English
The Story of Atabak Takla
In the chronicles of the old kings there is a tale:
when Takla took the throne of Zangi
in all his reign he harmed no one.
If that were his only virtue, it would be enough to set him ahead.
One day he said to a wise and spiritual man:
'My life is passing by, and I have nothing to show for it.'
'I want to sit in a quiet corner and worship,
to make the most of these few brief days I have left.'
'Since rank and kingdom and throne all pass away,
none carries fortune out of this world except the humble poor.'
When the clear-souled sage heard this,
he flared up sharply and cried, 'Enough, Takla!'
'The true path is nothing but serving people;
it is not found in prayer beads, prayer mats, and patched cloaks.'
'Stay on your royal throne,
but carry the pure character of a dervish within you.'
'Gird yourself with sincerity and devotion;
hold your tongue from empty boasts and grand claims.'
'The path calls for action, not mere talk;
talk without steps taken has no substance.'
'The great ones who truly possessed purity
wore the dervish's cloak hidden beneath their robes.'