Bustan or Fragrances Garden

بوستان‎‎ — سعدی

By Saadi, G. S. Davie (Tr.). Distributor: Lulu. $29.99. 322 pages. Paperback CQ. 2016 (1882).

The Bustan of Saadi is perhaps the best-known poem of its general kind in Persian literature and stand unique in many ways.  It is a moralistic and anecdotal verse work divided into ten sections covering ten themes of code of behavior. These themes combine realistic and pragmatic with the mystical and high-minded. It is in essence part of the Sufi esoteric tradition. Their respective contents cover; 1. Justice and good judgement; 2. Beneficence; 3. Love, 4. Humility; 5. Acceptance; 6. Contentment; 7. World of edification; 8. Gratitude; 9. Repentance; and 10. Close communion (with a higher spirit).

This work, together with Saadi’s Gulistan, provides a stepping stone in exploring moral values in Persian literature and Sufism. They are also fundamental works to evaluate Islam teachings in the context of tolerance and understanding.  This last approach should be completed with the exploration of the work of Lessing’s Nathan the Wise which is an invitation towards harmony between Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

Contents

• Notice by Eric Serejski
• Preface
• Brief sketch of the life of Saadi.
• Introduction.
  • (I Begin.)
  • Praise of the Chief of Created Beings (Mohămed). (On him be excellence and peace.)
  • The Reason for Composing the Book.
  • In praise of Atabik-Abū-Băkăr-Bin-Sád-Zangi. (May the earth lie light upon him!)
  • Praise of the Prince of Islam, Sád-Bin-Abū-Băkăr-Bin-Sád.
  • Chapter I. On justice, wisdom, and government.
  • [On justice, wisdom, and government.]
  • Story (of Saadi seeing a man riding on a leopard).
  • Kasra’s Advice to Harmūz.
  • Khusrau’s Advice to Sherōya.
  • Story (of the merchant and robbers).
  • Story (of Shapūr).
  • Story (on practising delay in punishment).
  • Story. (Satan appears to a man in a dream.)
  • Story (on mercy to the weak).
  • Story (on sympathy for subjects).
  • Story (about Jamshéd).
  • Story (about Darius and his housekeeper).
  • Story (on hearing complaints).
  • Story (of a king of Babylon and the beggar).
  • Story (of Ibn-Abdul-Azīz, and his signet ring).
  • Song.
  • Story (of Atárak Tukla, Son of Sád Zangi).
  • Story (of the Sultan of Rum).
  • Story (of a Syrian Recluse).
  • Story (on oppressing the weak).
  • Story (on kindness to the poor when you have plenty).
  • Story (on concern for others).
  • Discourse (on oppression).
  • Story (of the two royal brothers one just, the other tyrannical).
  • Story (on oppression).
  • Story (on the happy times of the contented poor).
  • Story (on the transitoriness of greatness).
  • On Doing Good and Evil, and the Result.
  • Story (of an oppressing chief).
  • Story (of Hajāj and the righteous man).
  • Story (on oppression).
  • Remarks (on the responsibility of rulers).
  • Story (of the king afflicted with tapeworm).
  • On the Transitoriness of the World.
  • Story (of an Egyptian king).
  • Story (of Kízil-Arslān and his fort).
  • Story of a Madman. (His remarks.)
  • Story (of Kizil-Arsălān’s father).
  • Story on Oppression. (The tyrannical king and the villager.)
  • Story (of Māmūn and his slave).
  • The Fakīr and the King.
  • Story (of a hard-up pugilist).
  • Story (of an oppressor).
  • Remarks (on dealing with enemies).
  • Remarks (on cherishing the army).
  • Remarks (on the selection of troops and leaders).
  • On Bravery.
  • On Cherishing the Army.
  • On being always Prepared for an Enemy.
  • Remarks (on plotting and mutual quarrels).
  • On aiming at Peace while engaged in War.
  • On the Treatment of a Foe who has become friendly.
• Chapter II. On beneficence.
  • [On beneficence.]
  • Story (on the cherishing of orphans and showing mercy on their condition).
  • Story (on the fruits of well-doing).
  • Story on the Nature of Prophets. (Abraham and the fire- worshipper.)
  • On Well-doing.
  • Story (of the holy man and the impudent poet).
  • Story (of the miserly father and the generous son).
  • Maxims and Remarks.
  • Continuation of the Story of the Miser’s Son.
  • Story (on showing kindness to neighbours)
  • Story (of the pilgrim to mecca).
  • Story (on fasting).
  • Story (of the kind poor man and the debtor).
  • Story (on the meaning of kindness).
  • Story (of the dervish and the rich man).
  • Story (of Shibli and the ant).
  • Remarks (on generosity).
  • Story on Gaining Hearts by Kindness. (The boy and the sheep.)
  • Story of the Dervish and the Fox.
