تا که نور او کشد نار تو را ** وصل او گلشن کند خار تو را
In order that his light may extinguish your fire, (and that) union with him may make your thorns roses.
تو مثال دوزخی او مومن است ** کشتن آتش به مومن ممکن است
You are like Hell, he is a true believer: the extinction of the fire (of Hell) by means of a true believer is possible.
مصطفی فرمود از گفت جحیم ** کاو به مومن لابه گر گردد ز بیم
Mustafá (Mohammed) said concerning the speech of Hell, that on account of fear it begins humbly to entreat the true believer,
گویدش بگذر ز من ای شاه زود ** هین که نورت سوز نارم را ربود
And says to him, “Pass quickly away from me, O king: hark, for thy light has taken away the burning of my fire.”
پس هلاک نار نور مومن است ** ز انکه بیضد دفع ضد لا یمکن است1250
Therefore the true believer's light is the death of the fire, because without an opposite the removal of the (other) opposite is impossible.
نار ضد نور باشد روز عدل ** کان ز قهر انگیخته شد این ز فضل
On the Day of Justice (Judgement) the fire will be the opponent of the light, since the former was aroused by (God's) wrath, the latter by (His) grace.
گر همیخواهی تو دفع شر نار ** آب رحمت بر دل آتش گمار
If you are wishing to remove the evil of the fire, direct the water of (Divine) mercy against the heart of the fire.
چشمهی آن آب رحمت مومن است ** آب حیوان روح پاک محسن است
The true believer is the fountain of that water of mercy: the pure spirit of the well-doer is the Water of Life.
بس گریزان است نفس تو از او ** ز انکه تو از آتشی او آب جو
Hence your fleshly soul is fleeing mightily from him, because you are of fire, (while) he (is) the water of the stream.
ز آب آتش ز آن گریزان میشود ** کاتشش از آب ویران میشود1255
Fire becomes fleeing from water for the reason that its fire (flame and heat) is ruined by water.
حس و فکر تو همه از آتش است ** حس شیخ و فکر او نور خوش است
Your sense and thought are wholly of the fire; the sense of the Shaykh (spiritual guide) and his thought are the beauteous Light.
آب نور او چو برآتش چکد ** چک چک از آتش بر آید بر جهد
When the water of his light trickles on the fire, chak chak (a gnashing sound) rises from the fire, and it leaps up (in fury).
چون کند چک چک تو گویش مرگ و درد ** تا شود این دوزخ نفس تو سرد
When it makes (the sound) chak chak, say you to it, “Death and woe (to thee),” in order that this hell, (which is) your fleshly soul, may become cold (quenched),
تا نسوزد او گلستان تو را ** تا نسوزد عدل و احسان تو را
So that it may not burn your rose-garden, so that it may not burn your justice and well doing.
بعد از آن چیزی که کاری بردهد ** لاله و نسرین و سیسنبردهد1260
After that, anything that you sow will yield fruit (or flowers); it will yield anemones and wild roses and thyme.
باز پهنا میرویم از راه راست ** باز گرد ای خواجه راه ما کجاست
Once more we are going wide of the straight way: turn back, O master—where is our way?
اندر آن تقریر بودیم ای حسود ** که خرت لنگ است و منزل دور زود
We were (engaged) in showing, O envious one, that your ass is lame and the place of alighting (journey's end) far off, (so you must be) quick.
سال بیگه گشت وقت کشت نی ** جز سیه رویی و فعل زشت نی
The year has turned late; it is not sowing-time, (and you have produced) nothing except black shame and foul deeds.
کرم در بیخ درخت تن فتاد ** بایدش بر کند و در آتش نهاد
The worm has entered the root of the body's tree: it must be dug up and put in the fire.
هین و هین ای راه رو بیگاه شد ** آفتاب عمر سوی چاه شد1265
Hark and hark (again), O wayfarer! ’Tis late, life's sun is gone towards the pit (is about to set).
این دو روزک را که زورت هست زود ** پیر افشانی بکن از راه جود
(During) these (one or) two brief days when you have (some) strength, (be) quick, devote the old man (your old age) generously (to serving God).
این قدر تخمی که مانده ستت بباز ** تا بروید زین دو دم عمر دراز
Devote this (small) amount of seed that you have remaining, in order that long life may grow from these (one or) two moments.
تا نمرده ست این چراغ با گهر ** هین فتیلهاش ساز و روغن زودتر
Whilst this jewelled lamp is not (yet) extinguished, see you trim its wick and (supply it with) oil immediately.
هین مگو فردا که فرداها گذشت ** تا به کلی نگذرد ایام کشت
Beware! Do not say “To-morrow”—for (many) to-morrows have passed. Let not the days of sowing pass away altogether.
پند من بشنو که تن بند قوی است ** کهنه بیرون کن گرت میل نوی است1270
Listen to my admonition that the body is a strong bond: put off the old, if you have desire for newness.