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6
249-273

  • A certain Khwája had a Hindú slave whom he had educated and enlivened (with knowledge).
  • He had taught him science and all polite accomplishments; he had lighted the candle of erudition in his heart. 250
  • That beneficent man had brought him up indulgently from childhood in the lap of kindness.
  • This Khwája had also a fair daughter, silver-limbed, lovely, and of excellent disposition.
  • When the girl had almost reached womanhood, the suitors (for her hand) were offering heavy dowries,
  • And there was continually coming to him (the Khwája) from every nobleman a wooer to ask for the girl (in marriage).
  • The Khwája said (to himself), “Wealth has no permanence: it comes in the morning, and at night it goes in all directions (is scattered to the winds). 255
  • Physical beauty too has no importance, for a (rosy) face is made yellow (pale) by a single thorn-scratch.
  • Noble birth also is of small account, for he (such an one) is befooled by money and horses.”
  • Oh, there is many a nobleman's son who in riot and mischief has disgraced his father by his wicked deeds.
  • Do not court a man full of talent either, (even) if he be exquisite (in that respect), and take a warning from (the example of) Iblís.
  • He (Iblís) had knowledge, (but) since he had not religious love, he beheld in Adam nothing but a figure of clay. 260
  • Though you may know (all) the minutiae of knowledge, O trustworthy (scholar), not by that (means) will your two (inward) eyes that discern the invisible be opened.
  • He (the scholar) sees nothing but a turban and beard: he asks the announcer (for information) about his (the stranger's) merits and demerits.
  • (But) you, O knower (of God), have no need of the announcer: you see for yourself, for you are the rising light.
  • The (only) thing that matters is fear of God and religion and piety, of which the result is happiness in both worlds.
  • He (the Khwája) chose a pious son-in-law who was the pride of the whole clan and stock. 265
  • Then the women said, “He has no riches, he has neither nobility nor beauty nor independence.”
  • He replied, “Those things are secondary to asceticism and religion: he (the pious man), (though) without gold, is a treasure on the face of the earth.”
  • When it became known that the girl was going to be married in earnest, (as was proved by) the hand-promise, the tokens, and the wedding-outfit,
  • The little slave, who was in the house, immediately became ill and weak and poorly.
  • He was wasting away like one suffering from phthisis: no physician could recognise his ailment. 270
  • Reason declared that the malady had its source in his heart (and that) medicine for the body is useless for heart-ache.
  • The little slave breathed no word of his (real) state and did not tell what was the cause of the pangs in his breast.
  • One night the husband said to his wife, “Ask him privately what is the matter with him.