او به سر با خالق خود راستست ** چون اجل آید بر آرد باد دست
Secretly it is loyal to its Creator: when the appointed term arrives, the wind will throw up its hands (and desert you).”
باد را اندر دهن بین ره‌گذر ** هر نفس آیان روان در کر و فر
See how the wind passes through the mouth, coming and going at every moment in advance and retreat.
حلق و دندان‌ها ازو آمن بود ** حق چو فرماید به دندان در فتد
The throat and teeth are in no danger from it; (but) when God commands, it attacks the teeth;
کوه گردد ذره‌ای باد و ثقیل ** درد دندان داردش زار و علیل 4685
(And then) a (mere) atom of wind becomes (like) a mountain and heavy, and toothache keeps him (the sufferer) miserable and ill.
این همان بادست که امن می‌گذشت ** بود جان کشت و گشت او مرگ کشت
This is the same wind that used to pass by harmlessly: it was the life of the crops and it became the death of the crops.
دست آن کس که بکردت دست‌بوس ** وقت خشم آن دست می‌گردد دبوس
The hand of the person who (formerly) kissed thy hand—in the moment of anger that hand becomes a mace.
یا رب و یا رب بر آرد او ز جان ** که ببر این باد را ای مستعان
He (who has toothache) cries from his soul, “O Lord! O Lord! Take away this wind, O Thou whose aid is besought (by all)!
ای دهان غافل بدی زین باد رو ** از بن دندان در استغفار شو
O mouth, thou wert heedless of this wind: (now) go and betake thyself to asking pardon of God with utter abasement.”
چشم سختش اشک‌ها باران کند ** منکران را درد الله‌خوان کند 4690
His hard eye (now) sheds tears like rain: (only) pain causes the unbelievers to call unto God.
چون دم مردان نپذرفتی ز مرد ** وحی حق را هین پذیرا شو ز درد
Since thou hast not received the breath (inspiration) of (holy) men from a (holy) man, hark, receive the Divine inspiration from pain.
باد گوید پیکم از شاه بشر ** گه خبر خیر آورم گه شوم و شر
The wind says, “I am a messenger from the King of mankind: now I bring good news, now calamitous and bad;
ز آنک مامورم امیر خود نیم ** من چو تو غافل ز شاه خود کیم
For I am subject to command, I am not in command of myself: when am I forgetful, like thee, of my King?
گر سلیمان‌وار بودی حال تو ** چون سلیمان گشتمی حمال تو
If thy (spiritual) state resembled that of Solomon, I should have carried thee as (I carried) Solomon.
عاریه‌ستم گشتمی ملک کفت ** کردمی بر راز خود من واقفت 4695
I am (only) lent (to thee); I should have become a possession in thy hand: I should have made thee acquainted with my mystery.
لیک چون تو یاغیی من مستعار ** می‌کنم خدمت ترا روزی سه چار
But since thou art rebellious and I am (only) taken on loan to serve thee for three or four days,
پس چو عادت سرنگونی‌ها دهم ** ز اسپه تو یاغیانه بر جهم
Therefore I will lay thee low, like ‘Ád, and dash away in revolt from thy army,
تا به غیب ایمان تو محکم شود ** آن زمان که ایمانت مایه‌ی غم شود
In order that thy faith in the Unseen may become firm at the moment when thy faith is (only) a source of woe.”
آن زمان خود جملگان مؤمن شوند ** آن زمان خود سرکشان بر سر دوند
(For) at that moment, in sooth, all become believers: at that moment even the (most) headstrong run on their heads.
آن زمان زاری کنند و افتقار ** هم‌چو دزد و راه‌زن در زیر دار 4700
At that moment they cry piteously and make humble supplication, like robbers and brigands under the gibbet.
لیک گر در غیب گردی مستوی ** مالک دارین و شحنه‌ی خود توی
But if you become upright in (your faith in) the Unseen, you are owner of the two worlds and a magistrate (exercising sovereign authority) over yourself.
شحنگی و پادشاهی مقیم ** نه دو روزه و مستعارست و سقیم
The abiding (spiritual) magistracy and kingship is not (something) taken on loan for two days and ailing (perishable).
رستی از بیگار و کار خود کنی ** هم تو شاه و هم تو طبل خود زنی
(Possessing that) you are delivered from strife and can act for yourself: you are king and at the same time beating your own drum.
چون گلو تنگ آورد بر ما جهان ** خاک خوردی کاشکی حلق و دهان
When the World squeezes our throats tightly, would that our gullets and mouths had eaten (only) earth!
این دهان خود خاک‌خواری آمدست ** لیک خاکی را که آن رنگین شدست 4705
This mouth, indeed, has (always) been an eater of earth; but an earth that has been coloured.
این کباب و این شراب و این شکر ** خاک رنگینست و نقشین ای پسر
This roast-meat and this wine and this sugar are (merely) coloured and painted earth, O son.