جانب کعبه نرفتی پای پیل ** با همه لت نه کثیر و نه قلیل
In spite of all blows the Elephant's feet would not move, either much or little, towards the Ka‘ba.
گفتیی خود خشک شد پاهای او ** یا بمرد آن جان صول‌افزای او
You would have said that its legs were paralysed or that its impetuous spirit was dead.
چونک کردندی سرش سوی یمن ** پیل نر صد اسپه گشتی گام‌زن
(But) whenever they turned its head towards Yemen, the fierce Elephant would begin to stride (forward) with the speed of a hundred horses.
حس پیل از زخم غیب آگاه بود ** چون بود حس ولی با ورود
(Since) the Elephant's perception was aware of the blow (coming) from the Unseen, how (much more) must the perception of the saint (endowed) with (the Divine) afflatus be (aware)!
نه که یعقوب نبی آن پاک‌خو ** بهر یوسف با همه اخوان او 2750
Is it not (the case) that the prophet Jacob, that man of holy nature, (said) for Joseph's sake to all his (Joseph's) brethren—
از پدر چون خواستندش دادران ** تا برندش سوی صحرا یک زمان
When the brothers begged their father to give him to them, that they might take him to the country for a while,
جمله گفتندش میندیش از ضرر ** یک دو روزش مهلتی ده ای پدر
(And) they all said to him, “Do not be afraid of harm (befalling him): give him one or two days' time, O father;
که چرا ما را نمی داری امین ** یوسف خود را به سیران و ظعین
For why wilt not thou entrust thy Joseph to us in going about and travelling (for pleasure),
تا به هم در مرجها بازی کنیم ** ما درین دعوت امین و محسنیم
That we may play together in the meadows? In (making) this request we are trustworthy and beneficent”—
گفت این دانم که نقلش از برم ** می‌فروزد در دلم درد و سقم 2755
Did not he (Jacob) say (to them), “I know this, that (the thought of) his being removed from me is kindling grief and sickness in my heart;
این دلم هرگز نمی‌گوید دروغ ** که ز نور عرش دارد دل فروغ
This heart of mine never lies, for my heart is illumined by the light of the highest heaven”?
آن دلیل قاطعی بد بر فساد ** وز قضا آن را نکرد او اعتداد
That (foreboding) was a decisive proof of (their) wickedness, but by (Divine) destiny he took no account (of it).
در گذشت از وی نشانی آن‌چنان ** که قضا در فلسفه بود آن زمان
An intimation like that passed away from him (from his mind), because Destiny was at that moment (engaged) in (putting into operation the Divine) philosophy.
این عجب نبود که کور افتد به چاه ** بوالعجب افتادن بینای راه
’Tis no wonder that a blind man should fall into a pit, (but) the falling of one who can see the way is beyond all wonder.
این قضا را گونه گون تصریفهاست ** چشم‌بندش یفعل‌الله ما یشاست 2760
This Destiny employs diverse shifts: its eye-binding spell is God doeth what He pleaseth.
هم بداند هم نداند دل فنش ** موم گردد بهر آن مهر آهنش
The heart knows and yet knows not its (Destiny's) artfulness: its (hard) iron becomes (soft) as wax for the seal.
گوییی دل گویدی که میل او ** چون درین شد هرچه افتد باش گو
’Tis as though the heart should say (to itself), “Since its (Destiny's) inclination is turned to (bringing) this (to pass), whatever may happen, let it come!”
خویش را زین هم مغفل می‌کند ** در عقالش جان معقل می‌کند
Accordingly it makes itself heedless of this (happening) and binds its soul fast in the shackle thereof.
گر شود مات اندرین آن بوالعلا ** آن نباشد مات باشد ابتلا
If that exalted one (the prophet or saint) is checkmated (worsted) in this (matter), ’tis not (really) checkmate, ’tis tribulation.
یک بلا از صد بلااش وا خرد ** یک هبوطش بر معارجها برد 2765
A single tribulation redeems him from a hundred tribulations, a single fall takes him (high) up on the ladders (of spiritual ascent).
خام شوخی که رهانیدش مدام ** از خمار صد هزاران زشت خام
The half-baked saucy fellow, whom the wine (of Love) has relieved from the surfeit of intoxication with a hundred thousand wicked half-baked (persons like himself),
عاقبت او پخته و استاد شد ** جست از رق جهان و آزاد شد
Finally becomes mature and adept: he escapes from enslavement to this world and is made free.
از شراب لایزالی گشت مست ** شد ممیز از خلایق باز رست
He is made drunken with the everlasting wine, he becomes (spiritually) discerning, and is delivered from created beings,
ز اعتقاد سست پر تقلیدشان ** وز خیال دیده‌ی بی‌دیدشان
From their weak conventional faith and from the illusions of their unseeing eyes.
ای عجب چه فن زند ادراکشان ** پیش جزر و مد بحر بی‌نشان 2770
Oh, what device can their mental perception employ, I wonder, against the ebb and flow of the trackless Sea?