تو چه دانی ای غراره‌ی پر حسد ** منت او را خدا هم می‌کشد
What do you know (about his exalted state), O sack full of envy? Even God bears gratitude to him.
کاشکی او آشنا ناموختی ** تا طمع در نوح و کشتی دوختی
Would that he (one like Kan‘án) had not learned to swim, so that he might have fixed his hope on Noah and the ark!
کاش چون طفل از حیل جاهل بدی ** تا چو طفلان چنگ در مادر زدی1415
Would that, like a child, he had been ignorant of devices, so that, like children, he might have clung to his mother,
یا به علم نقل کم بودی ملی ** علم وحی دل ربودی از ولی
Or that he had not been filled with traditional knowledge, (but) had carried away from a saint the knowledge divinely revealed to the heart!
با چنین نوری چو پیش آری کتاب ** جان وحی آسای تو آرد عتاب
When you bring forward a book (in rivalry) with such a light (of inspiration), your soul, that resembles inspiration (in its nature), reproaches (you).
چون تیمم با وجود آب دان ** علم نقلی با دم قطب زمان
Know that beside the breath (words) of the Qutb of the time traditional knowledge is like performing the ritual ablution with sand when there is water (available).
خویش ابله کن تبع می‌رو سپس ** رستگی زین ابلهی یابی و بس
Make yourself foolish (simple) and follow behind (him): only by means of this foolishness will you gain deliverance.
اکثر اهل الجنه البله ای پسر ** بهر این گفتست سلطان البشر1420
On this account, O father, the Sultan of mankind (Mohammed hath said, “Most of the people of Paradise are the foolish.”
زیرکی چون کبر و باد انگیز تست ** ابلهی شو تا بماند دل درست
Since, intelligence is the exciter of pride and vanity in you, become a fool in order that your heart may remain sound—
ابلهی نه کو به مسخرگی دوتوست ** ابلهی کو واله و حیران هوست
Not the fool that is bent double (abases himself) in buffoonery, (but) the fool that is distraught and bewildered (lost) in Him (God).
ابلهان‌اند آن زنان دست بر ** از کف ابله وز رخ یوسف نذر
The foolish are (like) those women (of Egypt) who cut their hands—foolish in respect of their hands, (but) giving (wise) notice to beware of the face (beauty) of Joseph.
عقل را قربان کن اندر عشق دوست ** عقلها باری از آن سویست کوست
Sacrifice your intellect in love for the Friend: anyhow, (all) intellects are from the quarter where He is.
عقلها آن سو فرستاده عقول ** مانده این سو که نه معشوقست گول1425
The (spiritually) intelligent have sent their intellects to that quarter: (only) the dolt has remained in this quarter where the’ Beloved is not.
زین سر از حیرت گر این عقلت رود ** هر سو مویت سر و عقلی شود
If, from bewilderment, this intellect of yours go out of this head, every head (tip) of your hair will become (a new) head and intellect.
نیست آن سو رنج فکرت بر دماغ ** که دماغ و عقل روید دشت و باغ
In that quarter the trouble of thinking is. not (incumbent) on the brain, for (there) the brain and intellect (spontaneously) produce fields and orchards (of spiritual knowledge).
سوی دشت از دشت نکته بشنوی ** سوی باغ آیی شود نخلت روی
(If you turn) towards the field, you will hear from the field a subtle discourse; (if) you come to the orchard, your palm- tree will become fresh and flourishing.
اندرین ره ترک کن طاق و طرنب ** تا قلاوزت نجنبد تو مجنب
In this Way abandon ostentation: do not move unless your (spiritual) guide move.
هر که او بی سر بجنبد دم بود ** جنبشش چون جنبش کزدم بود1430
Any one who moves without the head (guide) is a (mere) tail (base and contemptible): his movement is like the movement of the scorpion.
کژرو و شب کور و زشت و زهرناک ** پیشه‌ی او خستن اجسام پاک
Going crookedly, night-blind and ugly and venomous—his trade is the wounding of the pure bodies (of the unworldly).
سر بکوب آن را که سرش این بود ** خلق و خوی مستمرش این بود
Beat the head of him whose inmost spirit is (like) this, and whose permanent nature and disposition is (like) this.
خود صلاح اوست آن سر کوفتن ** تا رهد جان‌ریزه‌اش زان شوم‌تن
In sooth ‘tis good for him to beat this head (of his), so that his puny-soul may be delivered from that ill-starred body.
واستان آن دست دیوانه سلاح ** تا ز تو راضی شود عدل و صلاح
Take away the weapons from the madman’s hand, that Justice and Goodness may be satisfied with you.
چون سلاحش هست و عقلش نه ببند ** دست او را ورنه آرد صد گزند1435
Since he has weapons and has no understanding, shackle his hand; otherwise he will inflict a hundred injuries.
بیان آنک حصول علم و مال و جاه بدگوهران را فضیحت اوست و چون شمشیریست کی افتادست به دست راه‌زن
Explaining that the acquisition of knowledge and wealth and rank by men of evil nature is the (means of) exposing him (such a one) to shame and is like a sword that has fallen into the hand of a brigand.
بدگهر را علم و فن آموختن ** دادن تیغی به دست راه‌زن
To teach the evil-natured man knowledge and skill is to put a sword in the hand of a brigand.
تیغ دادن در کف زنگی مست ** به که آید علم ناکس را به دست
It is better to put a sword in the hand of an intoxicated negro than that knowledge should come into the possession of a worthless person.