If I eat bread without the view of God's attributes, it will stick in my throat.”
چون گوارد لقمه بیدیدار او ** بیتماشای گل و گلزار او3080
How should a morsel digest without the sight of Him, without the view of His roses and rose-garden?
جز بر امید خدا زین آب خور ** کی خورد یک لحظه الا گاو و خر
Save in hope of God, who but an ox or ass would for one moment partake of this food and drink?
آن که کالانعام بد بل هم اضل ** گر چه پر مکر است آن گنده بغل
(Who but) he that was like the cattle, nay, more lost?—though (indeed) that stinkard is full of cunning.
مکر او سر زیر و او سر زیر شد ** روزگاری برد و روزش دیر شد
His cunning went headlong (to ruin), and he went headlong: he passed a little while, and his day set.
فکرگاهش کند شد عقلش خرف ** عمر شد چیزی ندارد چون الف
His brain became dull, his mind doting: his life is gone—and like (the letter) alif he hath nothing.
آن چه میگوید در این اندیشهام ** آن هم از دستان آن نفس است هم3085
(As for) his saying, “I am thinking about it”—that too is only (part) of the deceit of the fleshly soul;
و انچه میگوید غفور است و رحیم ** نیست آن جز حیلهی نفس لئیم
And (as for) his saying, “He (God) is forgiving and merciful” —that is naught but a trick of the villainous flesh.
ای ز غم مرده که دست از نان تهی است ** چون غفور است و رحیم این ترس چیست
O thou that art dead with anxiety because thy hands are empty of bread, what is this fear, since He is forgiving and merciful?
شکایت گفتن پیر مردی به طبیب از رنجوریها و جواب گفتن طبیب او را
How an old man complained of his ailments to a doctor, and how the doctor answered him.
گفت پیری مر طبیبی را که من ** در زحیرم از دماغ خویشتن
An old man said to a doctor, “I am in torment because of my brain.”
گفت از پیری است آن ضعف دماغ ** گفت بر چشمم ز ظلمت هست داغ
The doctor replied, “That weakness of brain is from age.” Said the old man, “There are spots of darkness on my eyes.”
گفت از پیری است ای شیخ قدیم ** گفت پشتم درد میآید عظیم3090
“It is from age, O ancient Shaykh,” said the doctor. “Awful pain comes in my back,” said he.
گفت از پیری است ای شیخ نزار ** گفت هر چه میخورم نبود گوار
“It is from age, O emaciated Shaykh” said the doctor. “Whatever I eat,” said he, “is not digested.”
گفت ضعف معده هم از پیری است ** گفت وقت دم مرا دم گیری است
The doctor replied, “Weakness of stomach also is (the result) of age.” Said he, “When I breathe, respiration is hard for me.”
گفت آری انقطاع دم بود ** چون رسد پیری دو صد علت شود
“Yes,” he said, “it is asthma*; when old age arrives, two hundred diseases come on.”
گفت ای احمق بر این بر دوختی ** از طبیبی تو همین آموختی
“O fool,” he exclaimed, “you have stuck at this: this is all that you have learned of medicine.
ای مدمغ عقلت این دانش نداد ** که خدا هر رنج را درمان نهاد3095
O crack-brained man, your intellect has not given you this knowledge, that God hath appointed a remedy for every pain.
تو خر احمق ز اندک مایگی ** بر زمین ماندی ز کوتهپایگی
You, stupid ass, from poorness of ability have remained (fallen) on the ground for want of a sufficient foothold.”
پس طبیبش گفت ای عمر تو شصت ** این غضب وین خشم هم از پیری است
Then the doctor said to him, “O sexagenarian, this anger and this choler are also from old age.
چون همه اوصاف و اجزا شد نحیف ** خویشتنداری و صبرت شد ضعیف
Since all the functions and parts (of your body) are atrophied, your self-control and patience have become weak.”
بر نتابد دو سخن زو هی کند ** تاب یک جرعه ندارد قی کند
He (an old man) cannot endure two words, he cries out thereat; he cannot retain one draught, he vomits (it)—
جز مگر پیری که از حق است مست ** در درون او حیات طیبه است3100
Except, to be sure, the Ancient (Pír) that is drunken with God, and in whose inward being there is “a goodly life.”
از برون پیر است و در باطن صبی ** خود چه چیز است آن ولی و آن نبی
Outwardly he is old, but within he is young. What thing, verily, is he? He is the saint and the prophet.
گر نه پیدایند پیش نیک و بد ** چیست با ایشان خسان را این حسد
If they are not manifest to the good and the evil (alike), what is this envy which the worthless bear against them?
