the gulistan, by saadi shirazi

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The Gulistan (The Rose Garden) is a landmark of the Persian literature, perhaps its single most influential work in prose.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: The Gulistan, by Saadi Shirazi

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Page 2: The Gulistan, by Saadi Shirazi

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INTRODUCTORY 4

CHAPTER I - THE MANNERS OF KINGS 13

CHAPTER II - THE MORALS OF DERVISHES 36

CHAPTER III - ON THE EXCELLENCE OF CONTENTMENT 56

CHAPTER IV - ON THE ADVANTAGES OF SILENCE 71

CHAPTER V - ON LOVE AND YOUTH 76

CHAPTER VI - ON WEAKNESS AND OLD AGE 90

CHAPTER VII - ON THE EFFECTS OF EDUCATION 95

CHAPTER VIII - ON RULES FOR CONDUCT IN LIFE 108

CONCLUSION OF THE BOOK 131

-THE END- 132

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INTRODUCTORY

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=.;=.;=.;=.;24242424F?6F?6F?6F?60ó0ó0ó0ó<<<<3ó3ó3ó3óA5A5A5A52ó2ó2ó2ó[email protected]ó<[email protected]ó<[email protected]ó<[email protected]ó<3ó3ó3ó3ó6@9.:6@9.:6@9.:6@9.:+PD\#$OODK#SHUSHWXDWH#KLV#UHLJQ,

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Verily the world is happy through him;may his happiness endure for ever$QG#PD\#WKH#/RUG#VWUHQJWKHQ#KLP#DQG#ZLWK#WKH#EDQQHUV#RI#YLFWRU\17KXV#WKH#EUDQFK#ZLOO#IORXULVK#RI#ZKLFK#KH#LV#WKH#URRWBecause the beauty of the earth’s plants depends on the virtue of the seed.

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To sit in a corner, like one with a cut tongue, deaf and dumb,Is better than a man who has no command over his tongue.

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When it is proper to speak and to talk when silence is required.

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$IWHU#,#KDG#XWWHUHG#WKHVH#ZRUGV#KH#WKUHZ#DZD\#WKH#IORZHUV#IURP#KLV#VNLUWV/#DQG#DWWDFKHG#KLPVHOI#WR#PLQH/#VD\LQJ=#¶:KHQ#DJHQHURXV#IHOORZ#PDNHV#D#SURPLVH#KH#NHHSV#LW1·

2Q#WKH#VDPH#GD\#,#KDSSHQHG#WR#ZULWH#WZR#FKDSWHUV/#QDPHO\#RQ#SROLWH#VRFLHW\#DQG#WKH#UXOHV#RI#FRQYHUVDWLRQ/#LQ#D#VW\OHDFFHSWDEOH#WR#RUDWRUV#DQG#LQVWUXFWLYH#WR#OHWWHU0ZULWHUV1#,Q#VKRUW/#VRPH#URVHV#RI#WKH#JDUGHQ#VWLOO#UHPDLQHG#ZKHQ#WKH#ERRN#RIWKH#5RVH0JDUGHQ#ZDV#ILQLVKHG#EXW#LW#ZLOO#LQ#UHDOLW\#EH#FRPSOHWHG#RQO\#DIWHU#DSSUREDWLRQ#LQ#WKH#FRXUW#RI#WKH#6KDK/#ZKR#LVWKH#UHIXJH#RI#WKH#ZRUOG/#WKH#VKDGRZ#RI#*RG/#WKH#UD\#RI#KLV#JUDFH/#WKH#WUHDVXU\#RI#WKH#DJH/#WKH#DV\OXP#RI#the Faith,strengthened by heaven, aided against enemies, the arm of the victorious government, the lamp of the resplendentreligion, the beauty of mankind, the boast of Islam, Sa’d son of Atabek the great, the majestic Shahanshah, owner ofthe necks of nations, lord of the kings of Arabia and Persia, the sultan of the land and the sea, the heir of the kingdomof Solomon, Muzaffaruddin Ibu Bekr, son of Sa’d Zanki, may Allah the most high perpetuate the prosperity of themboth and direct their inclinations to every good thing.

3HUXVHG#ZLWK#D#NLQG#JODQFH/

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11

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:KRHYHU#UHSRVHV#LQ#WKH#VKDGRZ#RI#KLV#IDYRXU/His sin is transmuted to obedience and his foe into a friend.

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12

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13

CHAPTER I - THE MANNERS OF KINGS

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14

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0DQ\#IDPRXV#PHQ#KDYH#EHHQ#EXULHG#XQGHU#JURXQGOf whose existence on earth not a trace has remainedAnd that old corpse which had been surrendered to the earthWas so consumed by the soil that not a bone remains.The glorious name of Nushirvan survives in good reputeAlthough much time elapsed since he passed away.Do good, O man, and consider life as a good fortune,The more so, as when a shout is raised, a man exists no more.

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óóóó@a\_fó@a\_fó@a\_fó@a\_fó!!!!

