The Warrior Who Threw a Dirhem a Day
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 5, section 160 of 175: Story of the (حکایت آن مجاهد کی از همیان سیم هر روز یک درم در خندق انداختی به تفاریق از بهر ستیزه‌ی حرص). Below, each of its 16 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
Story of the (spiritual) warrior who every day used to take one dirhem separately from a purse containing (pieces of) silver and throw it into a ditch (full of water) for the purpose of thwarting the greed and cupidity of his fleshly soul; and how his soul tempted him, saying, “Since you are going to throw (this money) into the ditch, at least throw it away all at once, so that I may gain deliverance, for despair is one of the two (possible) reliefs”; and how he replied, “I will not give thee this relief either.” حکایت آن مجاهد کی از همیان سیم هر روز یک درم در خندق انداختی به تفاریق از بهر ستیزه‌ی حرص و آرزوی نفس و وسوسه‌ی نفس کی چون می‌اندازی به خندق باری به یک‌بار بینداز تا خلاص یابم کی الیاس احدی الراحتین او گفته کی این راحت نیز ندهم
آن یکی بودش به کف در چل درم هر شب افکندی یکی در آب یم
A certain man had forty dirhems in his hand: every night he would throw one (of them) into the sea-water,
تا که گردد سخت بر نفس مجاز در تانی درد جان کندن دراز
In order that the long agony suffered in (the process of) deliberation might become grievous to the illusory soul.
با مسلمانان بکر او پیش رفت وقت فر او وا نگشت از خصم تفت
He (the valiant Súfí) advanced with the Moslems to attack (the infidels), (but) in the hour of retreat he did not fall back in haste before the enemy.
زخم دیگر خورد آن را هم ببست بیست کرت رمح و تیر از وی شکست
He was wounded again, (but) he bound up those (wounds) too: twenty times were the spears and arrows (of the enemy) broken by him.
بعد از آن قوت نماند افتاد پیش مقعد صدق او ز صدق عشق خویش
After that, no strength remained (in him): he fell forward (and expired in)the seat of truth because his love was true.
صدق جان دادن بود هین سابقوا از نبی برخوان رجال صدقوا
Truth consists in giving up the soul (to God). Hark, try to outstrip (the others) in the race! Recite from the Qur’án (the words) men who have been true.
این همه مردن نه مرگ صورتست این بدن مر روح را چون آلتست
All this dying is not the death of the (physical) form: this body is (only) like an instrument for the spirit.
ای بسا خامی که ظاهر خونش ریخت qلیک نفس زنده آن جانب گریخت
Oh, there is many a raw (imperfect) one whose blood was shed externally, but whose living fleshly soul escaped to yonder side.
آلتش بشکست و ره‌زن زنده ماند نفس زنده‌ست ارچه مرکب خون فشاند
Its instrument was shattered, but the brigand was left alive: the fleshly soul is living though that on which it rode has bled to death.
اسپ کشت و راه او رفته نشد جز که خام و زشت و آشفته نشد
His (the rider’s) horse was killed before his road was traversed: he became naught but ignorant and wicked and miserable.
گر بهر خون ریزیی گشتی شهید کافری کشته بدی هم بوسعید
If a martyr were made by every (mortal) bloodshed, an infidel killed (in battle) also would be a Bú Sa‘íd.
ای بسا نفس شهید معتمد مرده در دنیا چو زنده می‌رود
Oh, there is many a trusty martyred soul that has died (to self) in this world, (though) it is going about like the living.
روح ره‌زن مرد و تن که تیغ اوست هست باقی در کف آن غزوجوست
The brigand (animal) spirit has died, though the body, which is its sword, survives: it (the sword) is (still) in the hand of that eager warrior.
تیغ آن تیغست مرد آن مرد نیست لیک این صورت ترا حیران کنیست
The sword is that (same) sword, the man is not that (same) man; but this appearance (of identity) is a cause of bewilderment to you.
نفس چون مبدل شود این تیغ تن باشد اندر دست صنع ذوالمنن
When the soul is transformed, this sword, namely, the body, remains in the hand of (is wielded by) the action of the Beneficent (God).
آن یکی مردیست قوتش جمله درد این دگر مردی میان‌تی هم‌چو گرد
The one (whose fleshly soul is dead) is a man whose food is entirely (Divine) love; the other is a man hollow as dust.
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by: Reza about (category: Masnavi, Persian Poetry)
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