گر بخواهد مرگ هم شیرین شود ** خار و نشتر نرگس و نسرین شود
If he will, even death becomes sweet; thorns and stings become narcissus and wild-rose.
آنک او موقوف حالست آدمیست ** کو بحال افزون و گاهی در کمیست1425
He that is dependent on the “state” is (still) a human being: for (at one moment) he is (made) greater by the “state,” at another moment he is in decrease.
صوفی ابن الوقت باشد در منال ** لیک صافی فارغست از وقت و حال
In respect of gaining (the 'state'), the Súfí is “the son of the time,” but the pure one (sáfí) is unconcerned with “time” and “state.”
حالها موقوف عزم و رای او ** زنده از نفخ مسیح‌آسای او
“States” are dependent on his decision and judgement; (they are) vivified by his Messiah-like breath.
عاشق حالی نه عاشق بر منی ** بر امید حال بر من می‌تنی
“Thou art in love with thy ‘state,’ thou art not in love with me; thou art attached to me in the hope of (experiencing) the ‘state.’”
آنک یک دم کم دمی کامل بود ** نیست معبود خلیل آفل بود
He that at one moment is deficient and at another moment perfect is not He that was worshipped by Khalíl (Abraham): he is one that sinks;
وانک آفل باشد و گه آن و این ** نیست دلبر لا احب افلین1430
And he that is liable to sink and is now that and (now) this is not the (true) beloved: “I love not them that sink.”
آنک او گاهی خوش و گه ناخوشست ** یک زمانی آب و یک دم آتشست
He that is now pleasing and now unpleasing, at one time water and at one moment fire,
برج مه باشد ولیکن ماه نه ** نقش بت باشد ولی آگاه نه
May be the mansion of the Moon, but he is not the Moon; he may be the picture of the Adored One, but he is not conscious.
هست صوفی صفاجو ابن وقت ** وقت را همچون پدر بگرفته سخت
The Súfí that seeks purity is ‘the son of the time’: he has clasped the ‘time’ tightly as (though it were) his father.
هست صافی غرق عشق ذوالجلال ** ابن کس نه فارغ از اوقات و حال
The pure one (sáfí) is plunged in love of the Glorious (God); he is not the son of any one, (he is) free from ‘times’ and ‘states’—
غرقه‌ی نوری که او لم یولدست ** لم یلد لم یولد آن ایزدست1435
Plunged in the Light which is unbegotten: (the description) He neither begetteth nor is He begotten belongs to God (alone).
رو چنین عشقی بجو گر زنده‌ای ** ورنه وقت مختلف را بنده‌ای
Go, seek a love like this, if thou art (spiritually) alive; otherwise, thou art a slave to the changing “time.”
منگر اندر نقش زشت و خوب خویش ** بنگر اندر عشق و در مطلوب خویش
Do not regard thy ugly or beauteous form; regard Love and the object of thy search.
منگر آنک تو حقیری یا ضعیف ** بنگر اندر همت خود ای شریف
Do not regard the fact that thou art despicable or infirm; look upon thy aspiration, O noble one.
تو به هر حالی که باشی می‌طلب ** آب می‌جو دایما ای خشک‌لب
In whatsoever state thou be, keep searching; O thou with dry lip, always be seeking the water,
کان لب خشکت گواهی می‌دهد ** کو بخر بر سر منبع رسد1440
For that dry lip of thine gives evidence that at last it will reach the springhead.
خشکی لب هست پیغامی ز آب ** که بمات آرد یقین این اضطراب
Dryness of lip is a message from the water (to say) that this agitation (anxious search) will certainly bring thee to the water,
کین طلب‌کاری مبارک جنبشیست ** این طلب در راه حق مانع کشیست
For this seeking is a blessed motion; this search is a killer of obstacles on the Way to God.
این طلب مفتاح مطلوبات تست ** این سپاه و نصرت رایات تست
This search is the key to the things sought by thee; this (search) is thy army and the victory of thy banners.
این طلب همچون خروسی در صیاح ** می‌زند نعره که می‌آید صباح
This search is like a cock crowing and proclaiming that the dawn is at hand.
گرچه آلت نیستت تو می‌طلب ** نیست آلت حاجت اندر راه رب1445
Although thou hast no equipment, do thou be ever seeking: equipment is not necessary on the Way of the Lord.
هر که را بینی طلب‌کار ای پسر ** یار او شو پیش او انداز سر
Whomsoever thou seest engaged in search, O son, become his friend and cast thy head before him,
For through being the neighbour of the seekers thou (thyself) wilt become a seeker, and from the shadows (protection) of the conquerors thou (thyself) wilt become a conqueror.
گر یکی موری سلیمانی بجست ** منگر اندر جستن او سست سست
If an ant has sought (to attain) the rank of Solomon, do not look languidly (contemptuously) on its quest.