گفت امت مشورت با کی کنیم ** انبیا گفتند با عقل امیم
The community said, “With whom shall we take counsel?” The prophets answered, “With intellect, (which is) the Imám (leader).”
گفت گر کودک در آید یا زنی ** کاو ندارد عقل و رای روشنی 2270
He (the questioner) said, “(But) if a child should come in, or a woman who has no clear understanding or judgement.”
گفت با او مشورت کن و انچه گفت ** تو خلاف آن کن و در راه افت
“Take counsel with her,” said he (the prophet), “and do the contrary of what she bids (thee), and go thy way.”
نفس خود را زن شناس از زن بتر ** ز انکه زن جزوی است نفست کل شر
Know that your fleshly soul is woman and worse than woman, because woman is a part (of evil), but your fleshly soul is evil entire.
مشورت با نفس خود گر میکنی ** هر چه گوید کن خلاف آن دنی
If you take counsel with your fleshly soul, oppose that vile one (in) whatsoever she may say.
گر نماز و روزه میفرمایدت ** نفس مکار است مکری زایدت
If she bid you pray and fast-the fleshly soul is a great plotter, she will bring some plot against you to birth.
مشورت با نفس خویش اندر فعال ** هر چه گوید عکس آن باشد کمال 2275
(When you take) counsel with your fleshly soul concerning (your) actions––whatsoever she tells (you to do), the reverse of that is perfectly right.
بر نیایی با وی و استیز او ** رو بر یاری بگیر آمیز او
(If) you cannot cope with her and her contumacy, go to a friend and mix with him.
عقل قوت گیرد از عقل دگر ** نی شکر کامل شود از نیشکر
Mind gains strength from another mind: the sugar-cane is made perfect by the sugar-cane.
من ز مکر نفس دیدم چیزها ** کاو برد از سحر خود تمییزها
I have seen (wondrous) things (arising) from the deceitfulness of the fleshly soul, for by her magic she takes away the faculties of discernment.
وعدهها بدهد ترا تازه به دست ** که هزاران بار آنها را شکست
She will proffer afresh to you promises that she has broken thousands of times.
عمر اگر صد سال خود مهلت دهد ** اوت هر روزی بهانهی نو نهد 2280
If your life be prolonged even for a hundred years, she will lay before you a new pretext every day.
گرم گوید وعدههای سرد را ** جادویی مردی ببندد مرد را
She utters cold (vain) promises (as though) warm (from the heart); (she is) a witch, she ties up the manhood of a man.
ای ضیاء الحق حسام الدین بیا ** که نروید بیتو از شوره گیا
O (thou who art the) radiance of God, Husámu’ddín, come! for without thee no herbs will grow from the brackish soil.
از فلک آویخته شد پردهای ** از پی نفرین دل آزردهای
A curtain has been let down from heaven because of the curse of one whose heart is sorely vexed.
این قضا را هم قضا داند علاج ** عقل خلقان در قضا گیج است گیج
This destiny only the (Divine) destiny can cure: the understanding of His creatures is stunned at His destiny, stunned.
اژدها گشته ست آن مار سیاه ** آن که کرمی بود افتاده به راه 2285
The lack serpent that was (as) a worm fallen on the road has become a dragon;
اژدها و مار اندر دست تو ** شد عصا ای جان موسی مست تو
(But) in thy hand, O thou with (love for) whom the soul of Moses is intoxicated, the dragon or serpent became (as) the rod (in the hand of Moses).
حکم خذها لا تخف دادت خدا ** تا به دستت اژدها گردد عصا
God gave thee command, saying, “Take it; fear not, so that the dragon may become a rod in thy hand.”
هین ید بیضا نما ای پادشاه ** صبح نو بگشا ز شبهای سیاه
Hark, show the white hand, O King: out of the black nights reveal a new dawn!
دوزخی افروخت در وی دم فسون ** ای دم تو از دم دریا فزون
A hell hath blazed forth; breathe (thy) enchantment over it, O thou whose breath is more (excellent) than the breath of the sea.
بحر مکار است بنموده کفی ** دوزخ است از مکر بنموده تفی 2290
She (the fleshly soul) is the guileful sea that shows (but) a (little) foam; she is the hell that from guile shows (but) a (little) heat.
ز آن نماید مختصر در چشم تو ** تا زبون بینیش جنبد خشم تو
She appears exiguous in your eyes, to the end that you may regard her as feeble and that your wrath may be stirred (against her);
همچنان که لشکر انبوه بود ** مر پیمبر را به چشم اندک نمود
Even as there was a dense host (of infidels), (but) to the Prophet’s eye it seemed small,
تا بر ایشان زد پیمبر بیخطر ** ور فزون دیدی از آن کردی حذر
So that the Prophet set upon them without (fear of) the danger; but if he had deemed (them) more (in number), he would have acted cautiously in that (affair).