rumi

[Guest guest]

Where there is pain, the cure will come;

where the land is low, water will run.

If you want the water of mercy, go, become low!

Then drink mercy's wine and become drunk

 

-- Mathnavi II: 1939-40

Translation by William Chittick

The Sufi Path of Love

State Univ. of New York Press, Albany, 1983

 

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Lovingkindness is drawn to the saint, as medicine goes

to the pain it must cure.

Where there is pain, the remedy follows:

wherever the lowlands are, the water goes.

If you want the water of mercy, make yourself low;

then drink the wine of mercy and be drunk.

Mercy upon mercy rises to your head like a flood.

Don't settle on a single mercy, O son.

Bring the sky beneath your feet

and listen to celestial music everywhere.

 

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Mehrbâni shod shekâr-e shirmard

dar jahân dâru na-juyad ghayr-e dard

Har kojâ dardi davâ ânjâ ravad

har kojâ pastist âb ânjâ davad

b-e rahmat bâyadet raw past shaw

v-ângahân khvor khamr-e rahmat mast shaw

Rahmat andar rahmat âmad tâ be-sar

bar yeki rahmat foru ma-â ay pesar

Charkh-râ dar zir-e pâ ay shojâ`

Be-shenaw az fawq-e falak bâng-e samâ`

 

-- Mathnawi II:1938-1942

trans. Camille and Kabir Helminski

Rumi: Daylight

Threshold Books, 1994

Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

 

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