The Priest Questions Khosrow

There was an old hero, seasoned in speech, grown wise with years in both word and deed. From the hero's book he tells us this: the priest once questioned King Nushirvan. What is it that a worshipper asks of the Maker of the world, in secret, and that wish is answered, and good fortune settles on the reply? One man lifts his hands toward the sky and begs from the Maker of the world, yet begging brings him none of his desires; his eyes fill with tears, his face with wrinkles. Thus the victorious king answered the priest: ask of God only within measure, for the heart fills with blood over a wish that reaches beyond all reasonable bounds. He asked: whom does goodness suit, and what best graces a great name? He answered thus: whoever finds a treasure lying scattered, gained without effort, and does not give, is unworthy of the throne; in time his fortune will darken. A man is great through wealth and giving both; if you hold treasure and do not give, it is no good. He asked him: what is the foundation of wisdom? Who is glad in wisdom's branch and leaf? He answered thus: the wise man is glad, and so is he who keeps modesty in his nature. He asked: for whom is knowledge useful, and who is without knowledge yet unharmed? He answered thus: whoever nurtures wisdom is nurturing his very soul. From an abundance of wisdom comes benefit, while the witless one lives always in harm. He said: is knowledge better than a king's glory, since glory and greatness adorn the throne? He answered thus: the wise man, through his glory, takes the whole world entirely under his wing. You need wisdom, a good name, glory, and noble birth; by these four the heavens will remember you. Then he asked: who is worthy of the throne, and whose fortune is joyless? He answered thus: first one must seek support from the king who rules the world. Next, generosity, knowledge, and the ways of the court, with a heart full of mercy toward those who seek justice. Sixth, that he grant leadership to one who deserves such high place. Seventh, that of good and evil in the world no words remain hidden from him. When he has glory, wisdom, faith, and fortune, he is worthy of the crown and graces the throne. Eighth, that he tell an enemy from a friend; to do no harm becomes a king well. No ugly name will remain after his death, and in the end he will find the joyful paradise. He questioned him about justice and pettiness, about goodness and about evil-doers. He answered thus: greed and want are two demons, base in nature and hard to satisfy. Whoever craves more and more, the demon in him returns to its old nature. And if out of suffering he chooses meanness, he hoards treasure buried in this dust. He is like a wretched, stubborn demon, for both slide back toward the same disposition. He asked: how many are these things, and what are they, some of which are worth weeping over? And another share is treasure, crown, and fame; by one we are made wretched, by the other content. He answered thus: the wise man measures his words, and lays a foundation for his thought. First, useful speech: he calls it a sweet voice that brings no harm. Second, seeking measure in one's words: the speaker adorns himself with a discerning heart. That he speaks only as much as serves a purpose, and leaves a memorial of it in the world. Third, the speaker who seeks the right moment keeps his honor bright all year long. Fourth, what the wise and graceful call the speaker: they call him a man of good counsel. One who speaks his tale whole and coherent, whether the story is new or old. Fifth, the speaker who is warm, with sweet words and a gentle voice. When you weave your words one into another, you surely gain your heart's desire from them. He asked: how much have you learned, and how have you lit your soul with knowledge? He said: from everyone I learned, I paid off the whole debt of soul and reason. I keep asking even the unworthy for words; tell me, when does knowledge ever reach its end? Look to knowledge and stay far from sin, for knowledge is dearer than crown and throne. He asked: I have seen no praise or glory come to anyone from learning. Yet one must still listen to the wise; I will not name anyone who rose to greatness by it. He answered thus: who ever grows sated with treasure, unless the dust brings him low at last? Knowledge is more famous than any treasure, and dearer in the eyes of the wise. Our words remain behind us as a memorial; do not weigh treasure equal to knowledge. He asked: can an old man become wise, if there is teaching and he takes it in? He answered thus: for the wise old man, knowledge is an unavoidable youth. For the fool, a chosen youth is fitting, though without his grave his dust is destitute. He asked: those who sat on the throne of kings, who once ruled the whole world, Now we recall their names no more; from a grieving heart we bring only a cold sigh. He answered thus: it was never in my heart that such a custom deserved any praise. To hold this world by sword and justice, then to depart like this and leave it in contempt. The elder asked: before this, with everyone you spoke more freely, famous king. Now you hold your tongue lightly and say nothing, neither of new times nor of old. He answered: enough of talk; I seek to reach everything through deeds. The elder asked: at the hour of prayer, the old kings never lingered as long as this. Your praise of God is greater than theirs, your cries and worship more than theirs. He answered: it is the pure God who lifts a worshipper's head from the dust. He makes the heavens turn; he makes the whole world