Rumi's Masnavi - I went unarmed to meet the arrows, in order that I might receive a deep-seated (deadly) arrow-wound.

I went unarmed to meet the arrows, in order that I might receive a deep-seated (deadly) arrow-wound.

None but a fortunate martyr attains unto (the happiness of) receiving an arrow-wound in the throat or any vital spot.

No place in my body is without wounds: this body of mine is like a sieve from (being pierced with) arrows;

But the arrows never (once) hit a vital spot: this is a matter of luck, not of bravery or cunning.

When (I saw that) martyrdom was not the lot of my spirit, I went immediately into (religious) seclusion and (entered on) a forty days' fast. 3785

I threw myself into the Greater Warfare (which consists) in practising austerities and becoming lean.

(One day) there reached my ear the sound of the drums of the holy warriors; for the hard-fighting army was on the march.

My fleshly soul cried out to me from within: at morningtide I heard (its voice) with my sensuous ear,

(Saying), ‘Arise! ’Tis time to fight. Go, devote thyself to fighting in the holy war!’

I answered, ‘O wicked perfidious soul, what hast thou to do with the desire to fight? 3790

Tell the truth, O my soul! This is trickery. Else (why wouldst thou fight)?—the lustful soul is quit of obedience (to the Divine command).

Unless thou tell the truth, I will attack thee, I will squeeze (torment) thee more painfully (than before) in maceration.’

Thereupon my soul, mutely eloquent, cried out in guile from within me,

‘Here thou art killing me daily, thou art putting my (vital) spirit (on the rack), like the spirits of infidels.

No one is aware of my plight—how thou art killing me (by keeping me) without sleep and food. 3795

In war I should escape from the body at one stroke, and the people would see my manly valour and self-sacrifice.’

I replied, ‘O wretched soul, a hypocrite thou hast lived and a hypocrite thou wilt die: what (a pitiful thing) art thou!

In both worlds thou hast been a hypocrite, in both worlds thou art such a worthless creature.’

I vowed that I would never put my head outside of (come out of) seclusion, seeing that this body is alive,

Because everything that this body does in seclusion it does with no regard to man or woman. 3800

During seclusion the intention of (all) its movement and rest is for God's sake only.”

This is the Greater Warfare, and that (other) is the Lesser Warfare: both are (fit) work for (men like) Rustam and Haydar (‘Alí).

They are not (fit) work for one whose reason and wits fly out of his body when a mouse's tail moves.

Such a one must stay, like women, far off from the battle-field and the spears.

That one a Súfí and this one (too) a Súfí! Here's a pity! That one is killed by a needle, while the sword is this one's food. 3805