ور نمیدانندشان علم الیقین ** چیست این بغض و حیل سازی و کین
And if they do not know them with certain knowledge, what is this hatred and hatching of plots and enmity?
ور نمیدانند بعث و رستخیز ** چون زنندی خویش بر شمشیر تیز
And (again), if they know the retribution (which shall take place) at the Resurrection and rising from the dead, how should they dash themselves against a sharp sword?
بر تو میخندد مبین او را چنان ** صد قیامت در درون استش نهان3105
He (the prophet or saint) smiles upon you, (but) do not deem him to be such (as he appears): in his inward consciousness are hidden a hundred Resurrections.
دوزخ و جنت همه اجزای اوست ** هر چه اندیشی تو او بالای اوست
Hell and Paradise are entirely parts of him: he is beyond any thought that you may conceive (of him).
هر چه اندیشی پذیرای فناست ** آن که در اندیشه ناید آن خداست
All that you may think of is liable to pass away; he that comes not into thought is God.
بر در این خانه گستاخی ز چیست ** گر همیدانند کاندر خانه کیست
Wherefore (then do they behave with) presumption at the door of this house, if they know who is within the house?
ابلهان تعظیم مسجد میکنند ** در جفای اهل دل جد میکنند
Fools venerate the mosque and exert themselves in maltreating them that have the heart (in which God dwells).
آن مجاز است این حقیقت ای خران ** نیست مسجد جز درون سروران3110
That (mosque) is phenomenal, this (heart) is real, O asses! The (true) mosque is naught but the hearts of the (spiritual) captains.
مسجدی کان اندرون اولیاست ** سجدهگاه جمله است آن جا خداست
The mosque that is the inward (consciousness) of the saints is the place of worship for all: God is there.
تا دل مرد خدا نامد به درد ** هیچ قومی را خدا رسوا نکرد
Until the heart of the man of God was grieved, never did God put any generation to shame.
قصد جنگ انبیا میداشتند ** جسم دیدند آدمی پنداشتند
They were going to make war on the prophets: they saw the body (of the prophet), they supposed he was a man.
در تو هست اخلاق آن پیشینیان ** چون نمیترسی که تو باشی همان
In thee are the moral natures of those peoples of yore: how art not thou afraid lest thou be the same (as they)?
آن نشانیها همه چون در تو هست ** چون تو زیشانی کجا خواهی برست3115
Forasmuch as all those marks are in thee, and thou art (one) of them, how wilt thou be saved?
قصهی جوحی و آن کودک که پیش جنازهی پدر خویش نوحه میکرد
The story of Júhí and the child who cried lamentably beside his father's bier.
کودکی در پیش تابوت پدر ** زار مینالید و بر میکوفت سر
A child was crying bitterly and beating his head beside his father's coffin,
کای پدر آخر کجایت میبرند ** تا ترا در زیر خاکی بسپرند
Saying, “Why, father, where are they taking you to put you under some earth?
میبرندت خانهی تنگ و زحیر ** نی در او قالی و نه در وی حصیر
They are taking you to a narrow and noisome house: there is no carpet in it, nor any mat;
نی چراغی در شب و نه روز نان ** نی در او بوی طعام و نه نشان
No lamp at night and no bread by day; neither smell nor sign of food is there.
نی درش معمور و نی در بام راه ** نی یکی همسایه کاو باشد پناه3120
No door in good repair, no way to the roof; not one neighbour to be (your) refuge.
چشم تو که بوسه گاه خلق بود ** چون رود در خانهی کور و کبود
Your eye, which was a place for the people's kisses—how should it go into a blind and murky house?—
خانهی بیزینهار و جای تنگ ** که در او نه روی میماند نه رنگ
A pitiless house and narrow room, where neither (your) face will be lasting nor (your) colour.”
زین نسق اوصاف خانه میشمرد ** وز دو دیده اشک خونین میفشرد
In this manner was he enumerating the qualities of the house, whilst he wrung tears of blood from his two eyes.
گفت جوحی را پدر ای ارجمند ** و الله این را خانهی ما میبرند
Júhí said to his father, “O worthy (sir), by God they are taking this (corpse) to our house.”
گفت جوحی را پدر ابله مشو ** گفت ای بابا نشانیها شنو3125
The father said to Júhí, “Don't be a fool!” “O papa,” said he, “hear the marks (of identity).
این نشانیها که گفت او یک به یک ** خانهی ما راست بیتردید و شک
These marks which he mentioned one by one—our house has them (all), without uncertainty or doubt.
نی حصیر و نه چراغ و نه طعام ** نه درش معمور و نه صحن و نه بام
(It has) neither mat nor lamp nor food; neither its door is in good repair, nor its court nor its roof.”