من رباح الله کونوا رابحین ** ان ربی لا یحب الفرحین505
Be gainers by the gain of God:lo, my Lord loveth not them that rejoice (overmuch).
افرحوا هونا بما آتاکم ** کل آت مشغل الهاکم
Rejoice (but) moderately on account of what He causeth to come to you: everything that comes and is a source of preoccupation diverts you (from Him).
شاد از وی شو مشو از غیر وی ** او بهارست و دگرها ماه دی
Rejoice in Him, do not rejoice in aught except Him: He is (as) the spring, and (all) other things (as) the month of December.
هر چه غیر اوست استدراج تست ** گرچه تخت و ملکتست و تاج تست
Everything other than He is the (means of) leading you gradually to perdition, (even) though it is your throne and kingdom and your crown.
شاد از غم شو که غم دام لقاست ** اندرین ره سوی پستی ارتقاست
Rejoice in sorrow, for sorrow is the snare of (means of attaining to) union (with God): in this Way the ascent is downwards.
غم یکی گنجیست و رنج تو چو کان ** لیک کی در گیرد این در کودکان510
Sorrow is a treasure, and your pain is as the mine, but how should this (saying) catch hold of (make an impression on) children?
کودکان چون نام بازی بشنوند ** جمله با خر گور هم تگ می‌دوند
When children hear the name of “play,” they all run (after it) with the speed of a wild ass.
ای خران کور این سو دامهاست ** در کمین این سوی خون‌آشامهاست
O blind asses, in this direction there are snares; in this direction there are bloodsheds (concealed) in ambush.
تیرها پران کمان پنهان ز غیب ** بر جوانی می‌رسد صد تیر شیب
The arrows are flying, (but) the bow is hidden: from the Unseen World come upon youth a hundred arrows of hoary eld.
گام در صحرای دل باید نهاد ** زانک در صحرای گل نبود گشاد
You must set foot on the plain of the heart (spirit), because in the plain of (the body’s) clay there is no opening ( for spiritual progress).
ایمن آبادست دل ای دوستان ** چشمه‌ها و گلستان در گلستان515
The heart is the abode of security, O friends; (it has) fountains and rose-gardens within rose-gardens.
عج الی القلب و سر یا ساریه ** فیه اشجار و عین جاریه
Turn towards the heart and journey on, O night-travellers: therein are trees and (many) a flowing spring.
ده مرو ده مرد را احمق کند ** عقل را بی نور و بی رونق کند
Do not go to the country: the country makes a fool of a man, it makes the intellect void of light and splendour.
قول پیغامبر شنو ای مجتبی ** گور عقل آمد وطن در روستا
O chosen one, hear the Prophet’s saying: “To dwell in the country is the grave of the intellect.”
هر که را در رستا بود روزی و شام ** تا بماهی عقل او نبود تمام
If any one stay in the country a single day and evening, his intellect will not be fully restored for a month.
تا بماهی احمقی با او بود ** از حشیش ده جز اینها چه درود520
For a (whole) month foolishness will abide with him: what but these things should he reap from the parched herbage of the country?
وانک ماهی باشد اندر روستا ** روزگاری باشدش جهل و عمی
And he that stays a month in the country, ignorance and blindness will be his (lot) for a long time.
ده چه باشد شیخ واصل ناشده ** دست در تقلید و حجت در زده
What is “the country”? The Shaykh that has not been united (with god), but has become addicted to conventionality and argument.
پیش شهر عقل کلی این حواس ** چون خران چشم‌بسته در خراس
Compared with the town, (which is) Universal Reason, these senses (of ours) are like asses (going round and round) in an ass-mill with their eyes bandaged.
این رها کن صورت افسانه گیر ** هل تو دردانه تو گندم‌دانه گیر
Leave this (inner meaning) and take the outward form of the tale: let the pearlseed alone and take the cornseed.
گر بدر ره نیست هین بر می‌ستان ** گر بدان ره نیستت این سو بران525
If there is no way to the pearl, come, take the wheat; if there is no way for you in that (direction), push on in this direction.
ظاهرش گیر ار چه ظاهر کژ پرد ** عاقبت ظاهر سوی باطن برد
Take its outward (form)! Though the outward (form) fly crookedly (not straight), the outward (form) at last will lead (you) to the inward (meaning).
اول هر آدمی خود صورتست ** بعد از آن جان کو جمال سیرتست
In sooth, the first (stage) of every human being is the form; after that (comes) the spirit, which is beauty of disposition.
اول هر میوه جز صورت کیست ** بعد از آن لذت که معنی ویست
How is the first (stage) of every fruit anything but the form? After that (comes) the delicious taste which is its real meaning.
اولا خرگاه سازند و خرند ** ترک را زان پس به مهمان آورند
First they make or buy a tent; afterwards they bring the Turcoman (their beloved) as a guest.