح کردن موسی علیه‌السلام آن چهار فضیلت را جهت پای مزد ایمان فرعون). Below, each of its 24 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How Moses, on whom be peace, explained those four excellent qualities (which should be bestowed) as a reward for Pharaoh’s coming into the Faith. شرح کردن موسی علیه‌السلام آن چهار فضیلت را جهت پای مزد ایمان فرعون
گفت موسی که اولین آن چهار
صحتی باشد تنت را پایدار
Moses said, “The first of those four will be constant health for thy body:
این علل‌هایی که در طب گفته‌اند
دور باشد از تنت ای ارجمند
These maladies that are described in (books of) Medicine will be far from thy body, O estimable one.
ثانیا باشد ترا عمر دراز
که اجل دارد ز عمرت احتراز
Secondly, thou wilt have a long life, for death will be cautious of (attacking) thy life;
وین نباشد بعد عمر مستوی
که بناکام از جهان بیرون روی
And after a life uniform (in happiness) this will not be (the sequel, namely) that thou wilt go forth from the world against thy will;
بلک خواهان اجل چون طفل شیر
نه ز رنجی که ترا دارد اسیر
Nay, but (thou wilt go) desiring death as the sucking babe (desires milk), not on account of the pain that holds thee captive.
مرگ‌جو باشی ولی نه از عجز رنج
بلک بینی در خراب خانه گنج
Thou wilt be seeking death, but not from painful infirmity; nay, thou wilt see the treasure in the ruin of the house (of the body).
پس به دست خویش گیری تیشه‌ای
می‌زنی بر خانه بی‌اندیشه‌ای
Therefore with thine own hand thou wilt take a pick-axe and smite upon the house without any care;
که حجاب گنج بینی خانه را
مانع صد خرمن این یک دانه را
For thou wilt deem the house to be the barrier to the treasure, and this single grain to be the obstacle to a hundred corn-stacks.
پس در آتش افکنی این دانه را
پیش گیری پیشه‌ی مردانه را
This grain, then, thou wilt cast into the fire and adopt the (only) profession that is worthy of a man.”
ای به یک برگی ز باغی مانده
هم‌چو کرمی برگش از رز رانده
O thou who because of (addiction to) a single leaf hast been left without (enjoyment of) a (whole) orchard, thou art like the worm which (desire for) a leaf has driven away from (deprived of) the vineyard.
چون کرم این کرم را بیدار کرد
اژدهای جهل را این کرم خورد
When Grace awakened this worm, this worm devoured the dragon of ignorance.
کرم کرمی شد پر از میوه و درخت
این چنین تبدیل گردد نیکبخت
The worm became a vineyard full of fruit and trees: even so is the blessed man transformed.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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