Rumi's Masnavi - The drowning man suffers an agony of soul and clutches at every straw.

The drowning man suffers an agony of soul and clutches at every straw.

مرد غرقه گشته جانی می‌‌کند ** دست را در هر گیاهی می‌‌زند

For fear of (losing) his head (life), he flings about (both) hand and foot to see whether any one will take his hand (help him) in peril.

تا کدامش دست گیرد در خطر ** دست و پایی می‌‌زند از بیم سر

The Friend loves this agitation: it is better to struggle vainly than to lie still.

دوست دارد یار این آشفتگی ** کوشش بی‌‌هوده به از خفتگی‌‌

He who is the King (of all) is not idle, (though) complaint from Him would be a marvel, for He is not ill. 1820

آن که او شاه است او بی‌‌کار نیست ** ناله از وی طرفه کاو بیمار نیست‌‌

For this reason said the Merciful (God), O son, “Every day He is (busy) in an affair,” O son.

بهر این فرمود رحمان ای پسر ** کل يوم هو فی شأن ای پسر

In this Way be thou ever scraping and scratching (exerting thyself to the utmost): until thy last breath do not be unoccupied for a moment,

اندر این ره می‌‌تراش و می‌‌خراش ** تا دم آخر دمی فارغ مباش‌‌

So that thy last breath may be a last breath in which the (Divine) favour is thy bosom-friend.

تا دم آخر دمی آخر بود ** که عنایت با تو صاحب سر بود

Whatsoever they strive (to do), whether man or woman, the ear and eye of the soul's King are at the window.

هر چه می‌‌کوشند اگر مرد و زن است ** گوش و چشم شاه جان بر روزن است‌‌

How the merchant cast the parrot out of the cage and how the dead parrot flew away.

برون انداختن مرد تاجر طوطی را از قفس و پریدن طوطی مرده‌‌

After that, he cast her out of the cage. The little parrot flew to a lofty bough. 1825

بعد از آنش از قفس بیرون فگند ** طوطیک پرید تا شاخ بلند

The dead parrot made such a (swift) flight as when the orient sun rushed onward.

طوطی مرده چنان پرواز کرد ** کافتاب از چرخ ترکی تاز کرد

The merchant was amazed at the action of the bird: without understanding he suddenly beheld the mysteries of the bird.

خواجه حیران گشت اندر کار مرغ ** بی‌‌خبر ناگه بدید اسرار مرغ‌‌

He lifted up his face and said, “O nightingale, give us profit (instruction) by explaining thy case.

روی بالا کرد و گفت ای عندلیب ** از بیان حال خودمان ده نصیب‌‌

What did she (the parrot) do there (in India), that thou didst learn, devise a trick, and burn us (with grief)”?

او چه کرد آن جا که تو آموختی ** ساختی مکری و ما را سوختی‌‌

The parrot said, “She by her act counselled me—‘Abandon thy charm of voice and thy affection (for thy master), 1830

گفت طوطی کاو به فعلم پند داد ** که رها کن لطف آواز و وداد

Because thy voice has brought thee into bondage’: she feigned herself dead for the sake of (giving me) this counsel,

ز آن که آوازت ترا در بند کرد ** خویشتن مرده پی این پند کرد

Meaning (to say), ‘O thou who hast become a singer to high and low, become dead like me, that thou mayst gain release.’”

یعنی ای مطرب شده با عام و خاص ** مرده شو چون من که تا یابی خلاص‌‌

If you are a grain, the little birds will peck you up; if you are a bud, the children will pluck you off.

دانه باشی مرغکانت بر چنند ** غنچه باشی کودکانت بر کنند

Hide the grain (bait), become wholly a snare; hide the bud, become the grass on the roof.

دانه پنهان کن بکلی دام شو ** غنچه پنهان کن گیاه بام شو

Any one who offers his beauty to auction, a hundred evil fates set out towards him (and overtake him). 1835

هر که داد او حسن خود را در مزاد ** صد قضای بد سوی او رو نهاد

(Evil) eyes and angers and envies pour upon his head, like water from waterskins.

چشمها و خشمها و رشکها ** بر سرش ریزد چو آب از مشکها

Foes tear him to pieces from jealousy; even friends take his lifetime away.

دشمنان او را ز غیرت می‌‌درند ** دوستان هم روزگارش می‌‌برند

He that was heedless of the sowing and the springtide, how should he know the value of this lifetime?

آن که غافل بود از کشت بهار ** او چه داند قیمت این روزگار

You must flee to the shelter of God's grace, who shed thousand fold grace upon (our) spirits,

در پناه لطف حق باید گریخت ** کاو هزاران لطف بر ارواح ریخت‌‌

That you may find a shelter. Then how (will you lack) shelter? Water and fire will become your army. 1840

تا پناهی یابی آن گه چون پناه ** آب و آتش مر ترا گردد سپاه‌‌

Did not the sea become a friend to Noah and Moses? Did it not become overbearing in vengeance against their enemies?

نوح و موسی را نه دریا یار شد ** نه بر اعداشان به کین قهار شد