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7KH#VSRXVH#RI#/RW#EHFDPH#D#IULHQG#RI#ZLFNHG#SHUVRQV1His race of prophets became extinct.The dog of the companions of the cave for some days

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Associated with good people and became a man.

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7KH#KRPD#H[FHOV#DOO#RWKHU#ELUGV#LQ#QRELOLW\Because it feeds on bones and injures no living thing.

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23

$#GRQNH\/#KDYLQJ#EHHQ#DVNHG#IRU#ZKDW#VDODU\#KH#KDG#HOHFWHG#WR#DWWHQG#XSRQ#WKH#OLRQ/#UHSOLHG=#¶7KDW#,#PD\#FRQVXPH#WKHUHPQDQWV#RI#KLV#SUH\#DQG#OLYH#LQ#VDIHW\#IURP#P\#HQHPLHV#E\#WDNLQJ#UHIXJH#XQGHU#KLV#EUDYHU\1·#%HLQJ#DJDLQ#DVNHG#WKDW/#DVKH#KDG#HQWHUHG#LQWR#WKH#VKDGRZ#RI#WKH#OLRQ·V#SURWHFWLRQ#DQG#JUDWHIXOO\#DFNQRZOHGJHG#KLV#EHQHILFHQFH/#ZK\#KH#KDG#QRWMRLQHG#WKH#FLUFOH#RI#LQWLPDF\#VR#DV#WR#EH#DFFRXQWHG#RQH#RI#KLV#IDYRXULWH#VHUYDQWV/#KH#UHSOLHG=#¶,#DP#LQ#WKH#VDPH#ZD\#DOVRQRW#VDIH#RI#KLV#EUDYHU\1·

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0DQ\#D#PDQ#VOHSW#KXQJU\#DQG#QR#RQH#NQHZ#ZKR#KH#ZDV1Many a man was at the point of death and no one wept for him.

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+H#DOVR#WROG#PH#WKDW#DV#,#NQHZ#KH#SRVVHVVHG#VRPH#NQRZOHGJH#RI#DULWKPHWLF/#,#PLJKW/#WKURXJK#P\#LQIOXHQFH/#JHW#KLPDSSRLQWHG#WR#D#SRVW#ZKLFK#ZRXOG#EHFRPH#WKH#PHDQV#RI#SXWWLQJ#KLV#PLQG#DW#HDVH#DQG#SODFH#KLP#XQGHU#REOLJDWLRQV#WR#PH/ZKLFK#KH#FRXOG#QRW#UHTXLWH#E\#JUDWLWXGH#GXULQJ#WKH#UHVW#RI#KLV#OLIH1#,#UHSOLHG=#¶'HDU#IULHQG$#(PSOR\PHQW#E\#D#SDGVKDKFRQVLVWV#RI#WZR#SDUWV/#QDPHO\/#WKH#KRSH#IRU#EUHDG#DQG#WKH#GDQJHU#RI#OLIH/#EXW#LW#LV#DJDLQVW#WKH#RSLQLRQ#RI#LQWHOOLJHQW#PHQ#WRLQFXU#WKLV#GDQJHU#IRU#WKDW#KRSH1·

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%H#QRW#H[WUDYDJDQW#ZKHQ#LQ#RIILFH/#LI#WKRX#GHVLUHVW

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2Q#WK\#UHPRYDO#WR#VHH#WK\#IRHV#HPEDUUDVVHG#IRU#LPSXWDWLRQV#DJDLQVW#thee.Be thou pure, O brother, and in fear of no one.Washermen beat only impure garments against stones.

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¶%H#QRW#DSSUHKHQVLYH#RI#WDQJOHG#DIIDLUV#DQG#NHHS#QRW#D#EURNHQ#KHDUWBecause the spring of life is in darkness.’

'R#QRW#JULHYH/#2#EURWKHU#LQ#PLVHU\/%HFDXVH#WKH#,OO0PHUFLIXO#KDV#KLGGHQ#IDYRXUV1

6LW#QRW#PRURVH#RQ#DFFRXQW#RI#WKH#WXUQV#RI#WLPH>#IRU#SDWLHQFH/Although bitter, nevertheless possesses a sweet fruit.

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7KH#NKDMDK#HLWKHU#WDNHV#JROG#ZLWK#ERWK#KDQGV#WR#WKH#VKRUHOr the waves throw him one day dead upon the shore.

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.QHZHVW#WKRX#QRW#WKDW#WKRX#ZLOW#VHH#WK\#IHHW#LQ#ERQGVIf the advice of people cannot penetrate into thy ear?

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:KHQ#WKRVH#ZKR#FRXOG#DW#DQ\#WLPH#DSSURDFK#WKH#SUHVHQFH#RI#WKH#VDLG#JUHDW#PDQ#EHFDPH#DZDUH#RI#P\#FDVH/#WKH\#WRRN#PHLQ#ZLWK#FRPSOLPHQWV#DQG#GHVLUHG#WR#DVVLJQ#PH#D#KLJK#VHDW#EXW#,#KXPEO\#WRRN#D#ORZHU#RQH#DQG#VDLG=

#¶$OORZ#PH#ZKR#DP#WKH#VPDOOHVW#VODYH#7R#VLW#LQ#WKH#OLQH#RI#VODYHV1·

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óóóó@a\_fóâ@a\_fóâ@a\_fóâ@a\_fóâ%%%%

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CHAPTER II - THE MORALS OF DERVISHES

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One of the great devotees having been asked about his opinion concerning a hermit whom others had censured intheir conversation, he replied: ‘I do not see any external blemishes on him and do not know of internal ones.’