  • Story (of a miserly servant of God).
  • Story (of Hātim Tai and his generosity).
  • The Testing of Hātim Tai’s Generosity by the King of Yemen. (Hātim Tai and the assassin.)
  • Story of Hātim’s Daughter in the Time of the Prophet. (On him be safety!)
  • On the Generosity of Hātim, and Praise of the King of Islam, (Hātim Tai and his wife.)
  • On the Sympathy of Kings. (The king, and the peasant and his ass.)
  • Story (of the rich man and the noble poor man).
  • On the Comforting of People till they arrive among the Pious.
  • Story (of the man and his lost son).
  • Story (of the prince’s crown jewel).
  • Story (of a miserly father and his prodigal son).
  • On the Beneficial Results of a Small Favour.
  • Story (on the fruits of well-doing).
  • Remarks (on the fear of kings and the government of a country).
  • On Kindness to the Unworthy.
  • Remarks (on foresight and providence).
• Chapter III. On love.
  • [On love.]
  • On the Power of True and Metaphorical Love.
  • Story (of the beggar’s son and the king’s son).
  • Story (on the frailty of lovers).
  • Story (on the occupation of lovers).
  • Story (on the power of ecstacy and empire of love).
  • On Lovers Sacrificing Themselves and Considering Destruction a Boon.
  • On the Patience and Firmness of the Godly.
  • Story (on a true searcher persevering under oppression).
  • Story (of the sage and his son).
  • Story (of patience under oppression).
  • Story (of the slave’s remarks).
  • Story on Preferring the Pain to the Cure for the Sake of the Friend. (The patient and the doctor.)
  • Story (on the domination of love over wisdom).
  • Story (of the young married cousins).
  • Story (of the reply of the maniac).
  • On the Sincerity of Majnūn’s Love for Laila.
  • On Sultan Mahmūd and Ayāz.
  • Story (of the saint and the ferry-boat).
  • On the Frailty of Creatures and the Grandeur of God. (May his name be glorified!)
  • Story (of the villager and the army of the sultan).
  • Story (of the glowworm).
  • Story of the Wise Man and Atábak-Sád Bin-Zangi. (May the favour of god be on him.)
  • Story (of a duty-knowing man).
  • Story (of an abstinent, pious man).
  • On the Ecstasy of Pious People, and its Truth and Folly.
  • Story (of the flute-player).
  • Story (of the moth and the candle).
  • Conversation between the Candle and the Moth.
• Chapter IV. On humility.
  • [On humility.]
  • Story (of the pearl).
  • On Men of God viewing Themselves with Contempt
  • On the Humility of Bayazīd.
  • On Pride and its Result, and Sadness and its Blessing.
  • Story (of Jesus—on him be safety!—and the Pharisee).
  • Story (of the poor theologian and the proud Cāzi).
  • Story (on the repentance of the prince of Gunja).
  • Story (of a honey seller).
  • Story (on the humility of good men).
  • Story (on magnanimity).
  • Story (of a beneficent master and his stubborn slave).
  • Story (of Marūf-Karkhi and the sick traveller).
  • Story (on the meanness of the worthless and the forbearance of the worthy).
  • On the Impudence of Dervishes and the Clemency of Kings.
  • Story (on the disappointment of the conceited).
  • Story (on gratitude for safety).
  • Story (on the humility and supplication of upright men).
  • Story (on the deafness of Hatim and the humility of his nature).
  • Story (of the pious man and the thief).
  • Story (on an enemy oppressing a friend).
  • Story (of Bahlūl and the grumbler).
  • Story (of Lukmān, the doctor, and the native of Baghdād).
  • Story (of Junaid of Baghdād, and the humility of his nature).
  • Story (of the holy man and the harper).
  • Story (on the patience of men under the oppression of cowards).
  • Story of All, the Commander of the Faithful. (May god reward him and the humility of his nature!)
  • Story of Omar, Commander of the Faithful. (May god reward him!)
  • Story (of the good man seen in a dream).
  • Story of Zunūn of Egypt. (On him be mercy!)
• Chapter V. On resignation.
  • [On resignation.]
  • On Patience, Resignation, and Submission to the Decrees of Fate.
  • Story (of a bold soldier).
  • Story (of the archer and the youth clothed in felt).
  • Story (of the physician and the peasant).
  • Story (of the ass’s skull).
  • Story (of the lost dinār).
  • Story (of the father chastising his son).
  • Story (of the beggar and his wife).
  • Story (of the poor man and his ugly wife).
  • Story (of the vulture and the kite).
  • Story (of the gold-cloth weaver’s apprentice).
  • Story (of the camel and her colt).
