گرچه این عاشق بخارا می‌رود ** نه به درس و نه به استا می‌رود
Although this lover is going to Bukhárá, he is not going to (attend) lectures or to (learn from) a teacher.
عاشقان را شد مدرس حسن دوست ** دفتر و درس و سبقشان روی اوست
For lovers, the (only) lecturer is the beauty of the Beloved, their (only) book and lecture and lesson is His face.
خامشند و نعره‌ی تکرارشان ** می‌رود تا عرش و تخت یارشان
They are silent (outwardly), but the shrill noise of their repetition is going up to the throne and high-seat of their Friend.
درسشان آشوب و چرخ و زلزله ** نه زیاداتست و باب سلسله
Their (only) lesson is enthusiasm and the whirling dance and quaking agitation; not the Ziyádát and the chapter on “the chain.”
سلسله‌ی این قوم جعد مشکبار ** مسله‌ی دورست لیکن دور یار3850
The “chain” of these people (the lovers of God) is the musk-dropping curls (of the Beloved); they have the question of “the circle,” but it is the “circle” of the Friend.
مسله‌ی کیس ار بپرسد کس ترا ** گو نگنجد گنج حق در کیسه‌ها
If any one ask you about the question of “the purse,” tell (him) that God's treasure is not contained in purses.
گر دم خلع و مبارا می‌رود ** بد مبین ذکر بخارا می‌رود
If talk of khul‘ and mubárá is going on (among them), do not disapprove: (inwardly) mention is being made of “Bukhárá.”
ذکر هر چیزی دهد خاصیتی ** زانک دارد هرصفت ماهیتی
The mention (recollection) of any thing produces a particular (spiritual) effect, inasmuch as every quality has a quiddity.
در بخارا در هنرها بالغى ** چون به خوارى رو نهى ز آن فارغى
In Bukhárá you attain to (perfection in) the sciences: when you turn to lowliness (ba-khwárí), you are freed from them.
آن بخاری غصه‌ی دانش نداشت ** چشم بر خورشید بینش می‌گماشت3855
That man of Bukhárá had not the vexation of knowledge: he was fixing his eyes on the sun of vision.
هرکه درخلوت ببینش یافت راه ** او ز دانشها نجوید دستگاه
No one who in solitude has found the way to vision will seek power by means of the (diverse) kinds of knowledge.
با جمال جان چوشد هم‌کاسه‌ای ** باشدش ز اخبار و دانش تاسه‌ای
When he has become a boon-companion to the beauty of the Soul, he will have a disgust of traditional learning and knowledge.
دید بردانش بود غالب فرا ** زان همی دنیا بچربد عامه را
Vision is superior to knowledge: hence the present world prevails (over the next world) in the view of the vulgar,
زانک دنیا را همی‌بینند عین ** وآن جهانی را همی‌دانند دین
Because they regard this world as ready money, while they deem what concerns that (other) world to be (like) a debt.
رو نهادن آن بنده‌ی عاشق سوی بخارا
How that loving servant turned his face towards Bukhárá.
رو نهاد آن عاشق خونابه‌ریز ** دل‌طپان سوی بخارا گرم و تیز3860
With throbbing heart the lover, who shed tears mingled with blood, set out for Bukhárá in hot haste.
ریگ آمون پیش او همچون حریر ** آب جیحون پیش او چون آبگیر
The sands of Ámún seemed to him like silk, the river Oxus seemed to him like a pond.
آن بیابان پیش او چون گلستان ** می‌فتاد از خنده او چون گلستان
To him that wilderness was like a rose-garden: he was falling on his back from laughter, like the (full-blown) rose.
در سمرقندست قند اما لبش ** از بخارا یافت و آن شد مذهبش
The (material) candy is in Samarcand; but his lip got it from “Bukhárá,” and that (spiritual candy) became his creed.
ای بخارا عقل‌افزا بوده‌ای ** لیکن ازمن عقل و دین بربوده‌ای
“O Bukhárá, thou hast increased understanding (in others) but thou hast robbed me of understanding and religion.
بدر می‌جویم از آنم چون هلال ** صدر می‌جویم درین صف نعال3865
I am seeking the Full Moon: hence I am (thin) as the new moon. I am seeking the Sadr (Prince) in this ‘shoe-row’ (vestibule).”
چون سواد آن بخارا را بدید ** در سواد غم بیاضی شد پدید
When he described that “Bukhárá” looming black (in the distance), a whiteness (a mystic illumination) appeared in the blackness of his grief.
ساعتی افتاد بیهوش و دراز ** عقل او پرید در بستان راز
He fell (and lay) awhile senseless and outstretched: his reason flew into the garden of the mystery.
بر سر و رویش گلابی می‌زدند ** از گلاب عشق او غافل بدند
They were sprinkling rose-water on his head and face; they were unaware of the rose-water of his love.
او گلستانی نهانی دیده بود ** غارت عشقش ز خود ببریده بود
He had beheld a hidden rose-garden: the raiding foray of Love had cut him off from himself.
تو فسرده درخور این دم نه‌ای ** با شکر مقرون نه‌ای گرچه نیی3870
Thou, frozen (in spirit), art not worthy of this (inspiring) breath (of love): though thou art a reed (cane), thou art not associated with sugar.