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The Bustan of Sadi, tr. by A. Hart Edwards, [1911], at sacred-texts.com


p. 5

CONTENTS

 

 

PAGE

Introduction

12

 

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

25

 

On the Reason for the Writing of the Book

27

 

Concerning Atabak Abu Bakr, Son of Sad

28

 

 

 

CHAP.

 

 

I.

Concerning Justice, Counsel, and the Administration of Government:

 

 

Nushiravan's Counsel to his Son

31

 

Discourse concerning Travellers

31

 

Story illustrating the Need for Deliberation

32

 

Story of the King whose Coat was Coarse

37

 

Story of Darius and the Herdsman

37

 

Story of Abdul Aziz and the Pearl

38

 

Story of how Tukla was rebuked by a Devotee

39

 

Discourse concerning Riches and Poverty

40

 

Story of Qazal Arsalan and the Fort

40

 

A Story of Damascus

41

 

Story of a Bully

43

 

 

 

II.

Concerning Benevolence:

 

 

Story illustrative of doing good to the Evil

45

 

Story concerning Fasting

45

 

p. 6

 

CHAP.

 

PAGE

 

Story illustrative of Practical Charity

46

 

Story of a Man and a Thirsty Dog

48

 

Story Apropos of Nemesis

49

 

Story of a Fool and a Fox

51

 

Story of a Devout Miser

52

 

Story of Hatim Tai

53

 

Story of Hatim and the Messenger sent to kill him

54

 

Story illustrative of misdirected kindness

57

 

Discourse concerning Kindness to Orphans

59

 

 

 

III.

Concerning Love:

 

 

Discourse concerning Constancy

61

 

Story of a Dancer

62

 

Story illustrating the Reality of Love

63

 

Story illustrative of Patience

63

 

Story of One who was Assiduous in Prayer

65

 

Story of Sultan Mahmud and his Love for Ayaz

65

 

Story of a Village Chief

67

 

Story of a Fire-fly

67

 

Story of a Moth and a Candle

68

 

Another Story on the same Subject

68

 

 

 

IV.

Concerning Humility:

 

 

Story of a Raindrop

70

 

Story illustrative of Pious Men regarding themselves with Contempt

71

 

Story of Sultan Bayazid Bustami

72

 

Discourse on Conceit

73

 

Story of the Darwesh and the Proud Cadi

74

 

Story of the Honey-seller

78

 

p. 7

 

CHAP.

 

PAGE

 

Story illustrating the Forbearance of Good Men

79

 

Story illustrating the Noble-mindedness of Men

79

 

Story of a Kind Master and his Disobedient Slave

80

 

Story of Maruf Karchi and the Sick Traveller

82

 

Story illustrating the Folly of the Ignoble

84

 

Story of One who had a Little Knowledge

85

 

Story illustrating the Humility of the Pious

85

 

Story illustrating the Value of Soft Words

86

 

Story illustrating the Wisdom of Feigning Deafness

87

 

Story illustrating Forbearance for the Sake of Friends

88

 

Story of Luqman, the Sage

89

 

 

 

V.

Concerning Resignation:

 

 

Story of a Soldier of Isfahan

91

 

Story of the Doctor and the Villager

94

 

Story of the Villager and his Ass

94

 

Story illustrating Luck

95

 

Story of One who blamed his Destiny

95

 

Story of a Darwesh and his Wife

96

 

Story of a Vulture and a Kite

97

 

Story of a Camel

98

 

Discourse concerning Hypocrisy

98

 

 

 

VI.

Concerning Contentment:

 

 

Story of the King of Khwarazm

101

 

Concerning the Evil of Over-eating

102

 

Story of a Glutton

103

 

Story of a Recluse

103

 

p. 8

 

CHAP.

 

PAGE

 

Story illustrating the Evils of Avarice

103

 

Story of an Ambitious Cat

104

 

Story of a short-sighted Man and his High-minded Wife

105

 

Story of a Holy Man who built a House

106

 

Story of a Sheikh who became King

107

 

Discourse concerning Riches

108

 

 

 

VII.

Concerning Education:

 

 

Discourse concerning the Excellence of Taciturnity

110

 

Story concerning the keeping of Secrets

111

 

Story illustrating the Fact that Silence is Best for Fools

112

 

Story illustrating the Folly of Impertinence

113

 

Discourse on Slander

114

 

Story concerning the same Subject

114

 

Why Thieving is better than Slandering

115

 

Sadi and his Envious Class-friend

115

 

Story of Sadi's Childhood

115

 

Story of a Sufi's Rebuke

117

 

Concerning Absent Friends

117

 

Where Slander is Lawful

118

 

Tale-bearers worse than Back-biters

118

 

Faridun and his Wise Vazier

119

 

Discourse concerning Wives

120

 

Discourse on the Training of Sons

121

 

Sadi rebuked for his Fault-finding

122

 

 

 

VIII.

Concerning Gratitude:

 

 

A Mother's Warning to her Son

125

 

Discourse concerning the Art of the Most High God

126

 

Discourse concerning the Condition of the Weak

127

 

p. 9

 

CHAP.

 

PAGE

 

Story of Tughral, King of Shiraz, and the Hindu Watchman

128

 

Story of a Thief

129

 

Story of One who was not what he seemed

130

 

Story of a Sage Donkey

130

 

Story illustrating the Evils of Pride

131

 

Story of Sadi and the Idolaters

131

 

 

 

IX.

Concerning Repentance:

 

 

An Old Man's Lament

136

 

Advice and Warning

138

 

Sadi's Rebuke from a Camel-driver

138

 

Story concerning Sorrow for the Dead

140

 

Story of a Pious Man and a Gold Brick

141

 

Admonition

143

 

Moral from an Incident in Sadi's Childhood

144

 

Story of a Man who reared a Wolf

144

 

Story of a Cheat

145

 

A Recollection of Childhood

146

 

Story of One who burned his Harvest

147

 

Discourse on Repentance

147

 

 

 

X.

Concerning Prayer:

 

 

A Worshipper's Lament

150

 

Story of an Idolater

151

Notes

153


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