The Dead Magician Answers His Sons
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 3, section 44 of 185: How the dead magician answered his sons (جواب گفتن ساحر مرده با فرزندان خود). Below, each of its 14 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How the dead magician answered his sons. جواب گفتن ساحر مرده با فرزندان خود
گفتشان در خواب کای اولاد من نیست ممکن ظاهر این را دم زدن
He said to them in (their) dream, “O my sons, it is not possible (to speak) openly: do not utter this (request).”
فاش و مطلق گفتنم دستور نیست لیک راز از پیش چشمم دور نیست
It is not permitted to me to speak openly and freely, yet the mystery is not far from mine eye.
لیک بنمایم نشانی با شما تا شود پیدا شما را این خفا
But I will show unto you a sign, that this hidden thing may be made manifest to you.
نور چشمانم چو آنجا گه روید از مقام خفتنش آگه شوید
O light of mine eyes, when ye go thither, become acquainted with the place where he sleeps,
آن زمان که خفته باشد آن حکیم آن عصا را قصد کن بگذار بیم
And at the time when that Sage is asleep, make for the rod, abandon fear.
گر بدزدی و توانی ساحرست چاره‌ی ساحر بر تو حاضرست
If thou shalt steal it and art able (to do so), he is a magician; the means of dealing with a magician is present with thee;
ور نتانی هان و هان آن ایزدیست او رسول ذوالجلال و مهتدیست
But if thou canst not (steal it), beware and beware! That (man) is of God: he is the messenger of the Glorious (God) and is (divinely) guided.
گر جهان فرعون گیرد شرق و غرب سرنگون آید خدا آنگاه حرب
Though Pharaoh occupy the world, east and west, he will fall headlong: God and then war!
این نشان راست دادم جان باب بر نویس الله اعلم بالصواب
I give (thee) this true sign, O soul of thy father: inscribe it (in thy heart): God best knoweth the right course.
جان بابا چون بخسپد ساحری سحر و مکرش را نباشد رهبری
O soul of thy father, when a magician sleeps, there is none to direct his magic and craft.
چونک چوپان خفت گرگ آمن شود چونک خفت آن جهد او ساکن شود
When the shepherd has gone to sleep, the wolf becomes unafraid: when he sleeps, his exertion ceases;
لیک حیوانی که چوپانش خداست گرگ را آنجا امید و ره کجاست
But the animal whose shepherd is God how hath the wolf hope or way (of getting) there?
جادوی که حق کند حقست و راست جادوی خواندن مر آن حق را خطاست
The sorcery which God practises is real and true: ’tis wrong to call that real thing sorcery.
جان بابا این نشان قاطعست گر بمیرد نیز حقش رافعست
O soul of thy father, this is the decisive sign: even if he (a prophet) die, God exalteth him.”
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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