His servant. If this servant fails to know that worth, may he never be free of pain and hardship. The elder asked: since you became king, what more do you owe the Creator in thanks? For your knowledge has grown, while the hearts of the malicious are filled with blood. He answered: my thanks to the Creator are that we rose to power in our time, That no one sought advantage over me by force, and my voice washed the hand of evil clean. The enemy grew feeble in battle with me when he saw my mace and my throne. The elder asked: in the eastern war you were so fierce of claw and so brave, But when you set out to war in the west, you dressed yourself in patience and delay. He answered: a young man gives no thought to suffering or to the pain of the soul. But whenever one's years reach sixty, one must sit down with gentleness. Thanks to the world's Lord and Sustainer, from whom come the good and bad of our days, That in the days of youth we had skill, and slighted neither good nor evil. Now in the days of age we act with wisdom, with judgment, with wealth, and with generosity. The world lies under our rule and culture; the turning sky is the armor of our war. He said to him: the kings of old drew out their words, both open and secret. Your words are fewer and your justice greater; you hold more than the famous ones before. He answered: any king who has the Lord as his friend, Spares his own body no toil or pain, whoever has become the world's guardian. The elder asked: the king was once light of heart; in these days I find him full of thought. He answered: the wise never let fear of harm rest in their hearts. He said to him: the kings of old did not carry their lives from feasting to war in equal measure. He answered: over the wine cup they never once recalled their name in their hearts. For me, my good name has won out over the cup, and my soul has come to accept its time. Someone asked: those kings who existed, they guarded their own bodies with care, with medicines and cures and a doctor's work, so that no tears would ever need to fall. He answered: the body has its fixed hour that comes with the turning of the sky; when that hour holds, medicine is useless; the turning of time will still keep it safe. But once the time to leave has arrived, no caution can turn fate back. Someone asked: they praise so much, they offer worship to the world's Creator, yet not for a moment is one happy in it; the soul is always burdened with worry. He answered: this is no cause for worry; a king's heart is one with the turning wheel of heaven. I fear that anyone who praises me may only be worshiping out of dread of me; praise should never exceed what is real, and we should not pry into a subject's secret heart. He asked him: what is the joy in having a child? What are these longings that come from kinship? He answered: whoever leaves the world to a child will not vanish from memory. When a man has a child, life gains its flavor, and for that flavor he keeps far from sin. And when he dies, his grief is lighter, for his child will still gaze upon his pale face. He asked: for whom is the world an easy place, and why does one regret a good deed done? He answered: the one who worships God takes the reins of time into his hand. He seeks no excess and finds his ease; but whoever plots for more grows fearful. As for what you said about a good deed, keep your heart and soul hidden in the market of goodness. Know this: the most wretched person in the world is one who does kindness to an ingrate. Someone asked: the man who did evil and died, has his name been erased from the world's records? And whoever does good and passes on, time still counts each of his breaths. Why should we praise goodness at all, when death comes and reaps both good and evil alike? He answered: a good deed will find a good market everywhere. The man of good deeds has not truly died; he has found rest and given his soul back to God. But as for the one who leaves behind an evil name, he was evil from the start and evil at the end. No peace comes to anyone left behind by such a man, whose bad name lingers in the world. He asked: what matter is greater than death? And if there is one, how do we prepare for it? He answered: if you pass beyond this dark earth, you will have gained a pure soul. Whoever lived in fear and sorrow, that life is one to weep over bitterly. He asked: which of these two is the heavier, that leaves us so full of pain and joyless? He answered: count nothing as heavy as a mountain except sorrow, for it wears the soul down. What fear is there, if not the fear of grief? In this world nothing but sorrow is unbearable. He asked: who among us is the richest? He said: the one who carries the least pain. He asked: who is the ugly one, far from honor and far from paradise? He answered: the woman who has no modesty in this world, nor a gentle voice. And worse than any man is the one who is ignorant; his whole life passes as if in prison. He claims faith in God yet his body is full of sin; he has blackened his own heart with evil. He asked: which person is truly upright, one whose life and reason bear witness to his heart? He said: the one who, whether it profits or harms him, never speaks falsely nor sets out to do wrong. He asked: which trait is finest, the one that sits like a crown on people's heads? He answered: when a man is patient, no trickery works against him. Not the one who acts only for gain, even if he claims a lofty purpose. Second, generosity that seeks no reward for its giving: it gives freely and washes darkness from the heart. Third, a godly diligence that springs