Khawaja and the Hindi Parrot
“Oh! What a regret! I’ve but lost my sweet-singing bird! The wine for my spirit, the blossom of my garden, the sweet basil! If Solomon could have had a bird like you, he would never have been interested in others. Oh! What a pity! I bought the bird so cheaply! Alas! I had not known her true worth!
O tongue! thou art at a great loss
Thee the tool, what I may say to boss
O tongue! Thou being grass and thou fire
Why doth you set fire to your attire
The heart is begging before you secretly
Your command does it follow repeatedly
O tongue! Thou art an exquisite treasure
Also, the fatal disease without any measure
Thou mock, whistle, trap birds, and snare
Thy comfort: for agony parting souls bear
Thou art the guide, to friends kind messenger
History of Satan and unbelief doth encounter
O the misguided, deliver peace; thou cannot
Thy enmity has but chosen me your target
You had the bird, my soul mate, fly away
Why thou art so cruel, a little mercy but nay?
Answer me, please, I want justice done to me
Keep reminding me all that was good, happy
Alas! I had lost the light against the dark
Alas! I lost the morn my day do spark
Alas! I have lost my sailing bird in haste
Traveling between extremes hath it a waste
A window to Mathnavi Maulvi Ma’nvi
Translation and Commentary Seema Arif
Further Links for Rumi
The anger rocks from one extreme to another; the moods swing from elation to depression, and while trapped in such transience, one loses self-control and may forgo all inhibitions that cultural courtesy may imply. Our emotions are deeply affected in any relationship, and it is our emotions again that may deeply affect any relationship. The favors are mostly won and lost in how one can express oneself through words. In reality, learning to tame Ginnei’s emotions may fire time, which is the task set by life for us. It is corrupted by the overindulgence of the lower soul and wasted by the archaic dominance of the rational soul. One has to carve one’s way between the two carefully. Acquiring the Sirath-e-Mustaqeem, the balanced ‘RIGHT’ approach towards life is the essence of this lesson. See more on the human soul… Click for details.
( Copyright 2024 ) Dr. Seema Arif All rights reserved.
All material on this page is Seema Arif’s original writing. Using it in any form of publication and print media without prior permission will be considered a violation of rights. When quoting research papers, proper referencing should be used.