New Hekayat Posted: Hekayat 44 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

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Hekayat 44 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

To grapple with a lion or to punch with a sword is not the work of wise men. Do not engage in battle or show strength with the intoxicated, Place your hands at your sides before an arm-wrestler.

New Hekayat Posted: Hekayat 43 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

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Hekayat 43 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

Whoever contends with the great, spills their own blood. You consider yourself to be great, But they say a cross-eyed person sees two. Soon you will see a broken forehead, If you play head-to-head with a ram.

New Hekayat Posted: Hekayat 42 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

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Hekayat 42 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

Not everyone who is beautiful in appearance has a beautiful character. The matter lies within, not in the outward form. You can recognize a man's outward qualities in a day, Seeing the extent of his knowledge and skills, But be wary and not deceived by his inner nature, For the…

New Hekayat Posted: Hekayat 41 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

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Hekayat 41 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

If all nights were the Night of Power, the Night of Power would lose its value. If all stones were radiant rubies, Then the value of rubies and stones would be the same.

New Ghazal Posted: To see the flaws of friends and companions is a virtue, Ghazal 65 by Saadi

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To see the flaws of friends and companions is a virtue, Ghazal 65 by Saadi

Description: This ghazal by Saadi explores themes of love, devotion, and the spiritual journey toward the beloved. The poet reflects on the enduring mark of love in the heart, the ineffable beauty of the beloved, and the transformative power of love that unites scattered souls. Saadi contrasts the transience of the material world with the timeless, ever-present yearning for the beloved. The poem is a celebration of the beloved’s ineffable nature and a meditation on the humble devotion and surrender required to reach divine closeness.

New Ghazal Posted: This soul-reviving scent comes from the beloved’s essence, Ghazal 64 by Saadi

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This soul-reviving scent comes from the beloved’s essence, Ghazal 64 by Saadi

Description: This ghazal by Saadi speaks of the intoxicating beauty and presence of the beloved, even in their absence. The poet weaves metaphors of musk, ambergris, and heavenly scents to express the yearning and spiritual connection with the beloved. The poem conveys the agony of separation, where days without the beloved feel like Judgment Day, and patience crumbles under the weight of love. Saadi juxtaposes the joy of companionship with the unseen inner burning of true longing, culminating in a deeply emotional and spiritual exploration of love’s power and pain.

New Ghazal Posted: Of all that is spoken, words of the beloved are sweetest, Ghazal 63 by Saadi

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Of all that is spoken, words of the beloved are sweetest, Ghazal 63 by Saadi

Description: This ghazal by Saadi expresses the depth of love and longing for the beloved. Saadi captures the paradoxical state of being physically present yet emotionally distant, consumed by thoughts of the beloved. Through vivid imagery of burning oud, grave-like nights, and dreams of reconciliation, the poet reflects on the pain of separation and the yearning for reunion. The poem intertwines themes of devotion, loss, and hope, revealing Saadi’s profound understanding of the human heart and its desires. The final lines caution against holding on to unattainable dreams, underscoring the bittersweet nature of love.

New Ghazal Posted: O laughing beauty, who enhanced your ruby lips? Ghazal 62 by Saadi

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O laughing beauty, who enhanced your ruby lips? Ghazal 62 by Saadi

Description: This ghazal by Saadi reflects on the beauty, allure, and fleeting nature of the beloved, combined with a sense of resignation and acceptance of life's changes. Through metaphors of ripened fruit, torn veils, and flowing rivers, Saadi captures the inevitability of transformation and the passage of time. The poem juxtaposes the cherished and the lost, the celebrated and the abandoned, while advising the poet (and reader) to seek new horizons rather than dwell on what has already been claimed or consumed. It portrays the tension between longing and letting go with Saadi's signature grace and wisdom.