from a pure soul and from wisdom. He asked: what most fills the heart with dread? He said: your own suffering and your own deeds. He asked: which kind of giving is best, that makes the giver noble and great? He answered: from those who deserve it, withhold neither profit nor loss, hold nothing back. The wise man then asked about the ways of the world, opening the subject, both its plain and its hidden sides. He said: I see its order crooked and displeasing, and the turning of its affairs bearing no fruit. He answered: from this ancient wheel of fate, if you are wise and take a lesson, know that God is great, all-knowing, and supreme, the judge over every judge in the world. Do not follow evil ways; keep clear of mere approval; do not measure the world by its profit or loss. Know good and evil both come from Him, who has no partner; His work has neither beginning nor end. When He says 'be,' whatever He says exists; He alone was as long as there was time, and is as long as there is. He asked: who suffers the pain of illness, since the body is like a house and the soul only its guest? He answered: this frail shell of skin suffers only as long as there is life within it. Once the soul has left it, reason knows it belongs to the dust when the soul passes on. The wise man asked about restraint, and said: from whom should greed and need be hidden? He answered: greed and need are things the wise should never let take hold of them. Because of greed you will always be in pain, for no treasure will ever leave you satisfied. He asked: among all kings, who stands first in wisdom, in conduct, in judgment and faith? This was his answer: the ruler who is devout and pure of heart. He is grateful to the Creator who sustains all, and no one lives in dread of harm from him. He fills the good man's heart with hope, and the wrongdoer's heart with fear and pain. He equips his army from his own treasure, and throws all his effort against those who mean ill. He seeks counsel from the wise of the world, and keeps his good and bad plans hidden from the enemy. He asked: what is the purpose of worship, and who is it that truly turns toward God's goodness? This was his answer: a dark nature drives the soul into fine, thread-thin dangers. First, one must know that God exists and is one; by this sign, your guidance is small until you grasp it. From Him he receives thanks for good deeds; in Him he finds safety, and of Him he is in awe. You fear Him only when you seek to do harm; how can safety from Him be anything but a blessing? If you are good-hearted and seek the right path, you will keep your honor before everyone. But if you are a wrongdoer and vile of body, you have already packed your bags for hell. Never grow too bold with this world, for it keeps its own secret hidden from you. Lean toward the practice of faith, and hold this life in high regard. Make wisdom the teacher of your heart, and strive not to be deceived by fate. Do not become known as a sinful man, nor stand in the marketplace of shame and strife. You must not hide in your heart a grief for the next world traded for this one. Sit always in the company of the wise, inclining toward everlasting peace. Lean toward learning and good judgment; let wisdom before God be your guide. Do not speak beyond due measure, for you are new to a work, and the world is old. Do not let music and song leave you drunk, and keep no company with wicked people. Turn your heart from all that cannot be, and forgive whatever deserves forgiveness. Withhold nothing you have from a friend, whether he asks your eyes, or your very flesh and bone. If friend settles accounts with friend, there should be no need for a go-between. When you sit with a man who wishes you ill, act so that he can never get the upper hand on you. When someone seeks the path of worthiness, he needs skill, modesty, and merit. Let no tongue outrun true skill; a just man does not count lying as a skill. One should not measure greatness by wealth, nor look down on anyone for having little. If a suspicious man lets his tongue loose, do not answer his mistrust with harshness. Then, if someone lets their reasoning slip and their words wander past all measure, answer them with balance; speak with warmth and freshness. If out of shame you turn the matter back upon yourself, regret will come to you in the end. When you have no task at hand, do not give yourself to idle pleasure; for the wise, doing nothing is no way to live. No kind of work should shame you, even if it carries no glamour or fine appearance. Be diligent for good in everything, and always keep your ear open to knowledge. Do not reach for any deed whose outcome brings regret and harshness to your face. Show mercy from the heart to the suffering, and let your heart never lean toward pain or injury. The wise one who makes their heart patient will never be small in the ruler's eyes. Such a person knows the measure of their own skill, and gains from each task exactly what it is worth. If a friend praises them beyond their due, it only feeds their pride and crookedness. God does not burden such a person with hardship, even if their store of wealth is scattered and spent. They make honesty their craft and cling to it, turning away from wrong paths and deceit. It is toward this fruit and these branches that the skilled, faithful, God fearing one reaches out. This is the wisdom, and this is the way: incline toward God and take refuge in God. If a king rules with justice, his memory will live on in the world. Just as the justice of Anushirvan endured: though he turned to dust, his name stayed forever young.