Ghazal 481 of Hafez (8 couplets), in the original Persian as on Ganjoor, with a transliteration, a plain English translation, the meanings of key words and the traditional fâl-e Hâfez reading.
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COUPLET 1
بشنو این نکته که خود را ز غم آزاده کنیخون خوری گر طلب روزی ننهاده کنی
beshno in nokte ke khod râ ze gham âzâde koni / khun khori gar talab-e ruzi-ye nanhâde koni
Listen to this point, so that you free yourself from sorrow: you will only suffer if you chase a livelihood that was not set aside for you.
COUPLET 2
آخرالامر گِل کوزه‌گران خواهی شدحالیا فکر سبو کن که پر از باده کنی
âkhar-al-amr gel-e kuzegarân khâhi shod / hâliyâ fekr-e sabu kon ke por az bâde koni
In the end you will become the potters' clay; for now, think of a jug that you can fill with wine.
COUPLET 3
گر از آن آدمیانی که بهشتت هوس استعیش با آدمی‌یی چند پری‌زاده کنی
gar az ân âdamiyâni ke beheshtat havas ast / eysh bâ âdami'i chand-e parizâde koni
If you are one of those people who long for paradise, enjoy yourself with a few humans born of fairies.
COUPLET 4
تکیه بر جای بزرگان نتوان زد به گزافمگر اسباب بزرگی همه آماده کنی
tekye bar jâ-ye bozorgân natavân zad be gazâf / magar asbâb-e bozorgi hame âmâde koni
You cannot lean back in the seat of the great without earning it, unless you prepare all the means of greatness.
COUPLET 5
اجرها باشدت ای خسرو شیرین‌دهنانگر نگاهی سوی فرهاد دل‌افتاده کنی
ajrhâ bâshadat ey khosrow-e shirin-dahanân / gar negâhi su-ye farhâd-e del-oftâde koni
You will gain great rewards, O king of the sweet-mouthed, if you cast a glance toward heartsick Farhad.
COUPLET 6
خاطرت کی رقم فیض پذیرد، هیهات!مگر از نقش پراگنده ورق ساده کنی
khâterat key ragham-e feyz pazirad heyhât / magar az naghsh-e parâgande varagh sâde koni
How could your mind take the writing of grace? Far from it, unless you wipe the page clean of scattered images.
COUPLET 7
کار خود گر به کرم بازگذاری حافظای بسا عیش که با بخت خداداده کنی
kâr-e khod gar be karam bâz gozâri Hâfez / ey basâ eysh ke bâ bakht-e khodâdâde koni
Hafez, if you leave your affairs to divine generosity, how much joy you will have with God-given fortune.
COUPLET 8
ای صبا بندگی خواجه جلال‌الدین کنکه جهان پُر سمن و سوسنِ آزاده کنی
ey sabâ bandegi-ye khâje jalâloddin kon / ke jahân por saman o susan-e âzâde koni
O morning breeze, pay homage to Khaje Jalal al-Din, so that you fill the world with jasmine and free lilies.
What this fâl tells you
This fal advises you not to wear yourself out chasing what is not meant for you. Tradition reads it as a reminder that life is short: enjoy good company now, prepare yourself properly for any high place you hope for, and clear your mind of scattered thoughts. Leave your affairs in God's generous hands and good fortune may follow.
A traditional-style reading for reflection and enjoyment.
How this ghazal is built
radif: koni. qâfiye: -âde (âzâde, nanhâde, bâde, parizâde, âmâde, oftâde, sâde, khodâdâde). Beyt 8 praises Khaje Jalal al-Din, traditionally identified as Turanshah, vizier of Shah Shoja.
Key words
| Word | Say it | Meaning (modern Persian) |
|---|---|---|
| beshno | listen! dictionary | |
| in | this dictionary | |
| نکته | nokte | point, subtle point dictionary |
| khod | oneself, yourself dictionary | |
| ze | from, of (= az) (از) | |
| gham | sorrow, grief dictionary | |
| âzâde | free; susan-e âzâde = the "free" lily dictionary | |
| koni | you do, you make dictionary | |
| khun | blood dictionary | |
| khori | you eat; gham khordan = grieve dictionary | |
| گر | gar | if (= agar) (اگر) dictionary |
| talab | request, search dictionary | |
| ننهاده | nanhâde | not set aside, not destined dictionary |
| âkhar-al-amr | in the end (Arabic phrase) (سرانجام) | |
| گل | gel | clay dictionary |
| khâhi | you will (future auxiliary) dictionary | |
| shod | become (with khâhad: will become); became dictionary | |
| hâliyâ | for now (فعلاً) | |
| فکر | fekr | thought dictionary |
| sabu | jug, pitcher dictionary | |
| کن | kon | do! make! (imperative of kardan) dictionary |
| پر | por | full dictionary |
| bâde | wine dictionary | |
| ân | that dictionary | |
| beheshtat | paradise (to you) dictionary | |
| هوس | havas | longing, desire dictionary |
| ast | is dictionary | |
| eysh | pleasure, enjoyment dictionary | |
| bâ | with dictionary | |
| چند | chand | a few, several dictionary |
| tekye | leaning, reliance dictionary | |
| bar | on, upon dictionary | |
| jâ-ye | seat of, place of dictionary | |
| bozorgân | the great dictionary | |
| zad | strike; tekye zadan = to lean back dictionary | |
| be | to; for; with; in, by dictionary | |
| گزاف | gazâf | without merit, idly dictionary |
| مگر | magar | unless dictionary |
| asbâb | means, things needed dictionary | |
| bozorgi | greatness dictionary | |
| همه | hame | all, whole dictionary |
| âmâde | ready, prepared dictionary | |
| bâshadat | you may have dictionary | |
| ey | O (vocative) dictionary | |
| negâhi | a glance dictionary | |
| su-ye | toward dictionary | |
| khâterat | your mind, memory dictionary | |
| ragham | writing, mark dictionary | |
| فیض | feyz | grace, abundance dictionary |
| پذیرد | pazirad | accepts, takes on dictionary |
| نقش | naghsh | image, shape dictionary |
| پراگنده | parâgande | scattered (پراکنده) |
| ورق | varagh | page, sheet dictionary |
| sâde | plain dictionary | |
| کار | kâr | work; affair, matter dictionary |
| bâz gozâri | you leave, entrust dictionary | |
| Hâfez | Hafez, the poet's pen name (takhallos); literally "one who knows the Quran by heart" dictionary | |
| bakht | fortune, luck dictionary | |
| sabâ | the morning breeze, which carries messages between lovers in poetry (نسیم صبح) | |
| khâje | master, lord dictionary | |
| jahân | world dictionary | |
| و | va / o | and dictionary |
Persian text: Ganjoor (ganjoor.net), Hafez, ghazal 481. Transliteration, translation, glosses and reading: Learn Persian Online.
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