شاد شد جانش که بر شیران نر ** یافت آسان نصرت و دست و ظفر
His soul rejoiced because he easily gained the (Divine) help and the upper hand and the victory over fierce lions (like us).
پس بدانستیم کو آزاد نیست ** جز به دنیا دلخوش و دلشاد نیست
Hence we knew that he is not free (from the bondage of the flesh), and that only on account of this world is he happy and glad at heart.
ورنه چون خندد که اهل آن جهان ** بر بد و نیک‌اند مشفق مهربان4525
Else, how should he laugh (at us)? for the otherworldly are compassionate and kind to the evil and the good (alike).”
این بمنگیدند در زیر زبان ** آن اسیران با هم اندر بحث آن
Thus did those captives mutter to each other under their breath in discussing that (question),
تا موکل نشنود بر ما جهد ** خود سخن در گوش آن سلطان برد
(Saying, “Beware) lest the custodian hear (us) and spring upon us and personally carry our words to the ear of that (spiritual) Sultan.”
آگاه شدن پیغامبر علیه السلام از طعن ایشان بر شماتت او
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, became aware of their chiding him for his exultation.
گرچه نشنید آن موکل آن سخن ** رفت در گوشی که آن بد من لدن
Though the custodian did not hear those words, they entered into the ear that was (hearing) from the presence (of God).
بوی پیراهان یوسف را ندید ** آنک حافظ بود و یعقوبش کشید
The scent of Joseph's spirit was not perceived by its keeper, but Jacob inhaled it.
آن شیاطین بر عنان آسمان ** نشنوند آن سر لوح غیب‌دان4530
The devils on the high front of Heaven do not hear the secret of the mystery-knowing Tablet;
آن محمد خفته و تکیه زده ** آمده سر گرد او گردان شده
(But when) Mohammed went to sleep and reclined (on his bed), the secret came (to him) and circled round him.
او خورد حلوا که روزیشست باز ** آن نه کانگشتان او باشد دراز
He whose allotted portion is open (for him to take) eats the sweetmeat, not he whose fingers are long.
نجم ثاقب گشته حارس دیوران ** که بهل دزدی ز احمد سر ستان
The gleaming star became a watchman and drove the devils away, saying, “Abandon theft and receive the secret from Ahmad (Mohammed).”
ای دویده سوی دکان از پگاه ** هین به مسجد رو بجو رزق اله
O thou whose eyes from early (in the day) are (turned) towards (thy) shop, hark, go to the mosque and seek the portion allotted by God.
پس رسول آن گفتشان را فهم کرد ** گفت آن خنده نبودم از نبرد4535
The Prophet, then, apprehended their words and said, “That laughter of mine was not from hostility.
مرده‌اند ایشان و پوسیده‌ی فنا ** مرده کشتن نیست مردی پیش ما
They (the captives) are dead and rotted by decay: in my judgement it is not the part of a (true) man to kill the dead.
خود کیند ایشان که مه گردد شکاف ** چونک من پا بفشرم اندر مصاف
Who are they indeed? for the moon is split when I plant my foot on the battlefield.
آنگهی کزاد بودیت و مکین ** مر شما را بسته می‌دیدم چنین
At the time when ye were free and powerful, I was seeing you bound (in chains), like this.
ای بنازیده به ملک و خاندان ** نزد عاقل اشتری بر ناودان
O thou that pridest thyself on thy possessions and household, in the view of the intelligent thou art (as) the camel on the water-spout.
نقش تن را تا فتاد از بام طشت ** پیش چشمم کل آت آت گشت4540
(Ever) since the bowl, (which is) the bodily form, fell from the roof, there has rolled before my (inward) eye (the reality denoted by the words) ‘Everything that is (destined) to come shall come.’
بنگرم در غوره می بینم عیان ** بنگرم در نیست شی بینم عیان
I look on the unripe grape, and I see the wine clearly; I look on nonentity, and I see the entity clearly.
بنگرم سر عالمی بینم نهان ** آدم و حوا نرسته از جهان
I look on the inmost consciousness, and I see a universe hidden, (with) Adam and Eve not (yet) arisen from the world.
مر شما را وقت ذرات الست ** دیده‌ام پا بسته و منکوس و پست
You I have seen, fettered and overthrown and abject, at the time (when mankind were assembled in the shape) of ants (on the Day) of Alast.
از حدوث آسمان بی عمد ** آنچ دانسته بدم افزون نشد
That which I had (already) known was not increased by the coming into existence of the pillarless heaven.
من شما را سرنگون می‌دیده‌ام ** پیش از آن کز آب و گل بالیده‌ام4545
I have ever seen you (fallen) headlong, ere I grew from the water and the clay.
نو ندیدم تا کنم شادی بدان ** این همی‌دیدم در آن اقبالتان
I did not see (anything) new, that I should rejoice thereat: I used to see this (same thing) during your former prosperity.
بسته‌ی قهر خفی وانگه چه قهر ** قند می‌خوردید و در وی درج زهر
Bound in (the chains of) invisible Wrath—and then what (a fearful) Wrath!— ye were eating sugar wherein poison was contained.