-
نور باید پاک از تقلید و غول ** تا شناسد مرد را بیفعل و قول
- Light is needed, (a light) purged of cant and noxiousness, that he may know a man without (the evidence of) deed or word,
-
در رود در قلب او از راه عقل ** نقد او بیند نباشد بند نقل
- And enter into his heart by way of the intellect, and behold his real state and not be confined to tradition.
-
بندگان خاص علام الغیوب ** در جهان جان جواسیس القلوب
- The chosen servants of (God) the Knower of things unseen are, in the spiritual world, the spies on hearts.
-
در درون دل در آید چون خیال ** پیش او مکشوف باشد سر حال
- He (such a one) enters within the heart like a fancy: the mystery of the (real) state is unveiled to him.
-
در تن گنجشک چه بود برگ و ساز ** که شود پوشیده آن بر عقل باز 1480
- In the body of the sparrow what power and faculty is there that is hidden from the intellect of the falcon?
-
آن که واقف گشت بر اسرار هو ** سر مخلوقات چه بود پیش او
- He who has become acquainted with the secrets of Hú (God), what to him is the secret (inmost consciousness) of created beings?
-
آن که بر افلاک رفتارش بود ** بر زمین رفتن چه دشوارش بود
- He whose walk is on the spheres, how should it be hard for him to walk on the earth?
-
در کف داود کاهن گشت موم ** موم چه بود در کف او ای ظلوم
- Since iron became wax in the hand of David, what should wax be in his hand, O man of iniquity?
-
بود لقمان بنده شکلی خواجهای ** بندگی بر ظاهرش دیباجهای
- Luqmán was a slave in appearance, a master (in reality): servitude was (only) a frontispiece on his outside.
-
چون رود خواجه به جای ناشناس ** در غلام خویش پوشاند لباس 1485
- When the master goes to a place where he is not known, he puts (his own) clothes on his slave.
-
او بپوشد جامههای آن غلام ** مر غلام خویش را سازد امام
- He (himself) puts on the slave's clothes and makes his slave the leader.
-
در پیش چون بندگان در ره شود ** تا نباید زو کسی آگه شود
- He goes behind him on the road, as slaves do, lest any one should recognise him (as the master).
-
گوید ای بنده تو رو بر صدر شین ** من بگیرم کفش چون بندهی کهین
- “O slave,” says he, “go you and sit in the place of honour: I will take (your) shoes, like the meanest slave.
-
تو درشتی کن مرا دشنام ده ** مر مرا تو هیچ توقیری منه
- Treat (me) roughly and revile me; do not bestow any respect on me.
-
ترک خدمت خدمت تو داشتم ** تا به غربت تخم حیلت کاشتم 1490
- I hold neglect of service to be your (proper) service, since I have sown the seed of contrivance by dwelling in a foreign land.”
-
خواجگان این بندگیها کردهاند ** تا گمان آید که ایشان بردهاند
- Masters have performed these slavish offices in order that it might be thought that they were slaves.
-
چشم پر بودند و سیر از خواجگی ** کارها را کردهاند آمادگی
- They saw their fill of masterdom and were sated (with it): (hence) they have made ready for (doing) the work (of slaves).
-
وین غلامان هوا بر عکس آن ** خویشتن بنموده خواجهی عقل و جان
- On the contrary, these slaves of sensuality have represented themselves as masters of intellect and spirit.
-
آید از خواجه ره افکندگی ** ناید از بنده بغیر بندگی
- From the master (the spiritual man) comes the practice of self-abasement; from the slave (the sensual man) comes naught but slavishness.
-
پس از آن عالم بدین عالم چنان ** تعبیتها هست بر عکس این بدان 1495
- So topsy-turvy, then, are the arrangements between that world and this world. Know this (for sure).
-
خواجهی لقمان از این حال نهان ** بود واقف دیده بود از وی نشان
- Luqmán's master was aware of this hidden state (of Luqmán); he had seen signs (thereof) in him.
-
راز میدانست و خوش میراند خر ** از برای مصلحت آن راهبر
- He knew the secret, (but) quietly drove his ass on that road (pursued his way) for the sake of the good (which he had in view).
-
مر و را آزاد کردی از نخست ** لیک خشنودی لقمان را بجست
- He would have set him free at the first, but he sought to content (comply with the wish of) Luqmán,
-
ز انکه لقمان را مراد این بود تا ** کس نداند سر آن شیر و فتی
- Because it was Luqmán's desire (to remain a slave), in order that none might know the secret of that brave and generous youth.
-
چه عجب گر سر ز بد پنهان کنی ** این عجب که سر ز خود پنهان کنی 1500
- What wonder (is it) if you hide your secret from the evil (one)? The wonder is this, that you should hide the secret from yourself.