The Guest in the Guest-Killing Mosque
From Rumi’s Masnavi (مثنوی معنوی), Book 3, section 178 of 185: The remainder of the story of the guest in the guest-killing mosque (بقیه‌ی ذکر آن مهمان مسجد مهمان‌کش). Below, each of its 5 couplets is given in Persian, followed by R. A. Nicholson’s English translation.
The remainder of the story of the guest in the guest-killing mosque.بقیه‌ی ذکر آن مهمان مسجد مهمان‌کش
باز گو کان پاک‌باز شیرمرد اندر آن مسجد چه بنمودش چه کرد
Relate what appeared in the mosque to that self-sacrificing valiant man, and what he did.
خفت در مسجد خود او را خواب کو مرد غرقه گشته چون خسپد بجو
He slept in the mosque, (but) where (how) in sooth had he sleep? How should a submerged man sleep in the river?
خواب مرغ و ماهیان باشد همی عاشقان را زیر غرقاب غمی
Always, for the lovers (of God) beneath the flood of a (great) passion, there is (only) the sleep of birds and fishes.
نیمشب آواز با هولی رسید کایم آیم بر سرت ای مستفید
At midnight came an awful voice, “I come, I come upon thee, O thou that seekest advantage.”
پنج کرت این چنین آواز سخت می‌رسید و دل همی‌شد لخت‌لخت
Five times came such a terrible voice, and his heart was being rent piecemeal.
Special Offers
← Previous sectionMasnavi Book 3 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, Persian Poetry)
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 Guest in the Guest-Killing Mosque"?
No one replied yet.