  • Remarks (on sincerity and its blessing, and on hypocrisy and its calamity).
  • Story (of the mountain monk).
  • Story (of a child who kept a fast).
• Chapter VI. On contentment.
  • [On contentment.]
  • Story (of the Hāji’s ivory comb).
  • Story (of the covetous man and his son).
  • Story (of the pious sick man).
  • Story (on the depravity of gluttons).
  • Story (of the Sūfi and his dinars).
  • Story (of the holy man and the sugar-cane).
  • Story (of the wise man and the Ameer’s gift).
  • Story (of the man at the king’s table).
  • Story (of the old woman’s cat).
  • Story (of the short-sighted man and the woman of noble spirit).
  • Story (of the usurer and his son).
  • Story (of the good man and his house).
  • Story (of the holy man who became king).
  • Remarks (on patience in weakness and hope of better days).
  • Story (on repose after difficulty).
• Chapter VII. On training and instruction.
  • [On training and instruction.]
  • On the Excellence of Silence and the Sweetness of Self-denial.
  • On Keeping Secrets.
  • On the Impunity of the Ignorant under the Screen of Silence.
  • Story (on the effects of impertinence).
  • Story (of King Azd and his sick son).
  • Story (of the scholar and the minstrel’s harp).
  • An Example.
  • On the Comfort of Silence and the Misfortune of Garrulity.
  • On the Advantage of Screening.
  • Story (about evil speaking).
  • Story (of Sahāb’s advice to Saadi).
  • Story (on backbiting).
  • Story (on backbiting and robbery).
  • Story (of Saadi and his tutor).
  • Story (of the tyrant Hajāj)
  • Story (of the holy man and the youth).
  • Story (on purification before prayer).
  • Story (of the slanderer’s reproof).
  • Story (of the madman and backbiting).
  • Story (on persons you may backbite).
  • Story (of the robber and the grocer).
  • Story (of the Sūfi and the slanderer).
  • Story (on Faridūn Vizier).
  • Story (on the qualities of a good wife).
  • Story (of the husband and wife).
  • On the Instruction of Children.
  • Story (of a convivial party).
  • Remarks (on avoiding improper attachments).
  • Story (of the merchant and his slave).
  • Story (of the youth and his saintly admirers).
  • Story (of the saint in love).
  • On the Ill-natured Remarks of Worldly People.
  • Story (of the slave boy and his remarks).
  • Story (on fault-finding).
• Chapter VIII. On thanks.
  • [On thanks.]
  • Story (of the mother and her son).
  • Story (of the King and the Greek physician).
  • Remarks on Viewing the Works of God, the Most High.
  • Story (on making a good use of the tongue).
  • On Inquiring into the State of the Weak, and Thanking God for His Favours.
  • Story (of sultan Toghrál and the slave guard).
  • Story (of the two prisoners).
  • Story (of the poor man and his skin coat).
  • Story (of a saint mistaken for a Jew).
  • Story (of the wretched man and the ass).
  • Story (of the Pharisee and the drunkard).
  • On the Pious Looking to God, not to Reasons.
  • Discourse on the Pre-eminence of God’s Orders and Providence.
  • Story (of Saadi’s journey to Hindūstān and the depravity of idolatry).
• Chapter IX. On penitence.
  • [On penitence.]
  • Story (of the old man regretting the time of his youth).
  • Story (on advancing age).
  • On Esteeming as a Boon the Strength of Youth previous to the Weakness of Old Age.
  • Story (on making the most of time).
  • Story (on preparing for death).
  • Story (of Jamshéd and his deceased mistress).
  • Story (on the world going on without us).
  • Story (of the pious man and his brick of gold).
  • Story (on enmity between two persons).
  • Story (of a father and daughter).
  • Admonition and Advice.
  • Story (on the time of childhood).
  • Story (of the man and the wolf).
  • Story (of the rebellious subject).
  • Story (of the fraudulent man and the devil).
  • Story (of the polluted man and the mosque).
  • Story (on the dependence of children).
  • Story (of a drunken harvest-burner).
  • Story (on forgetfulness of the presence of god).
  • Story (of Joseph and Zulaikha).
  • Story (of the cat and its filth).
  • Story (on the consequences of evil-doing).
  • Story (on penitence averting punishment).
  • Story (on the death of Saadi’s son).
• Chapter X. On prayer.
  • [On prayer.]
  • Story (on the madman’s prayer, with remarks).
  • Story (of the ugly man’s astonishing reply).
  • Story (of the poor dervish).
  • Story (of the idolater and the idol).
  • Story (of the drunkard at the mosque).
• References.
  • Bibliography – Saadi (According to Ross).
  • Bibliography – Saadi, Translations.