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CHAPTER III - ON THE EXCELLENCE OF CONTENTMENT

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CHAPTER IV - ON THE ADVANTAGES OF SILENCE

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CHAPTER V - ON LOVE AND YOUTH

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CHAPTER VI - ON WEAKNESS AND OLD AGE

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CHAPTER VII - ON THE EFFECTS OF EDUCATION

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,#KHDUG#D#SLU0LQVWUXFWRU#VD\#WR#KLV#PXULG=#¶7KH#PLQG#RI#PDQ#LV#VR#much occupied with thoughts about maintenance thathe would surpass the position of angels if he were to devote as many of them to the giver of maintenance.’

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$#VFRUSLRQ/#KDYLQJ#EHHQ#DVNHG#ZK\#KH#GLG#QRW#JR#RXW#LQ#ZLQWHU/#replied: ‘What honour do I enjoy in summer that Ishould come out also in winter?’

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CHAPTER VIII - ON RULES FOR CONDUCT IN LIFE

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130

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Page 131: The Gulistan, by Saadi Shirazi

131

Conclusion of the Book

Page 132: The Gulistan, by Saadi Shirazi

132

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-THE END-

Page 133: The Gulistan, by Saadi Shirazi

1

4444YYYY\``\``\``\``NNNN_f_f_f_f

$'$0$17,1( Adjective describing diamond or other hard substance

$))$%/( Approachable or friendly

$//$+ The name of God as given in the Qur’aan (Book of Divine Revelation in the Islamicfaith). A conjunction of the two Arabic words: al and ilah, meaning The (one) God

$0%(5*5,6 A strong smelling wax-like secretion of the intestine of the sprem whale, foundfloating in tropical seas and used in perfume manufacture

$0,7< Friendship

$3352%$7,21 Approval, consent

%(1(',&7,21 The utterance of a blessing

%2'.,1 A blunt thick needle with a thick eye

%8775(66 A projecting support of stone or brick etc. built against a wall

&+$0%(5/$,1 An officer managing the household of a sovereign or a great noble

'(1,=(1 Poetic, an inhabitant or occupant

'(59,6+ A member of any of several Muslim fraternities vowed to poverty and austerity

',$'(0 A crown or headband worn as a sign of sovereignty

',67,&+ A pair of verse lines; couplet

(',),&( A building, especially a large imposing one

(;3,$7( Make amends, or pay the penalty (for wrong-doing)

*8/,67$1 Transliteration of the Persian meaning a garden of flowers (usually roses)

+(-$= Also Hijaz, the western half of the Arabian Peninsula

+285,6 Chaste maidens of Paradise

,1,0,&$/ Hostile, harmful

/$8'$7,21 Formal praise

/(9,7< Lack of serious thought, frivolity, undignified behaviour

Page 134: The Gulistan, by Saadi Shirazi

2

/,*180 Latin wood

/,03,' Clear, transparent

0(1'$&,7< Falsehood, dishonesty

0(1',&$17 A person living solely on alms

086$/0$1 Transliteration of the Persian word for Muslim (Arabic for one who submits toAllah), a follower of the Islamic faith

12/(1692/(16

Literary willy-nilly, without deliberation

2%(,6$1&( A bow, curtsey, or other respectful or submissive gesture

3$'6+$+ King in Persian

3$1(*<5,& A laudatory discourse, a speech in praise of someone or something

3$5$*21 A model of excellence. A supremely excellent person or thing

3/(,$'6 A brilliant group of persons or things. From the Pleiades, a cluster of stars in theconstellation of Taurus

3257,&2 A collonade, a roof supported by columns at regular intervals. Usually attached as aporch to a building

35$77/( Inconsequential talk

352',*$/ Recklessly wasteful

38/&+5,78'( Literary beauty

6+$+$16+$+ King of Kings, from archaic Persian

6+(,.+ +RQRULILF#JLYHQ#WR#D#OHDUQHG#0XVOLP#VFKRODU1##)URP#WKH#$UDELF/#OLWHUDOO\#PHDQLQJ#2OG0DQ

6/27+)8/ Lazy

68&&285 Aid or assistance especially in time of need

813523,7,286 Unfavourable

9(5'85( Freshness

9(51$/ Of, in, or appropriate to spring

9(=,(5 Properly spelled vizier, a high ranking official in Muslim States. From the Arabicwizeer, being the chief counsellor of the Caliph

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3

9,&,66,78'( A change of circumstances. Poetically meaning regular change or variation

=8/),4$5 Name of the sword of Ali, the cousin of Prophet Muhammad, and 4th Caliph of theIslamic Empire