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راجعون گفت و رجوع این سان بود ** که گله وا گردد و خانه رود
- He (God) hath said, “(Verily, to Him we are) returning”; and the return is in the same wise as a herd turns back and goes home.
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چونک واگردید گله از ورود ** پس فتد آن بز که پیش آهنگ بود
- When the herd has turned back from (after) going down to water, the goat that was the leader (now) falls behind (becomes the hindmost),
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پیش افتد آن بز لنگ پسین ** اضحک الرجعی وجوه العابسین 1120
- And the lame hindmost goat is now in front: the return caused the faces to laugh of them that were frowning (before).
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از گزافه کی شدند این قوم لنگ ** فخر را دادند و بخریدند ننگ
- How did this party (the prophets and saints) become lame and give up glory and purchase ignominy in vain?
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پا شکسته می‌روند این قوم حج ** از حرج راهیست پنهان تا فرج
- This party go on the pilgrimage (to Reality) with broken legs, (because) there is a secret way from straitness to ease.
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دل ز دانشها بشستند این فریق ** زانک این دانش نداند آن طریق
- This company washed their hearts (clean) of (the exoteric) kinds of knowledge, because this knowledge does not know that Way.
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دانشی باید که اصلش زان سرست ** زانک هر فرعی به اصلش رهبرست
- (In order to tread this Way) one needs a knowledge whereof the root is Yonder, inasmuch as every branch is a guide to its root.
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هر پری بر عرض دریا کی پرد ** تا لدن علم لدنی می‌برد 1125
- How should every wing fly across the breadth of the Sea? (Only) the esoteric knowledge will bear (thee) to the Presence (of God).
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پس چرا علمی بیاموزی به مرد ** کش بباید سینه را زان پاک کرد
- Why, then, should you teach a man the knowledge of which it behoves him to purify his breast?
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پس مجو پیشی ازین سر لنگ باش ** وقت وا گشتن تو پیش آهنگ باش
- Therefore do not seek to be in front: be lame on this side, and be the leader at the moment of return.