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5
523-547

  • If I should relate the root and branch (the whole story) of dominion, another Book would be needed.
  • The Arabs called a restive (high-spirited) horse a “devil” (shaytán); (they did) not (give that name to) the beast of burden that stayed (quietly) in the pasture.
  • “Devilry” (shaytanat) in lexicology is (synonymous with) “rebelliousness”: this quality is deserving of execration. 525
  • There is room for a hundred eaters (guests) round a table, (but) there is not room in the (whole) world for two seekers of dominion.
  • The one is not willing that the other should be on the surface of the earth; so that a prince kills his father for partaking with him (in sovereignty).
  • Thou hast heard (the saying) that kingship is childless: the seeker of sovereignty has cut (the ties of) relationship because of (his) fear;
  • For he is childless and has no son: like fire, he has no kinship with any one.
  • Whatsoever he finds he destroys and tears to pieces: when he finds nothing, he devours himself. 530
  • Become naught, escape from his teeth: do not seek mercy from his (hard) anvil-like heart.
  • After thou hast become naught, do not fear the anvil: take lessons every morning from absolute poverty.
  • Divinity is the mantle of the Lord of glory: it becomes a plague to any one who puts it on.
  • His (God's) is the crown (of sovereignty), ours the belt (of servitude): woe to him that passes beyond his proper bound!
  • Thy peacock-feathers are a (sore) temptation to thee, for thou must needs have co-partnership (with God) and All-holiness. 535
  • Story of the Sage who saw a peacock tearing out his handsome feathers with his beak and dropping them (on the ground) and making himself bald and ugly. In astonishment he asked, “Hast thou no feeling of regret?” “I have,” said the peacock, “but life is dearer to me than feathers, and these (feathers) are the enemy of my life.”
  • A peacock was tearing out his feathers in the open country, where a sage had gone for a walk.
  • He said, “O peacock, how art thou tearing out such fine feathers remorselessly from the root?
  • How indeed is thy heart consenting that thou shouldst tear off these gorgeous robes and let them fall in the mud?
  • Those who commit the Qur’án to memory place every feather of thine, on account of its being prized and acceptable, within the folding of the (Holy) Book.
  • For the sake of stirring the healthful air thy feathers are used as fans. 540
  • What ingratitude and what recklessness is this! Dost not thou know who is their decorator?
  • Or dost thou know (that) and art thou showing disdain and purposely tearing out (such) a (fine) broidery?
  • Oh, there is many a disdain that becomes a sin and causes the servant to fall from favour with the King (God).
  • To show disdain is sweeter than sugar; but chew it not, for it hath a hundred perils.
  • The place of safety is the way of want (lowliness): abandon disdain and make up with (be satisfied with) that way. 545
  • Oh, many a disdainfulness flapped its wings and plumes, (but) in the end it became a bane to that (arrogant) person.
  • If the sweetness of disdain exalts thee for a moment, (yet) its latent fear and dread consumes thee;