شکر حق را کان دعا مردود شد ** من زیان پنداشتم آن سود شد
Thanks to God that that prayer was rejected: I thought ’twas loss, but it has turned out to be gain.”
بس دعاها کان زیان است و هلاک ** وز کرم مینشنود یزدان پاک 140
Many are the prayers which are loss and destruction, and from kindness the Holy God is not hearing them.
التماس کردن همراه عیسی علیه السلام زنده کردن استخوانها را از او
How the companion of Jesus, on whom be peace, entreated Jesus, on whom be peace, to give life to the bones.
گشت با عیسی یکی ابله رفیق ** استخوانها دید در حفرهی عمیق
A certain foolish person accompanied Jesus (on his way). He espied some bones in a deep-dug hole.
گفت ای همراه آن نام سنی ** که بدان تو مرده را زنده کنی
He said, “O companion, (teach me) that exalted Name by which thou makest the dead to live;
مر مرا آموز تا احسان کنم ** استخوانها را بدان با جان کنم
Teach (it) me, that I may do good and by means of it endow the bones with life.”
گفت خامش کن که آن کار تو نیست ** لایق انفاس و گفتار تو نیست
Jesus said, “Be silent, for that is not thy work: ’tis not meet for thy breath and speech,
کان نفس خواهد ز باران پاکتر ** وز فرشته در روش دراکتر 145
For it wants breath purer than rain and more piercing in action than the angels.
عمرها بایست تا دم پاک شد ** تا امین مخزن افلاک شد
(Many) lifetimes were needed that the breath might be purified, so that he (its owner) was entrusted with the treasury of the Heavens.
خود گرفتی این عصا در دست راست ** دست را دستان موسی از کجاست
(Suppose that) thou hast grasped this rod firmly in thy hand: whence will accrue to thy hand the cunning of Moses?”
گفت اگر من نیستم اسرار خوان ** هم تو بر خوان نام را بر استخوان
He said, “If I am not one to pronounce (such sacred) mysteries, do thou pronounce the Name over the bones.”
گفت عیسی یا رب این اسرار چیست ** میل این ابله در این بیگار چیست
Jesus cried, “O Lord, what are these hidden purposes (of Thine)? What is (the meaning of) this fool's inclination (to engage) in this fruitless work?
چون غم خود نیست این بیمار را ** چون غم جان نیست این مردار را 150
How has this sick man no care for himself? How has this corpse no care for (spiritual) life?
مردهی خود را رها کرده ست او ** مردهی بیگانه را جوید رفو
He has left (uncared for) his own dead (soul) and seeks to mend (revive) the dead (bones) of a stranger.”
گفت حق ادبارگر ادبار جوست ** خار روییده جزای کشت اوست
God (answered and) said, “The backslider seeks backsliding: the thistle that has grown (in him) is the retribution for (consequence of) his sowing.”
آن که تخم خار کارد در جهان ** هان و هان او را مجو در گلستان
He that sows the seed of thistles in the world, be warned not to look for him in the rose-garden.
گر گلی گیرد به کف خاری شود ** ور سوی یاری رود ماری شود
If he take a rose in his hand, it becomes a thistle; and if he go to a friend, he (the friend) becomes a snake.
کیمیای زهر و مار است آن شقی ** بر خلاف کیمیای متقی 155
The damned wretch is an elixir which transmutes into poison and snakes; (his elixir is) contrary to the elixir of the God-fearing man.
اندرز کردن صوفی خادم را در تیمار داشت بهیمه و لاحول گفتن خادم
How the Súfí enjoined the servant to take care of his beast and how the servant said, “Lá hawl.”
صوفیی میگشت در دور افق ** تا شبی در خانقاهی شد قنق
A Súfí was wandering round the world till one night he became a guest at a monastery (for Súfís).
یک بهیمه داشت در آخر ببست ** او به صدر صفه با یاران نشست
He had a beast (ass): he tied it in the stable, (while) he (himself) sat at the top of the dais with his friends.
پس مراقب گشت با یاران خویش ** دفتری باشد حضور یار بیش
Then he engaged with his friends in (mystical) meditation: the presence of a friend (of God) is (like) a book (which is open) before (one).
دفتر صوفی سواد حرف نیست ** جز دل اسپید همچون برف نیست
The Súfí's book is not (composed of) ink of letters (letters written with ink): it is naught but a heart white as snow.
زاد دانشمند آثار قلم ** زاد صوفی چیست آثار قدم 160
The scholar's provision is (consists of) pen-marks (written letters and words). What is the Súfí's provision? Footmarks.
همچو صیادی سوی اشکار شد ** گام آهو دید بر آثار شد
He (the Súfí) stalks the game, like a hunter: he sees the musk-deer's track and follows the footprints.
چند گاهش گام آهو در خور است ** بعد از آن خود ناف آهو رهبر است
For some while the track of the deer is (the) proper (clue) for him, (but) afterwards ’tis the navel (musk-gland) of the deer that is his guide.
چون که شکر گام کرد و ره برید ** لاجرم ز آن گام در کامی رسید
When he has given thanks for (having been favoured with knowledge of) the track and has traversed the way, of necessity by means of that track he arrives at a goal.