Hekayat 10 from Chapter 7 of Golestan of Saadi

Posted on November 14, 2024 by @hamed 14 1

English Translation for Hekayat

A poor dervish’s wife was pregnant, and after years of longing, the dervish had still not been blessed with a child.

He vowed, “If God Almighty grants me a son, I will give everything I own to other dervishes, except for the cloak on my back.”

By chance, a son was born to him, and he spread a feast for the dervishes as he had promised.

Years later, when I returned from a journey to Syria, I passed through his neighborhood and inquired about his situation.

I was told, “He is in the governor’s prison.”

I asked why, and someone replied, “His son drank wine, caused an uproar, killed a man, and then escaped. Now, the father has been imprisoned in his place, with chains around his neck and heavy shackles on his feet.”

I remarked, “This calamity is one he had once prayed for!”

O wise man, beware of pregnant women:
Should they give birth to a snake,
That would be better in the eyes of the wise
Than bringing forth an unruly child.

متن حکایت

فقیره درویشی حامله بود، مدّت حمل بسر آورده و مر این درویش را همه عمر فرزند نیامده بود.

گفت: اگر خدای عز ّو جل مرا پسری دهد، جز این خرقه که پوشیده دارم هر چه در ملک من است ایثار درویشان کنم.

اتفاقاً پسر آورد و سفره درویشان به موجب شرط بنهاد.

پس از چند سالی که از سفر شام باز آمدم به محلت آن دوست برگذشتم و از چگونگی حالش خبر پرسیدم.

گفتند به زندان شحنه دَر است.

سبب پرسیدم.

کسی گفت: پسرش خمر خورده است و عربده کرده است و خون کسی ریخته و خود از میان گریخته، پدر را به علت او سلسله در نای است و بند گران بر پای.

گفتم: این بلا را به حاجت از خدای عزّ و جل خواسته است!

زنان باردار ای مرد هشیار

اگر وقت ولادت مار زایند

از آن بهتر به نزدیک خردمند

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hamed
@hamed Nov. 14, 2024, 7:12 p.m.

This Hekayat warns of the unintended consequences of desires and the possible sorrows that come with them, especially when one prays fervently for a child who later brings misfortune.