New Ghazal Posted: Alas for the eye that has not beheld your face, Ghazal 61 by Saadi

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Alas for the eye that has not beheld your face, Ghazal 61 by Saadi

Description: This ghazal by Saadi expresses deep admiration and longing for the beloved's unparalleled beauty and charm. Through powerful imagery, Saadi conveys the transformative effect of witnessing such a radiant presence, likening it to the sun encircled by dark musk and comparing its allure to legendary lovers like Farhad and Shirin. The poem emphasizes the beloved's uniqueness, suggesting that no one else can compare, and portrays the lover's devotion as absolute and unshaken. It concludes with a poignant note, reflecting Saadi’s own suffering under the weight of love, manifested in unceasing tears—a testament to the beauty and anguish of devotion.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 105 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 105 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

Seek the knowledge that will unravel your knots,
Before life leaves your body.

Don't seek what appears to be; let it go.
Seek what appears not to be.

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Quest for Knowledge: The poet urges us to seek knowledge, specifically the kind that can solve our problems and free us from our troubles.
The Imminence of Death: The phrase "before life leaves your body" reminds us of the impermanence of life and the importance of seeking knowledge while we still have time.
Beyond Appearances: The poet advises us to look beyond the superficial, the apparent reality. True knowledge lies in understanding what is not immediately visible.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 104 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 104 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

What a strange burning is in this heart tonight,
I think perhaps it is the middle of the day.

In the eye of love, night and day cannot fit,
This eye of love is a wondrous, sewing needle.

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Burning Heart: The poet is experiencing an intense emotional state, described as a "burning" within their heart.
The Confusion of Time: The poet's sense of time is distorted, as they feel the intensity of their emotions is more akin to the heat of midday than the coolness of night.
The Eye of Love: This refers to a spiritual eye or perspective, one that sees beyond the limitations of ordinary perception.
The Sewing Needle: The eye of love is compared to a sewing needle, suggesting that it is a precise and focused instrument, capable of piercing through the veils of illusion.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 103 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 103 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

I wander through the city at night, like wind and water,
From wandering the city, no one finds sleep.

It is the intellect that seeks things from their place,
Do not seek discernment and manners from the drunk and the ruined.

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Restless Soul: The poet describes themselves as wandering aimlessly through the city, unable to find peace.
The Illusion of Seeking: The intellect, according to the poet, is limited in its ability to find true understanding.
The Wisdom of the Drunken and Ruined: The poet suggests that wisdom and true understanding can be found not in rational thought but in a more intuitive and spiritual state, often associated with the drunk or the spiritually broken.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 102 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 102 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

Glory be to God, you and I, in this beautiful garden,
Are constantly opposing each other in every matter.

I am your fortune, for I never sleep,
You are my fortune, for you never wake.

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Paradoxical Relationship: The poet and the beloved are in a constant state of opposition, yet their destinies are intertwined.
The Vigilant Lover: The speaker claims to be ever-watchful, symbolizing their constant yearning and devotion.
The Sleeping Beloved: The beloved is depicted as always asleep, perhaps symbolizing their obliviousness to the lover's passion or a deeper mystical state.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 101 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 101 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

O cupbearer, pour for me a drink of divine wine,
The wine that has never seen dust or water.

It's not my body that's sick, but my heart,
What is a potion or wine compared to the wine of your mouth?

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Divine Wine: The "wine" here is a metaphor for divine love or spiritual ecstasy. It's a pure and elevated substance, untouched by earthly impurities.
The Sick Heart: The poet's illness is not physical but spiritual. Their heart longs for the divine love represented by the "wine".
The Beloved's Mouth: The "wine of your mouth" refers to the beloved's words, kiss, or even their very being, which is seen as a source of spiritual nourishment.

New Taraneh Posted: Sarnevesht

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Sarnevesht

This lyric is a deeply philosophical and motivational reflection on life, individuality, and human potential. It emphasizes personal responsibility and the power of self-determination. The song suggests that the only barriers to achieving dreams are the ones we create ourselves, and that life is a mirror reflecting our inner being — a profound metaphor for self-awareness and accountability.

The lyric encourages resilience and courage, advocating for fighting one’s destiny rather than succumbing to despair. The line “fighting and losing is better than sitting and grieving” underscores the importance of action, even in the face of uncertainty or defeat.

