The Hearer Who Wanted Only the Story
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 2, section 5 of 113: How the explanation of the (inner) meaning of the tale was stopped because of the hearer's desire to hear the superficial form of it (بسته شدن تقریر معنی حکایت به سبب میل مستمع به استماع ظاهر صورت حکایت). Below, each of its 18 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
How the explanation of the (inner) meaning of the tale was stopped because of the hearer’s desire to hear the superficial form of it. بسته شدن تقریر معنی حکایت به سبب میل مستمع به استماع ظاهر صورت حکایت
کی گذارد آن که رشک روشنی است
تا بگویم آن چه فرض و گفتنی است
When will He who is envied by Light allow me to tell that which is obligatory and ought to be told?
بحر کف پیش آرد و سدی کند
جر کند و ز بعد جر مدی کند
The sea casts foam in front (of it) and makes a barrier: it draws back and after drawing back flows in (again).
این زمان بشنو چه مانع شد مگر
مستمع را رفت دل جای دگر
Hear what has interfered (hindered my exposition) at the present time: methinks the hearer’s mind has wandered elsewhere.
خاطرش شد سوی صوفی قنق
اندر آن سودا فرو شد تا عنق
His thoughts have turned to the Súfí guest: he is sunk up to the neck (wholly absorbed) in that business.
لازم آمد باز رفتن زین مقال
سوی آن افسانه بهر وصف حال
(Therefore) it behoves me to go back from this discourse to that story in order to describe what happened (to him).
صوفی آن صورت مپندار ای عزیز
همچو طفلان تا کی از جوز و مویز
O dear friend, do not fancy the Súfí is the (external) form (which you behold): how long, like children, (will you be content) with walnuts and raisins?
جسم ما جوز و مویز است ای پسر
گر تو مردی زین دو چیز اندر گذر
Our body is (as) walnuts and raisins, O son; if you are a man, relinquish these two things;
ور تو اندر نگذری اکرام حق
بگذراند مر ترا از نه طبق
And (even) if you do not relinquish them (by your own act), the grace of God will enable you to pass beyond the nine tiers (of Heaven).
بشنو اکنون صورت افسانه را
لیک هین از که جدا کن دانه را
Now listen to the outward form of the tale, but take heed to separate the grain from the chaff.
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 Hearer Who Wanted Only the Story"?
No one replied yet.