XXVIII: The world's affairs have all become turned upside…

The world's affairs have all become turned upside down:
All those ways are not now, as they used to be seen by me.

Towards the father, the son showeth the actions of an enemy:
Towards the mother, the daughters are ready to act like rival wives.

In thine own house, there will not be two brothers together dwelling,
Who have not a thousand iniquities ready in their hearts.

The scavenger now feasteth on pulao, and rice, and sweetmeats;
And unclean things are become lawful, for Muhammad's descendants.

The honoured and trusted of kings are now mere thieves become;
And in their royal courts, highway-robbers are grown trustworthy men.

The nightingales and the parrots fly about the wilds, astounded;
And crows and ravens caw and croak above the beds of flowers.

Babylonian steeds eke out an existence upon dry grass alone;
Whilst the tanner's asses receive a stipendiary allowance of provisions.

Fools, exempt from all care and anxiety, in tranquillity repose;
Whilst a hundred troubles and misfortunes, the prudent and the wise beset.

The meanest slave assumeth authority over his own proprietor;
And the slave-girls are more honourable than the mistress of the house.

Alas, O Khushhal! in the days of the Emperor Aealam-gir,
The house-born servants have all a wretched and contemptible lot!