مشورت کن با گروه صالحان ** بر پیمبر امر شاورهم بدان
Take counsel with the company of the righteous: note the (Divine) command (given) to the Prophet, “Consult them.”
امرهم شوری برای این بود ** کز تشاور سهو و کژ کمتر رود
(The words) their affair is (a matter for) consultation are to this (the same) purpose, for owing to consultation mistakes and errors occur less (frequently).
این خردها چون مصابیح انورست ** بیست مصباح از یک روشن‌ترست
These (human) intellects are luminous like lamps: twenty lamps are brighter than one.
بوک مصباحی فتد اندر میان ** مشتعل گشته ز نور آسمان
There may happen to be amongst them a lamp that has become aflame with the light of Heaven,
غیرت حق پرده‌ای انگیختست ** سفلی و علوی به هم آمیختست 2615
(For) the jealousy of God has produced a veil (of concealment) and has mingled the low and the lofty together.
گفت سیروا می‌طلب اندر جهان ** بخت و روزی را همی‌کن امتحان
He hath said, “Travel”: always be seeking in the world and trying your fortune and (destined) lot.
در مجالس می‌طلب اندر عقول ** آن چنان عقلی که بود اندر رسول
In (all) assembly-places always be seeking amidst the intellects such an intellect as is (found) in the Prophet,
زانک میراث از رسول آنست و بس ** که ببیند غیبها از پیش و پس
For the only heritage from the Prophet is that (intellect) which perceives the unseen things before and behind (future and past).
در بصرها می‌طلب هم آن بصر ** که نتابد شرح آن این مختصر
Amidst the (inward) eyes, too, always be seeking that (inward) eye which this epitome has not the power to describe.
بهر این کردست منع آن با شکوه ** از ترهب وز شدن خلوت به کوه 2620
Hence the majestic (Prophet) has forbidden monkery and going to live as a hermit in the mountains,
تا نگردد فوت این نوع التقا ** کان نظر بختست و اکسیر بقا
In order that this kind of meeting (with saints) should not be lost; for to be looked on by them is fortune and an elixir of immortality.
در میان صالحان یک اصلحیست ** بر سر توقیعش از سلطان صحیست
Amongst the righteous there is one (who is) the most righteous: on his diploma (is inscribed) by the Sultan's hand a sahh,
کان دعا شد با اجابت مقترن ** کفو او نبود کبار انس و جن
(Indicating) that the prayer (uttered by him) is (inseparably) linked with acceptance, (and that) the greatest of men and Jinn are not his peers.
در مری‌اش آنک حلو و حامض است ** حجت ایشان بر حق داحض است
(When) those who are sweet or sour (engage) in contention with him, in God's sight their argument is null,
که چو ما او را به خود افراشتیم ** عذر و حجت از میان بر داشتیم 2625
For (God says), “As We have exalted him by (grace of) Ourselves, We have done away with (every) plea and argument (against him).”
قبله را چون کرد دست حق عیان ** پس تحری بعد ازین مردود دان
Since the Hand of God has made the Qibla manifest, henceforth deem searching to be disallowed.
هین بگردان از تحری رو و سر ** که پدید آمد معاد و مستقر
Hark, avert your face and head from searching, now that the Destination and Dwelling-place has come into view.
یک زمان زین قبله گر ذاهل شوی ** سخره‌ی هر قبله‌ی باطل شوی
If you forget this Qibla for one moment, you will become in thrall to every worthless qibla (object of desire).
چون شوی تمییزده را ناسپاس ** بجهد از تو خطرت قبله‌شناس
When you show ingratitude to him that gives you discernment, the thought that recognises the Qibla will dart away from you.
گر ازین انبار خواهی بر و بر ** نیم‌ساعت هم ز همدردان مبر 2630
If you desire benefit and (spiritual) wheat from this Barn, do not part, even for half an hour, from those who sympathise,
که در آن دم که ببری زین معین ** مبتلی گردی تو با بس القرین
For at the moment when you part from this helper you will be afflicted with an evil comrade
حکایت تعلق موش با چغز و بستن پای هر دو به رشته‌ای دراز و بر کشیدن زاغ موش را و معلق شدن چغز و نالیدن و پشیمانی او از تعلق با غیر جنس و با جنس خود ناساختن
Story of the attachment between the mouse and the frog: how they tied their legs together with a long string, and how a raven carried off the mouse, and how the frog was suspended (in the air) and lamented and repented of having attached himself to an animal of a different species instead of sorting with one of his own kind.
از قضا موشی و چغزی با وفا ** بر لب جو گشته بودند آشنا
As it happened, a mouse and a faithful frog had become friends on the bank of a river.
هر دو تن مربوط میقاتی شدند ** هر صباحی گوشه‌ای می‌آمدند
Both of them were bound to (keep) a (daily) tryst: every morning they would come into a nook,
نرد دل با هم‌دگر می‌باختند ** از وساوس سینه می‌پرداختند
(Where) they played heart-and-soul with one another and emptied their breasts of evil (suspicious) thoughts.
هر دو را دل از تلاقی متسع ** هم‌دگر را قصه‌خوان و مستمع 2635
The hearts of both swelled (with joy) from meeting: they recited stories and listened to each other,