Qasida · 11th century

The Pearl in the Shell

Naser Khosrowناصرخسرو

مرا گوئی «اگر دانا و حری

You say to me, ‘If you are wise and free,

به یمگان چون نشینی خوار و بی یار؟»

why do you sit in Yumgan, lowly and friendless?’

به زنهار خدایم من به یمگان

I am in Yumgan under God's protection:

نکو بنگر، گرفتارم مپندار

look well, and do not think me a captive.

نگوید کس که سیم و گوهر و لعل

No one says that silver, jewels and rubies

به سنگ اندر گرفتارند یا خوار

are captive, or held cheap, inside the stone.

اگر خوار است و بی‌مقدار یمگان

If Yumgan is lowly and of no account,

مرا اینجا بسی عز است و مقدار

here I have great honour and worth.

اگرچه مار خوار و ناستوده است

Though the snake is lowly and unpraised,

عزیز است و ستوده مهره مار

the snake-stone is precious and praised.

نشد بی‌قدر و قیمت سوی مردم

The royal pearl has not lost its worth in people's eyes

ز بی قدری صدف لولوی شهوار

because the shell is worth nothing.

گل خوشبوی پاکیزه است اگر چند

The fragrant rose is pure, although

نروید جز که در سرگین و شد یار

it grows nowhere but in dung and ploughed earth.

From: The Divan of Naser Khosrow
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

Naser Khosrow answers those who mock him for living in the obscurity of Yumgan, his place of exile in the mountains of Badakhshan. A string of images makes the case: precious stones lie inside rock, the 'snake-stone' (a stone believed to be found in snakes and to cure poison) is prized though snakes are not, and the pearl does not lose its worth because of its shell. The excerpt gives couplets 4 to 10.