زانک نفع نان در آن نان داد اوست ** بدهدت آن نفع بی توسیط پوست
Inasmuch as in that (spiritual) bread the benefit of (conferred by) the bread is His (God’s) gift, He gives you that benefit (directly), without making the husk a means (of imparting it to you).
ذوق پنهان نقش نان چون سفرهایست ** نان بی سفره ولی را بهرهایست
The savour is hidden; the outward form of the bread is (visible) like a table-cloth: the bread that is without table-cloth is a portion (reserved) for the saint.
رزق جانی کی بری با سعی و جست ** جز به عدل شیخ کو داود تست
How will you, notwithstanding (all your) endeavour and search, gain the spiritual livelihood except through ‘the justice of the Shaykh who is your David?
نفس چون با شیخ بیند کام تو ** از بن دندان شود او رام تو2545
‘When the fleshly soul sees your steps (joined) with (those of) the Shaykh, willy-nilly it becomes submissive to you.
صاحب آن گاو رام آنگاه شد ** کز دم داود او آگاه شد
Then (and then only) did the owner of the cow become sub missive, when he was made aware of the (inspired) words of David.
عقل گاهی غالب آید در شکار ** برسگ نفست که باشد شیخ یار
The intellect, in chase (of spiritual truth), prevails over your currish fleshly soul (only) at the time when the Shaykh is its helper.
نفس اژدرهاست با صد زور و فن ** روی شیخ او را زمرد دیده کن
The fleshly soul is a dragon with hundredfold strength and cunning: the face of the Shaykh is the emerald that plucks out its eye
گر تو صاحب گاو را خواهی زبون ** چون خران سیخش کن آن سو ای حرون
If you wish the owner of the cows to be abased, goad him in that direction as (you would goad) asses, O contumacious man!
چون به نزدیک ولی الله شود ** آن زبان صد گزش کوته شود2550
When he approaches him (the saint) who is nigh unto God, his tongue, a hundred ells long, is shortened.
صد زبان و هر زبانش صد لغت ** زرق و دستانش نیاید در صفت
(He hath) a hundred tongues, and each tongue of him (hath) a hundred languages: his fraud and guile come not into (the bounds of) description.
مدعی گاو نفس آمد فصیح ** صد هزاران حجت آرد ناصحیح
The claimant for the cow, the fleshly soul, is eloquent and brings forward hundreds of thousands of unsound pleas.
شهر را بفریبد الا شاه را ** ره نتاند زد شه آگاه را
He deceives (all in) the city except the king: he cannot waylay the sagacious king.
نفس را تسبیح و مصحف در یمین ** خنجر و شمشیر اندر آستین
The fleshly soul hath glorification of God (on its tongue), and the Qur’án in its right hand; (but) in its sleeve (it hath) dagger and sword.
مصحف و سالوس او باور مکن ** خویش با او همسر و همسر مکن2555
Do not believe its Qur’án and hypocritical ostentation, do not make yourself its confidant and comrade;
سوی حوضت آورد بهر وضو ** واندر اندازد ترا در قعر او
(For) it will take you to the tank to perform the ritual ablution, and will cast you to the bottom thereof.
عقل نورانی و نیکو طالبست ** نفس ظلمانی برو چون غالبست
The intellect is luminous and a seeker of good: how (then) does the dark fleshly soul prevail over it?
زانک او در خانه عقل تو غریب ** بر در خود سگ بود شیر مهیب
(It prevails) because it is at home, (while) your intellect is a stranger: the dog at his own door is (like) a terrible lion.
باش تا شیران سوی بیشه روند ** وین سگان کور آنجا بگروند
Wait till the lions go (back) to the jungle and these blind dogs’ will believe (in them) there.
مکر نفس و تن نداند عام شهر ** او نگردد جز بوحی القلب قهر2560
The common folk of the city do not know the deceit of the fleshly soul and of the body: it (the fleshly soul) is not subdued save by (Divine) inspiration in the heart.
هر که جنس اوست یار او شود ** جز مگر داود کان شیخت بود
Every one that is its congener becomes its friend, except, to be sure, the David who is your Shaykh;
کو مبدل گشت و جنس تن نماند ** هر که را حق در مقام دل نشاند
For he has been transmuted, and whomsoever God hath seated in the abode of the heart, he( that person) is no more the body’s congener.
خلق جمله علتیاند از کمین ** یار علت میشود علت یقین
All the (other) people are (rendered) infirm by (that which lies in) ambush (within them): ‘tis certain that infirmity associates with infirmity.
هر خسی دعوی داودی کند ** هر که بی تمییز کف در وی زند
Every worthless fellow pretends to be (a) David; every one who lacks discernment lays hold of him (attaches himself to him):
از صیادی بشنود آواز طیر ** مرغ ابله میکند آن سوی سیر2565
He hears the bird’s note from a fowler and, (like a) foolish bird, he keeps going in that direction.
نقد را از نقل نشناسد غویست ** هین ازو بگریز اگر چه معنویست
‘He dos not distinguish fact from fiction: he is misguided. Come, flee from him, even if he is spiritual (in appearance).