The Lake, the Fishermen and Three Fishes
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 4, section 82 of 137: Story of the lake and the fishermen and the three fishes (قصه‌ی آن آبگیر و صیادان و آن سه ماهی یکی عاقل و یکی نیم عاقل وان دگر مغرور و ابله مغفل). Below, each of its 22 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Story of the lake and the fishermen and the three fishes, one intelligent and one half intelligent and the third deluded, foolish, heedless and good-for-naught; and the end of all three. قصه‌ی آن آبگیر و صیادان و آن سه ماهی یکی عاقل و یکی نیم عاقل وان دگر مغرور و ابله مغفل لاشی و عاقبت هر سه
قصه‌ی آن آبگیرست ای عنود
که درو سه ماهی اشگرف بود
This, O obstinate man, is the story of the lake in which there were three great fishes.
در کلیله خوانده باشی لیک آن
قشر قصه باشد و این مغز جان
You will have read it in Kalíla, but that is (only) the husk of the story, while this is the spiritual kernel.
چند صیادی سوی آن آبگیر
برگذشتند و بدیدند آن ضمیر
Some fishermen passed beside the lake and saw that concealed (prey).
پس شتابیدند تا دام آورند
ماهیان واقف شدند و هوشمند
Then they hastened to bring the net: the fishes noticed and became aware (of their intention).
آنک عاقل بود عزم راه کرد
عزم راه مشکل ناخواه کرد
The intelligent one resolved to journey, resolved to make the difficult unwelcome journey.
گفت با اینها ندارم مشورت
که یقین سستم کنند از مقدرت
He said, “I will not consult these (others), for assuredly they will make me weak (deficient) in power (to fulfil my purpose).
مهر زاد و بوم بر جانشان تند
کاهلی و جهلشان بر من زند
Love of their native place and abode holds sway over their souls: their indolence and ignorance will strike on (affect) me.”
مشورت را زنده‌ای باید نکو
که ترا زنده کند وان زنده کو
For consultation, some goodly and (spiritually) living person is required, that he may make thee living; and where is that living one (to be found)?
ای مسافر با مسافر رای زن
زانک پایت لنگ دارد رای زن
O traveller, take counsel with a traveller, for a woman’s counsel will keep thy foot lame.
از دم حب الوطن بگذر مه‌ایست
که وطن آن سوست جان این سوی نیست
Pass on from the (literal) expression, “love of country”; do not stop (at its outward sense), for thy (real) home is Yonder: the (Beloved) soul is not on this side.
گر وطن خواهی گذر آن سوی شط
این حدیث راست را کم خوان غلط
If thou desire thy country, cross to the other bank of the stream: do not misread this true Hadíth.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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