Jesus Asked to Raise the Bones
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 2, section 3 of 113: How the companion of Jesus, entreated Jesus, to give life to the bones (التماس کردن همراه عیسی علیه السلام زنده کردن استخوانها را از او). Below, each of its 30 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How the companion of Jesus, on whom be peace, entreated Jesus, on whom be peace, to give life to the bones. التماس کردن همراه عیسی علیه السلام زنده کردن استخوانها را از او
گشت با عیسی یکی ابله رفیق
استخوانها دید در حفرهی عمیق
A certain foolish person accompanied Jesus (on his way). He espied some bones in a deep-dug hole.
گفت ای همراه آن نام سنی
که بد آن تو مرده را زنده کنی
He said, “O companion, (teach me) that exalted Name by which thou makest the dead to live;
مر مرا آموز تا احسان کنم
استخوانها را بد آن با جان کنم
Teach (it) me, that I may do good and by means of it endow the bones with life.”
گفت خامش کن که آن کار تو نیست
لایق انفاس و گفتار تو نیست
Jesus said, “Be silent, for that is not thy work: ’tis not meet for thy breath and speech,
کان نفس خواهد ز باران پاکتر
وز فرشته در روش دراکتر
For it wants breath purer than rain and more piercing in action than the angels.
عمرها بایست تا دم پاک شد
تا امین مخزن افلاک شد
(Many) lifetimes were needed that the breath might be purified, so that he (its owner) was entrusted with the treasury of the Heavens.
خود گرفتی این عصا در دست راست
دست را دستان موسی از کجاست
(Suppose that) thou hast grasped this rod firmly in thy hand: whence will accrue to thy hand the cunning of Moses?”
گفت اگر من نیستم اسرار خوان
هم تو بر خوان نام را بر استخوان
He said, “If I am not one to pronounce (such sacred) mysteries, do thou pronounce the Name over the bones.”
گفت عیسی یا رب این اسرار چیست
میل این ابله در این بیگار چیست
Jesus cried, “O Lord, what are these hidden purposes (of Thine)? What is (the meaning of) this fool’s inclination (to engage) in this fruitless work?
چون غم خود نیست این بیمار را
چون غم جان نیست این مردار را
How has this sick man no care for himself? How has this corpse no care for (spiritual) life?
مردهی خود را رها کرده ست او
مردهی بیگانه را جوید رفو
He has left (uncared for) his own dead (soul) and seeks to mend (revive) the dead (bones) of a stranger.”
گفت حق ادبارگر ادبار جوست
خار روییده جزای کشت اوست
God (answered and) said, “The backslider seeks backsliding: the thistle that has grown (in him) is the retribution for (consequence of) his sowing.”
آن که تخم خار کارد در جهان
هان و هان او را مجو در گلستان
He that sows the seed of thistles in the world, be warned not to look for him in the rose-garden.
گر گلی گیرد به کف خاری شود
ور سوی یاری رود ماری شود
If he take a rose in his hand, it becomes a thistle; and if he go to a friend, he (the friend) becomes a snake.
کیمیای زهر و مار است آن شقی
بر خلاف کیمیای متقی
The damned wretch is an elixir which transmutes into poison and snakes; (his elixir is) contrary to the elixir of the God-fearing man
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