happiness

Chapavor abrehreer yehrchaneek yegheer

kef uhnogheen kef chee bahksheer

There is a story concerning Harun al Rashid [Abbasid caliph] who went around at nights disguised as a poor person to see what was going on in his capital, Baghdad. In one of these night journeys he encountered a poor person who would always party and have fun even though he didn’t have much. The story continues as Harun tries to make him more miserable to see whether his joy will continue, and since it does, Harun rewards him in the end.

Ahmen mehg yerchangoutioun eer shalagin vrrah guh grrheh eer tuhzpaghdoutioun

There was a hopeful youth who was questioned by a wise man about marriage.

Wise man: “What kind of wife will you marry?
Youth: I want to find a virgin,
Wise man: A virgin is like a half ripe walnut. You’ll never be sure what she will be like later.
Youth: Then I’ll find a woman who was married before.
Wise man: A widowed woman’s love is like milk without cream.
Youth: I’ll look for an intelligent woman who is good at conversation.
Wise man: It’s better to find someone who knows the value of silence.
Youth: Actually I want a thin, attractive woman.
Wise man: It is difficult to keep a woman who is desired by many others who quickly are attracted to her.
Youth: Then I’ll try to find an ugly woman with a good heart.
Wise man: You will quickly become bored with someone who is not attractive to others.
Youth: I’ll find a rich woman.
Wise man: Rich women have domineering attitude. They are never generous with their love or their money.
Youth: Perhaps I should find a poor girl who will dedicate her love to me.
Wise man: Poverty accustoms one to sadness. An empty dish cools one’s passions.
Youth: It is said that a woman who lovse to have children has a good heart. I’ll find a woman who wants to mother children.
Wise man: Children sometimes think their father is an imbecile and try to steal all the wealth of the father.
Youth: Then I’ll find a woman who is not able to have children.
Wise man: What value is a tree without fruit? The shade of such a tree is only pleasing during the summer.
Youth: I have concluded from your advice that marriage is always troublesome. I don’t want a woman. I’ll remain a bachelor.
Wise man: An unmarried man is like a house without a roof or a day without sunlight. I answered your questions frankly, however, you should know that

Every type of happiness is accompanied by suffering.

Ahnmen mehg yerchangoutioun eer shalagin vrrah guh grrheh eer tuhzpaghdoutioun

There was a hopeful youth who was questioned by a wise man about marriage.

Wise man: “What kind of wife will you marry?+
Youth: I want to find a virgin,

Wise man: A virgin is like a half ripe walnut. You’ll never be sure what she will be like later.
Youth: Then I’ll find a woman who was married before.

Wise man: A widowed woman’s love is like milk without cream.
Youth: I’ll look for an intelligent woman who is good at conversation.

Wise man: It’s better to find someone who knows the value of silence.
Youth: Actually I want a thin, attractive woman.

Wise man: It is difficult to keep a woman who is desired by many others who quickly are attracted to her.

Youth: Then I’ll try to find an ugly woman with a good heart.
Wise man: You will quickly become bored with someone who is not attractive to others.

Youth: I’ll find a rich woman.
Wise man: Rich women have domineering attitude. They are never generous with their love or their money.

Youth: Perhaps I should find a poor girl who will dedicate her love to me.
Wise man: Poverty accustoms one to sadness. An empty dish cools one’s passions.

Youth: It is said that a woman who loves to have children has a good heart. I’ll find a woman who wants to mother children.

Wise man: Children sometimes think their father is an imbecile and try to steal all the wealth of the father.
Youth: Then I’ll find a woman who is not able to have children.
Wise man: What value is a tree without fruit? The shade of such a tree is only pleasing during the summer.

Youth: I have concluded from your advice that marriage is always troublesome. I don’t want a woman. I’ll remain a bachelor.

Wise man: An unmarried man is like a house without a roof or a day without sunlight. I answered your questions frankly, however, you should know that “Every type of happiness is accompanied by suffering.”