«سِيفِ السَّلْطَنَهْ طَوِيلْ»

The saying holds that the power of those who govern, meaning ruling authority or the state in general rather than any named monarch or dynasty, has no practical limit of distance. Whether a person stands close to the seat of authority or lives far from it, that power can strike just the same, so physical remoteness is no shelter.

The sword stands for the reach of governing power, not necessarily for fair punishment. The saying conveys that distance offers little refuge to someone targeted by authority; it does not tell us whether the person pursued has committed any wrong. Depending on context, the line can sound cautionary, fearful, or resigned.

Use it when remarking that government authority can reach people even far from its center, or warning someone who assumes distance puts them beyond official power. It need not imply that the person pursued is guilty or that the authorities are acting justly.