COUNSELS OF NAUSHERWAN-E-ADIL
King Nausherwan-e-Adil was born at Ardestan (c.512-514 ). He
is called by several names, one of them being Khusrau, which means ‘of good
deeds’ or ‘of immortal soul.’ He is also
known as the Sasanian King of Kings of Iran from 531-579.
‘Adil” is a Persian word synonymous
with “just, fair, equitable, etc.”. Nausheerwan is described as an unbiased ruler whose fair sense of justice caused
personal tragedy when his own son cheated a woman and as a father, he had to
deliver the justice.
According to some historians
Nausherwan (also called Khusrow I) was one of the most celebrated kings. His
reforms were pro-people and the tax reforms which he introduced were also adopted by a number of successors.
The counsels , a sample of which is
given below, were taught by Nausherwan to his son. They are available in The Qabus Nama,
also called A Mirror for Princes, by
Kai Ka’us Ibn Iskandar. To quote the distinguished translator , Reuben Levy, Professor of Persian at
Cambridge, who translated this book from Persian into English (Cresset Press:
London:1951), the Qabus Nama is a guide intended to warn Kai Ka’us’s son against the pitfalls on life’s journey. In
essence it combines the functions of popular educator, manual of political
conduct and text book of ethics, with expedience as its motive.
Qabus Nama is divided into fortyfour
chapters bearing such titles as On
Knowing God, On Showing Gratitude to Parents, the Good and Bad in Speech, Age
and Youth, The Etiquette of Eating, On Romantic Passion, Sleep and Rest, Pardon
and Punishment, etc.
‘The Counsels of Nusherwan the Just to His son’ is one
of the best chapters. The counsels mentioned therein are evergreen. They
haven’t become stale even after a
passage of about fifteen centuries .
A
BRIEF SAMPLE OF COUNSELS
1.How is it
that men commit actions of which they afterwards repent, although others before
them have done them and repented.
2.Form no
friendship with men lacking merit, for such men are worthy neither of
friendship nor of enmity.
3. Beware of
the man who deems himself wise but is in actual fact a fool.
4. Speak the
truth though it be bitter, and if you desire your enemy not to become possessed
of your secret do not reveal it to your friend.
5. The great
man who looks upon himself as small is indeed the great man of his age.
6. If you
desire men to speak well of you, then do you speak well of your fellowmen.
7. If you
desire to remain free of unhappiness, be not envious.
8. If you
desire to command men’s respect, then exercise justice.
9. If you
desire to be amongst the great, then see yourself in the mirror of other men.
10. If you desire to be a man of justice, be generous
as far as lies in your power towards them that are subordinate to you; and if
you desire your heart never to be stricken a blow which no remedy can heal,
never engage in argument with fools.
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30th
November 2021 G.R.
Kanwal
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