A central theme is light versus darkness, symbolizing hope, enlightenment, and optimism. The lyric reminds us of our origins in light, rain, and mirrors — natural and pure elements — and warns against acclimating to darkness, which represents negativity or despair. It also calls for independent thinking, cautioning against blind obedience to others, reinforcing the song’s message of self-reliance and freedom.

Overall, this is an inspiring and empowering song that challenges listeners to embrace life with courage, reject passivity, and find their true selves amidst the trials and reflections of existence.

New Tale Posted: The King of Kilim Gosh

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The King of Kilim Gosh

Author's Note

This is a tale of jinn and fairies. We have documented other versions of this story as well. This particular version is included in Iranian Tales.

Legendary Creatures

The Fairy King's Daughter
Demon (Div)
Talking Lion and Mare
Giant Ants
Ear-Catcher (Gush-Gir)
Sludge-Eater (Lak-Lajankhor)
Cold-Catcher (Sarma-Khor)
Acrobat (Shalang-Andaz)
Stone-Castle (Ghaleh Sang-Andaz

New Hekayat Posted: Hekayat 40 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

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Hekayat 40 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

Not everyone who is skilled in argument is honest in dealing. Many a graceful figure hidden under a cloak, When unveiled, turns out to be an old woman.

New Hekayat Posted: Hekayat 39 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

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Hekayat 39 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

From a soulless body, no obedience will come, and a shell without a kernel has no worth.

New Hekayat Posted: Hekayat 38 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

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Hekayat 38 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

Do not reveal the hidden faults of others, for you will disgrace them and make yourself untrustworthy. Whoever studies knowledge but does not practice it is like someone who plows but does not sow.

New Hekayat Posted: Hekayat 37 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

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Hekayat 37 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

Whoever sits with the wicked, will see no good. If an angel sits with a devil, They will learn fear, deceit, and treachery. You will not learn goodness from the wicked, A wolf will never become a furrier.

New Hekayat Posted: Hekayat 36 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

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Hekayat 36 from Chapter 8 of Golestan of Saadi

Whoever debates with someone more knowledgeable than themselves, so that others may think they are wise, it becomes known that they are foolish. When a superior speaks, Even if you know, do not object.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 100 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 100 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatraint

My heart, in longing for you, is like a rebab,*
Every part of it is roasted by the fire of your love.

If my beloved is silent about my pain,
That silence itself is a hundred answers.

*Rebab is a stringed instrument, often associated with Sufi mystics. It is frequently used as a metaphor for the human heart, especially when it is filled with longing and emotion.

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Heart as a Musical Instrument: The heart is compared to a rebab, suggesting that it is filled with music, or in this case, the music of love and longing.
The Burning Heart: The image of the heart being "roasted" conveys the intensity of the lover's passion and the pain of separation.
The Silence of the Beloved: The beloved's silence is not necessarily a rejection but can be interpreted as a deeper form of communication.
The Power of Silence: The silence of the beloved is seen as a profound response, carrying multiple meanings.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 99 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 99 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

In my eye appeared the vision of that beloved,
In that moment when tears flowed rapidly.

I whispered to the ears of my eyes secretly,
'A dear guest is here, increase the wine.'

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Beloved's Image: The poet sees a vision of their beloved, causing intense emotion.
Tears of Joy: The tears are not necessarily tears of sadness, but rather of joy or ecstasy.
A Secret Plea: The poet addresses their eyes directly, asking them to produce more tears as a sign of their devotion and longing.
Wine as a Metaphor: The "wine" here symbolizes divine love or spiritual ecstasy.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 98 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi

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Quatrain 98 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

Know what this sound of the rebab is saying:
Come after me and find the way.

For through error, you will find the right path,
For through questioning, you will find the answer.

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Call of the Rebab: The "rebab" is a stringed instrument often associated with Sufi mystics. Here, its sound is a call to spiritual journey.
The Path to Truth: The poet suggests that the path to truth is often found through mistakes and questioning.
The Paradox of Seeking: The seeming contradiction of finding the right path through error and finding answers through questions highlights the paradoxical nature of spiritual seeking.