Influential Pearls of Wisdom Saadi Shirazi

 

 

The sons of Adam are limbs of each other,
Having been created of one essence.
When the calamity of time affects one limb
The other limbs cannot remain at rest.
If you have no sympathy for the troubles of others,
You are unworthy to be called by the name of a Human.

Saadi  Bani Adam’ Inscribed On United Nations Building Entrance

Dear Readers,

We are proud to bring you influential pearls of wisdom by 13th century Iranian poet Sa’adi. He is one of the major influential Persian poets of the medieval period. He is recognised in the literary world for the quality of his writing style and in the spiritual realm for the depth of his thoughts.

His poetry ‘Bani Adam’ Inscribed On United Nations Building Entrance.

In Persian:

بنی آدم اعضای یک پیکرند
که در آفرينش ز یک گوهرند
چو عضوى به درد آورد روزگار
دگر عضو ها را نماند قرار
تو کز محنت دیگران بی غمی
نشاید که نامت نهند آدمی

A simpler translation:

The sons of Adam are limbs of each other,
Having been created of one essence.
When the calamity of time affects one limb
The other limbs cannot remain at rest.
If you have no sympathy for the troubles of others,
You are unworthy to be called by the name of a Human.

 

Transliteration:

“Bani Aadam `aazaye yek pigarand
Keh dar aafarinesh ze yek guharand

Cho `ozvi be dard aavarad rozigaar
Degar ozvahaa raa namaanad qaraar

To kaz mehnate digaraan bi ghami
Nashaayad ke naamat nahand Aadami”

Rhyming translations by M. Aryanpoor:
     Human beings are members of a whole,
     In creation of one essence and soul.
     If one member is afflicted with pain,
     Other members uneasy will remain.
     If you’ve no sympathy for human pain,
     The name of human you cannot retain!

Translation by H. Vahid Dastjerdi:
     Adam’s sons are body limbs, to say;
     For they’re created of the same clay.
     Should one organ be troubled by pain,
     Others would suffer severe strain.
     Thou, careless of people’s suffering,
     Deserve not the name, “human being”.

Translation by Dr. Iraj Bashiri:
     Of One Essence is the Human Race,
     Thusly has Creation put the Base.
     One Limb impacted is sufficient,
     For all Others to feel the Mace.
     The Unconcern’d with Others’ Plight,
     Are but Brutes with Human Face.

We hope you’ll find his pearls of wisdom as inspiring as we do.

Kings and Dervishes.

Ten devishes can sleep beneath one blanket

Two kings cannot rein in one kingdom

“A traveller without observation is a bird without wings”

Saadi Shirazi, Iranian poet.

“Why should possessors of enjoyment and luck
Bear sorrow for fear of distress?
Go, be merry, my heart-rejoicing friend.
The pain of tomorrow must not be eaten today.” From The Effects of Education

“A liberal man who eats and bestows is better than a devote who fasts and hoards.”

From Rules for Conduct in Life

A Jewel in Dust

If a gem falls into mud, it will still remain valuable.

And if the dust descends to heaven, it will still of no value.

The Alchemist

The Alchemist dies in frustration and sorrow.

And the fool finds a treasure in a ruin.

Dry Wood

Green wood can be bent.

But once it becomes dry, it can only be straightened by fire.

The Pearl

A raindrop, dripping from a cloud.

Ashamed when it saw the see.

‘Who am I where is a sea’, it said.

As it saw itself, from the eyes of humility

A shell embraced him and makes him a pearl.

Vanity 

One who has vanity and conceit in his head

Imagine not that he will ever hear the truth

Safety and Riches.

Deep in the sea there are riches beyond your imagination

But if you seek safety, that is at the shore.

 

Heedless Man

One who gives advice to heedlessness is himself in need of an advice.