Rumi's Masnavi - While he who, like a dog, is by nature attached to the kennel —how should he have the desire for (spiritual) sovereignty?

While he who, like a dog, is by nature attached to the kennel —how should he have the desire for (spiritual) sovereignty?

وآنک چون سگ ز اصل کهدانی بود ** کی مرورا حرص سلطانی بود

(Only) he that has sinned seeks to repent; (only) he that has lost the (right) way cries “Alas!”

توبه او جوید که کردست او گناه ** آه او گوید که گم کردست راه

Story of the young gazelle being confined in the donkey-stable, and how the donkey assailed the stranger, now with hostility and now with mockery, and how it was afflicted by (having to eat) dry straw which is not its (proper) food. And this is a description of the chosen servant of God amongst worldlings and those addicted to passion and sensuality; for “Islam (was) strange (when it first) appeared, and will become strange again, and blessed are the strangers.” The Messenger of Allah spake the truth.

قصه‌ی محبوس شدن آن آهوبچه در آخر خران و طعنه‌ی آن خران ببر آن غریب گاه به جنگ و گاه به تسخر و مبتلی گشتن او به کاه خشک کی غذای او نیست و این صفت بنده‌ی خاص خداست میان اهل دنیا و اهل هوا و شهوت کی الاسلام بدا غریبا و سیعود غریبا فطوبی للغرباء صدق رسول الله

A hunter captured a gazelle: the merciless man put it into a stable.

آهوی را کرد صیادی شکار ** اندر آخر کردش آن بی‌زینهار

(Acting) like oppressors, he made a stable full of cows and donkeys the prison of the gazelle.

آخری را پر ز گاوان و خران ** حبس آهو کرد چون استمگران

The gazelle, wild with terror, was fleeing in every direction: at night he (the hunter) poured (pieces of chopped) straw before the donkeys. 835

آهو از وحشت به هر سو می‌گریخت ** او به پیش آن خران شب کاه ریخت

(Moved) by hunger and (ravenous) appetite, every cow and donkey was devouring the straw, (as though it were) sweeter than sugar.

از مجاعت و اشتها هر گاو و خر ** کاه را می‌خورد خوشتر از شکر

Now the gazelle would run in fright from side to side, now it would turn its face away from the smoke and dust of the straw.

گاه آهو می‌رمید از سو به سو ** گه ز دود و گرد که می‌تافت رو

Whosoever is left (in company) with his opposite, they (who are wise) have deemed that punishment (terrible) as death,

هرکرا با ضد خود بگذاشتند ** آن عقوبت را چو مرگ انگاشتند

So that Solomon said, “Unless the hoopoe make a respectable excuse for his absence,

تا سلیمان گفت که آن هدهد اگر ** هجر را عذری نگوید معتبر

I will kill him or inflict upon him a torment, a torment severe beyond (all) calculation.” 840

بکشمش یا خود دهم او را عذاب ** یک عذاب سخت بیرون از حساب