Rumi's Masnavi - Thy grace is the shepherd of all who have been created, (guarding them) from the wolf of pain—a loving shepherd like God's Kalím (Moses).”

Thy grace is the shepherd of all who have been created, (guarding them) from the wolf of pain—a loving shepherd like God's Kalím (Moses).” 3280

خلق را از گرگ غم لطفت شبان ** چون کلیم الله شبان مهربان

One sheep fled from God's Kalím: the feet of Moses were blistered (in following it) and his shoes dropped off.

گوسفندی از کلیم الله گریخت ** پای موسی آبله شد نعل ریخت

(He continued) searching after it till nightfall, and (meanwhile) the flock had vanished from his sight.

در پی او تا به شب در جست و جو ** وان رمه غایب شده از چشم او

The (lost) sheep was enfeebled and exhausted by fatigue: then God's Kalím shook the dust off it,

گوسفند از ماندگی شد سست و ماند ** پس کلیم الله گرد از وی فشاند

And stroked its back and head with his hand, fondling it lovingly like a mother.

کف همی‌مالید بر پشت و سرش ** می‌نواخت از مهر هم‌چون مادرش

Not (even) half a mite of irritation and anger, nothing but love and pity and tears! 3285

نیم ذره طیرگی و خشم نی ** غیر مهر و رحم و آب چشم نی

He said (to the sheep), “I grant you (naturally) had no pity on me, (but) why did your nature show (such) cruelty to itself?”

گفت گیرم بر منت رحمی نبود ** طبع تو بر خود چرا استم نمود

At that moment God said to the angels, “So-and-so is suitable for prophethood.”

با ملایک گفت یزدان آن زمان ** که نبوت را نمی‌زیبد فلان

Mustafá (Mohammed) himself has said that every prophet herded sheep as a young man or boy,

مصطفی فرمود خود که هر نبی ** کرد چوپانیش برنا یا صبی

(And that) without his having been a shepherd and (having undergone) that trial, God did not bestow on him the leadership of the world.

بی‌شبانی کردن و آن امتحان ** حق ندادش پیشوایی جهان

A questioner said, “Even thou, O man of might?” “I too,” he replied, “was a shepherd for a long while.” 3290

گفت سایل هم تو نیز ای پهلوان ** گفت من هم بوده‌ام دهری شبان

In order that their (the prophets') calmness and fortitude should be displayed, God made them shepherds before (investing them with) prophethood.

تا شود پیدا وقار و صبرشان ** کردشان پیش از نبوت حق شبان

Every prince who performs the task of shepherding mankind in such wise that he obeys the Commandments (of God),

هر امیری کو شبانی بشر ** آن‌چنان آرد که باشد متمر

(And) in tending them with foresight and understanding shows a forbearance like that of Moses,

حلم موسی‌وار اندر رعی خود ** او به جا آرد به تدبیر و خرد

Inevitably God will bestow on him a spiritual shepherd's office (exalted) above the sphere of the moon,

لاجرم حقش دهد چوپانیی ** بر فراز چرخ مه روحانیی

Even as He raised the prophets from this herding (of sheep) and gave them the task of tending the righteous. 3295

آنچنان که انبیا را زین رعا ** بر کشید و داد رعی اصفیا

“Thou, in short, O Khwája, hast performed in thy shepherding (of the poor) that which causes him that hates thee to become blind (utterly confounded).

خواجه باری تو درین چوپانیت ** کردی آنچ کور گردد شانیت

I know that God will give thee yonder an everlasting sovereignty in compensation.

دانم آنجا در مکافات ایزدت ** سروری جاودانه بخشدت

In hope of thy (open) hand as (bountiful as) the ocean and (in reliance) upon thy giving (me) a stipend and discharging (my obligations) in full,

بر امید کف چون دریای تو ** بر وظیفه دادن و ایفای تو

I recklessly incurred debts (amounting to) nine thousand pieces of gold: where art thou, that these dregs may become clear?

وام کردم نه هزار از زر گزاف ** تو کجایی تا شود این درد صاف

Where art thou, that laughing like the (verdant) garden thou mayst say, ‘Receive that (sum) and ten times as much from me’? 3300

تو کجایی تا که خندان چون چمن ** گویی بستان آن و ده چندان ز من

Where art thou, that thou mayst make me laughing (flourishing) and show favour and beneficence as lords (are wont to do)?

تو کجایی تا مرا خندان کنی ** لطف و احسان چون خداوندان کنی

Where art thou, that thou mayst take me into thy treasury and make me secure from debt and poverty?—

تو کجایی تا بری در مخزنم ** تا کنی از وام و فاقه آمنم

(Whilst) I am saying continually, ‘Enough!’ and thou, my bounteous friend, replying, ‘Accept this too for my heart's sake.’

من همی‌گویم بس و تو مفضلم ** گفته کین هم گیر از بهر دلم

How can a world (microcosm) be contained under the clay (of the body)? How should a Heaven be contained in the earth?

چون همی‌گنجد جهانی زیر طین ** چون بگنجد آسمانی در زمین