The Greedy Disciple and His Shaykh
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 5, section 121 of 175: Story of the disciple of whose greediness and secret thoughts his Shaykh became aware (حکایت مریدی کی شیخ از حرص و ضمیر او واقف شد او را نصیحت کرد به زبان و در ضمن نصیحت قوت). Below, each of its 14 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Story of the disciple of whose greediness and secret thoughts his Shaykh became aware. He admonished him with his tongue and in the course of his admonition bestowed on him, by Divine command, the food of trust in God. حکایت مریدی کی شیخ از حرص و ضمیر او واقف شد او را نصیحت کرد به زبان و در ضمن نصیحت قوت توکل بخشیدش به امر حق
شیخ می‌شد با مریدی بی‌درنگ سوی شهری نان بدانجا بود تنگ
The Shaykh, accompanied by a disciple, was going without delay towards a certain town where bread was scarce,
ترس جوع و قحط در فکر مرید هر دمی می‌گشت از غفلت پدید
And the dread of hunger and famine was continually presenting itself to the disciple’s mind on account of his heedlessness.
شیخ آگه بود و واقف از ضمیر گفت او را چند باشی در زحیر
The Shaykh was aware (of this) and acquainted with his secret thoughts: he said to him, “How long wilt thou remain in torment?
از برای غصه‌ی نان سوختی دیده‌ی صبر و توکل دوختی
Thou art consumed (with grief) because of thy craving for bread: thou hast closed the eye of self-denial and trust in God.
تو نه‌ای زان نازنینان عزیز که ترا دارند بی‌جوز و مویز
Thou art not (one) of the honoured favourites (of God) that thou shouldst be kept without (deprived of) walnuts and raisins.
جوع رزق جان خاصان خداست کی زبون هم‌چو تو گیج گداست
Hunger is the daily bread of the souls of God’s elect: how is it amenable to (in the power of) a beggarly fool like thee?
باش فارغ تو از آنها نیستی که درین مطبخ تو بی‌نان بیستی
Be at ease: thou art not (one) of those, so that thou shouldst tarry without bread in this kitchen.”
کاسه بر کاسه‌ست و نان بر نان مدام از برای این شکم‌خواران عام
There are always bowls on bowls and loaves on loaves for these vulgar belly-gods.
چون بمیرد می‌رود نان پیش پیش کای ز بیم بی‌نوایی کشته خویش
When he (such a person) dies, the bread comes forward, saying, “O thou who didst (almost) kill thyself from fear of having no food,
تو برفتی ماند نان برخیز گیر ای بکشته خویش را اندر زحیر
Thou art gone (from the world), (but) the bread is still there: arise and take it (if thou canst), O thou who didst (almost) kill thyself in agony!”
هین توکل کن ملرزان پا و دست رزق تو بر تو ز تو عاشق‌ترست
Hark, put trust in God, do not let thy feet and hands tremble (with fear): thy daily bread is more in love with thee than thou (with it).
عاشقست و می‌زند او مول‌مول که ز بی‌صبریت داند ای فضول
It is in love (with thee) and is lingering (only) because it knows of thy lack of self-denial, O trifler.
گر ترا صبری بدی رزق آمدی خویشتن چون عاشقان بر تو زدی
If thou hadst any self-denial, the daily bread would come and throw itself upon thee as lovers do.
این تب لرزه ز خوف جوع چیست در توکل سیر می‌تانند زیست
What is this feverish trembling for fear of hunger? In (possession of) trust in God one can live full-fed.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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