How Solomon, on whom be peace
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 4, section 48 of 137: How Solomon, entered the Farther Mosque daily, after its completion, for the purpose of worshipping and directing the worshippers and devotees (درآمدن سلیمان علیه‌السلام هر روز در مسجد اقصی بعد از تمام شدن جهت عبادت و ارشاد عابدان و). Below, each of its 28 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How Solomon, on whom be peace, entered the Farther Mosque daily, after its completion, for the purpose of worshipping and directing the worshippers and devotees; and how medicinal herbs grew in the Mosque. درآمدن سلیمان علیه‌السلام هر روز در مسجد اقصی بعد از تمام شدن جهت عبادت و ارشاد عابدان و معتکفان و رستن عقاقیر در مسجد
هر صباحی چون سلیمان آمدی
خاضع اندر مسجد اقصی شدی
Every morning, when Solomon came and made supplication in the Farther Mosque.
نوگیاهی رسته دیدی اندرو
پس بگفتی نام و نفع خود بگو
He saw that a new plant had grown there; then he would say, “Tell thy name and use.
تو چه دارویی چیی نامت چیست
تو زیان کی و نفعت بر کیست
What medicine art thou? What art thou? What is thy name? To whom art thou hurtful and for whom is thy usefulness?”
پس بگفتی هر گیاهی فعل و نام
که من آن را جانم و این را حمام
Then every plant would tell its effect and name, saying “I am life to that one, and death to this one.
من مرین را زهرم و او را شکر
نام من اینست بر لوح از قدر
I am poison to this one, and sugar to that one: this is my name (inscribed) on the Tablet by (the pen of) the Divine decree.”
پس طبیبان از سلیمان زان گیا
عالم و دانا شدندی مقتدی
Then (by hearing) from Solomon about those plants the physicians became learned and wise authorities (on medicine),
تا کتبهای طبیبی ساختند
جسم را از رنج می‌پرداختند
So that they compiled medical books and were relieving the body from pain.
این نجوم و طب وحی انبیاست
عقل و حس را سوی بی‌سو ره کجاست
This astronomy and medicine is (knowledge given by) Divine inspiration to the prophets: where is the way for intellect and sense (to advance) towards that which is without (spatial) direction?
عقل جزوی عقل استخراج نیست
جز پذیرای فن و محتاج نیست
The particular (individual) intellect is not the intellect (capable) of production: it is only the receiver of science and is in need (of teaching).
قابل تعلیم و فهمست این خرد
لیک صاحب وحی تعلیمش دهد
This intellect is capable of being taught and of apprehending, but (only) the man possessed of Divine inspiration gives it the teaching (which it requires).
جمله حرفتها یقین از وحی بود
اول او لیک عقل آن را فزود
Assuredly, in their beginning, all trades (crafts and professions) were (derived) from Divine inspiration, but the intellect added (something) to them.
هیچ حرفت را ببین کین عقل ما
تاند او آموختن بی‌اوستا
Consider whether this intellect of ours can learn any trade without a master.
گرچه اندر مکر موی‌اشکاف بد
هیچ پیشه رام بی‌استا نشد
Although it (the intellect) was hair-splitting (subtle and ingenious) in contrivance, no trade was subdued (brought under command) without a master.
دانش پیشه ازین عقل ار بدی
پیشه‌ی بی‌اوستا حاصل شدی
If knowledge of a trade were (derived) from this intellect, any trade would be acquired without a master.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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