یک گره را بر هوا درهم زدی ** تا چو خشخاش استخوان ریزان شدی 4820
One party it hurled against each other in the air, so that their bones crumbled like poppy-seed.
آن سیاست را که لرزید آسمان ** مثنوی اندر نگنجد شرح آن
There is no room in the Mathnawí to describe fully that chastisement whereat Heaven trembled.
گر به طبع این می‌کنی ای باد سرد ** گرد خط و دایره‌ی آن هود گرد
If, O icy wind, thou art doing this by (thine own) nature, (then) try to invade the line and circle drawn by Húd!
ای طبیعی فوق طبع این ملک بین ** یا بیا و محو کن از مصحف این
O natural philosopher, perceive that this kingdom (of God) is above Nature, or else come and (if thou canst) wipe out this (narrative) from the Holy Book!
مقریان را منع کن بندی بنه ** یا معلم را به مال و سهم ده
Prohibit those who recite the Qur’án (professionally) and impose a ban (upon them), or punish the teacher and put terror into him!
عاجزی و خیره کن عجز از کجاست ** عجز تو تابی از آن روز جزاست 4825
Thou art helpless and unable to understand the cause of this helplessness: thy helplessness is a reflexion (foretaste) of the Day of Retribution.
عجزها داری تو در پیش ای لجوج ** وقت شد پنهانیان را نک خروج
O perverse man, thou hast many a helpless plight before thee: (when) the hour comes, lo, the hide-aways will emerge!
خرم آن کین عجز و حیرت قوت اوست ** در دو عالم خفته اندر ظل دوست
Happy is he whose (spiritual) food is this helplessness and bewilderment and who in both worlds is sleeping in the shadow (protection) of the Beloved.
هم در آخر عجز خود را او بدید ** مرده شد دین عجایز را گزید
He (such an one) is conscious of being helpless both in the stable (of the present life) and in the last (future) state: he is dead (to self), he has adopted “the old women's religion.”
چون زلیخا یوسفش بر وی بتافت ** از عجوزی در جوانی راه یافت
(He is) like Zalíkhá, (who), when Joseph beamed upon her, found the way from decrepitude to youth.
زندگی در مردن و در محنتست ** آب حیوان در درون ظلمتست 4830
Life depends on dying (to self) and on suffering tribulation: the Water of Life is in the (Land of) Darkness.
رجوع کردن به قصه‌ی پروردن حق تعالی نمرود را بی‌واسطه‌ی مادر و دایه در طفلی
Resuming the Story of the most High God's bringing up Nimrod in his childhood without the intervention of mother and nurse.
حاصل آن روضه چو باغ عارفان ** از سموم صرصر آمد در امان
“In short, that garden, like the (spiritual) orchard of gnostics, was secure from the simoom and the sarsar wind.
یک پلنگی طفلکان نو زاده بود ** گفتم او را شیر ده طاعت نمود
A leopardess (there) had newly given birth to cubs: I bade her give milk to him (Nimrod), and she obeyed.
پس بدادش شیر و خدمتهاش کرد ** تا که بالغ گشت و زفت و شیرمرد
So she gave him milk and tended him till he grew up and became strong and valiant.
چون فطامش شد بگفتم با پری ** تا در آموزید نطق و داوری
When he was weaned, I told the peris (Jinn) to teach him how to discourse and deal justice.
پرورش دادم مر او را زان چمن ** کی بگفت اندر بگنجد فن من 4835
I gave him nourishment from that garden: how should (the description of) My artfulness be contained in words.
داده من ایوب را مهر پدر ** بهر مهمانی کرمان بی‌ضرر
I bestowed on Job a father's love in order that he might entertain the worms hospitably and do them no harm.
داده کرمان را برو مهر ولد ** بر پدر من اینت قدرت اینت ید
I bestowed on the worms love for him like that of children for their father. Look, here is (a token of My) Power, here is (a token of My) Hand!
مادران را داب من آموختم ** چون بود لطفی که من افروختم
I have taught mothers to care (for their children): how (infinite) must be the kindness that I have kindled!
صد عنایت کردم و صد رابطه ** تا ببیند لطف من بی‌واسطه
(Unto him) I showed a hundred favours and (knit) a hundred ties (of obligation), that he might experience My kindness directly,
تا نباشد از سبب در کش‌مکش ** تا بود هر استعانت از منش 4840
And not be distracted by any secondary cause, to the end that every call for help should be made by him to Me,
ورنه تا خود هیچ عذری نبودش ** شکوتی نبود ز هر یار بدش
Or at least that he should have no excuse (for turning elsewhere) and no occasion to complain of any evil companion.
این حضانه دید با صد رابطه ** که بپروردم ورا بی‌واسطه
He enjoyed this tender care (cemented) by a hundred ties, for I fostered him (Myself) without an intermediary.
شکر او آن بود ای بنده‌ی جلیل ** که شد او نمرود و سوزنده‌ی خلیل
His thanks, O honoured servant, were this, that he became Nimrod and the burner of Khalíl (Abraham)”—
هم‌چنان کین شاه‌زاده شکر شاه ** کرد استکبار و استکثار جاه
Just as this prince, in return for the favours of the King, showed arrogance and sought to aggrandise himself,