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 قدم160
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.
رفتن یک منزلی بر بوی ناف ** بهتر از صد منزل گام و طواف
To go one stage (guided) by the scent of the musk-gland is better than a hundred stages of (following) the track and roaming about.
آن دلی کاو مطلع مهتابهاست ** بهر عارف فتحت ابوابهاست165
The heart that is the rising-place of the moonbeams (of Divine light) is for the gnostic (the means of revelation indicated by the words) its doors shall be opened.
با تو دیوار است و با ایشان در است ** با تو سنگ و با عزیزان گوهر است
To you it is a wall, to them it is a door; to you a stone, to (those) venerated ones a pearl.
آن چه تو در آینه بینی عیان ** پیر اندر خشت بیند بیش از آن
What you see plainly in the mirror—the Pír sees more than that in the brick.
پیر ایشاناند کاین عالم نبود ** جان ایشان بود در دریای جود
The Pírs are they whose spirits, before this world existed, were in the Sea of (Divine) bounty.
پیش از این تن عمرها بگذاشتند ** پیشتر از کشت بر برداشتند
Before (the creation of) this body they passed (many) lifetimes; before the sowing they took up (harvested) the fruit (produce).
پیشتر از نقش جان پذرفتهاند ** پیشتر از بحر درها سفتهاند170
They have received the spirit before (the creation of) the form; they have bored the pearls before (the creation of) the sea.
مشورت میرفت در ایجاد خلق ** جانشان در بحر قدرت تا به حلق
(Whilst) consultation was going on as to bringing mankind into existence, their spirits were in the Sea of (Divine) Omnipotence up to the throat.
چون ملایک مانع آن میشدند ** بر ملایک خفیه خنبک میزدند
When the angels were opposing that (creation of man), they (the Pírs) were secretly clapping their hands (in derision) at the angels.
مطلع بر نقش هر که هست شد ** پیش از آن کاین نفس کل پا بست شد
He (the Pír) was made acquainted with the (material) form of every existent being, before this Universal Soul became fettered (by materiality).