در زمانه مر ترا سه همره‌اند ** آن یکی وافی و این دو غدرمند 1045
In the world thou hast three fellow-travellers: one is faithful and these two (others) are treacherous.
آن یکی یاران و دیگر رخت و مال ** وآن سوم وافیست و آن حسن الفعال
One (of the latter) is friends and the other is goods and chattels; and the third (fellow-traveller) is faithful, and that one is excellence in deeds.
مال ناید با تو بیرون از قصور ** یار آید لیک آید تا به گور
(Thy) wealth will not come with thee out of thy palaces; (thy) friend will come, but he will come (only) as far as thy grave.
چون ترا روز اجل آید به پیش ** یار گوید از زبان حال خویش
When thy day of doom comes to meet thee, thy friend will say (to himself) in the language appropriate to his sentiments,
تا بدینجا بیش همره نیستم ** بر سر گورت زمانی بیستم
“(I have come) as far as here: I accompany thee no farther, I will stand a (little) while at thy grave.”
فعل تو وافیست زو کن ملتحد ** که در آید با تو در قعر لحد 1050
Thy deeds (alone) are faithful: make of them thy refuge, for they will come with thee into the depths of the tomb.
در تفسیر قول مصطفی علیه‌السلام لا بد من قرین یدفن معک و هو حی و تدفن معه و انت میت ان کان کریما اکرمک و ان کان لیما اسلمک و ذلک القرین عملک فاصلحه ما استطعت صدق رسول‌الله
Commentary on the saying of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, “Thou must needs have a familiar who is buried with thee, he being alive, and with whom thou art buried when thou art dead; if he be generous, he will treat thee generously, and if he be base, he will forsake thee. That familiar is thy works, so make them right as far as thou art able.” The Messenger of Allah spake the truth.
پس پیمبر گفت بهر این طریق ** باوفاتر از عمل نبود رفیق
Therefore the Prophet said, “For the purpose of (traversing) this Way there is no comrade more faithful than works.
گر بود نیکو ابد یارت شود ** ور بود بد در لحد مارت شود
If they be good they will be thy friends for ever, and if they be evil they will be (as) a snake in thy tomb.”
این عمل وین کسب در راه سداد ** کی توان کرد ای پدر بی‌اوستاد
How, O father, can one do this work and earning in the Way of righteousness without a master?
دون‌ترین کسبی که در عالم رود ** هیچ بی‌ارشاد استادی بود
The meanest earning that goes on in the world, is it ever (practised) without the guidance of a master?
اولش علمست آنگاهی عمل ** تا دهد بر بعد مهلت یا اجل 1055
Its beginning is knowledge; then (follows) action, that it may yield fruit after a time or after death.
استعینوا فی‌الحرف یا ذا النهی ** من کریم صالح من اهلها
Seek help in (acquiring) crafts, O possessor of intelligence, from a generous and righteous craftsman.
اطلب الدر اخی وسط الصدف ** واطلب الفن من ارباب الحرف
Seek the pearl in the oyster-shell, my brother, and seek technical skill from the craftsmen.
ان رایتم ناصحین انصفوا ** بادروا التعلیم لا تستنکفوا
If ye see sincere (spiritual) advisers, deal fairly (with them) and be eager to learn: do not show disdain.
در دباغی گر خلق پوشید مرد ** خواجگی خواجه را آن کم نکرد
If the man (engaged) in tanning wore a threadbare garment, that did not diminish the master's mastery (of his trade);
وقت دم آهنگر ار پوشید دلق ** احتشام او نشد کم پیش خلق 1060
If the ironsmith wore a patched frock when blowing the bellows, his reputation was not impaired in the eyes of the people.
پس لباس کبر بیرون کن ز تن ** ملبس ذل پوش در آموختن
Therefore strip the raiment of pride from thy body: in learning, put on the garment of humility.
علم آموزی طریقش قولی است ** حرفت آموزی طریقش فعلی است
If thou wouldst learn (theoretical) knowledge, the way of (acquiring) it is oral; if thou wouldst learn a craft, the way of (acquiring) it is practical (by practice).
فقر خواهی آن به صحبت قایمست ** نه زبانت کار می‌آید نه دست
If thou desire (spiritual) poverty, that depends on companionship (with a Shaykh): neither thy tongue nor thy hand avails.
دانش آن را ستاند جان ز جان ** نه ز راه دفتر و نه از زبان
Soul receives from soul the knowledge thereof, not by way of book nor from tongue.
در دل سالک اگر هست آن رموز ** رمزدانی نیست سالک را هنوز 1065
If those mysteries (of spiritual poverty) are in the traveller's heart, knowledge of the mystery is not yet possessed by the traveller.
تا دلش را شرح آن سازد ضیا ** پس الم نشرح بفرماید خدا
(Let him wait) until the expansion (illumination) of his heart shall make it (full of) the Light: then God saith, “Did not We expand …?
که درون سینه شرحت داده‌ایم ** شرح اندر سینه‌ات بنهاده‌ایم
For We have given thee the expansion (illumination) within thy breast, We have put the expansion into thy breast.”
تو هنوز از خارج آن را طالبی ** محلبی از دیگران چون حالبی
Thou art still seeking it from outside; thou art a source of milk: how art thou a milker of others?
چشمه‌ی شیرست در تو بی‌کنار ** تو چرا می‌شیر جویی از تغار
There is an illimitable fountain of milk within thee: why art thou seeking milk from the pail?