مرگ‌جو باشی ولی نه از عجز رنج ** بلک بینی در خراب خانه گنج
Thou wilt be seeking death, but not from painful infirmity; nay, thou wilt see the treasure in the ruin of the house (of the body).
پس به دست خویش گیری تیشه‌ای ** می‌زنی بر خانه بی‌اندیشه‌ای
Therefore with thine own hand thou wilt take a pick-axe and smite upon the house without any care;
که حجاب گنج بینی خانه را ** مانع صد خرمن این یک دانه را2535
For thou wilt deem the house to be the barrier to the treasure, and this single grain to be the obstacle to a hundred corn-stacks.
پس در آتش افکنی این دانه را ** پیش گیری پیشه‌ی مردانه را
This grain, then, thou wilt cast into the fire and adopt the (only) profession that is worthy of a man.”
ای به یک برگی ز باغی مانده ** هم‌چو کرمی برگش از رز رانده
O thou who because of (addiction to) a single leaf hast been left without (enjoyment of) a (whole) orchard, thou art like the worm which (desire for) a leaf has driven away from (deprived of) the vineyard.
چون کرم این کرم را بیدار کرد ** اژدهای جهل را این کرم خورد
When Grace awakened this worm, this worm devoured the dragon of ignorance.
کرم کرمی شد پر از میوه و درخت ** این چنین تبدیل گردد نیکبخت
The worm became a vineyard full of fruit and trees: even so is the blessed man transformed.
تفسیر کنت کنزا مخفیا فاحببت ان اعرف
Exposition of "I was a hidden treasure, and I desired to be known."
خانه بر کن کز عقیق این یمن ** صد هزاران خانه شاید ساختن2540
Demolish the house, for a hundred thousand houses may be made from the cornelian of this Yemen.
گنج زیر خانه است و چاره نیست ** از خرابی خانه مندیش و مه‌ایست
The treasure lies beneath the house, and there is no help (for it): do not be afraid of destroying the house and do not stand still,
که هزاران خانه از یک نقد گنج ** توان عمارت کرد بی‌تکلیف و رنج
For from one treasure in hand it is possible to build a thousand houses without suffering toil and pain.
عاقبت این خانه خود ویران شود ** گنج از زیرش یقین عریان شود
In the end this house will fall of itself into ruin and the treasure beneath it will certainly be uncovered;
لیک آن تو نباشد زانک روح ** مزد ویران کردنستش آن فتوح
But it (the treasure) will not be thine, since the spirit receives that (Divine) gift as wages for destroying (the house).
چون نکرد آن کار مزدش هست لا ** لییس للانسان الا ما سعی2545
When it has not done that work, its wages are naught: there is nothing for Man (hereafter) but (the recompense for) that which he wrought (here).
دست خایی بعد از آن تو کای دریغ ** این چنین ماهی بد اندر زیر میغ
After that, thou wilt gnaw thy hand (in remorse), saying, “Alas, a moon like this was (concealed) under the cloud.
من نکردم آنچ گفتند از بهی ** گنج رفت و خانه و دستم تهی
I did not do the good which they told (me to do): the treasure and the house are gone, and my hand is empty.”
خانه‌ی اجرت گرفتی و کری ** نیست ملک تو به بیعی یا شری
Thou hast rented and hired a house: it is not thy property by any act of sale or purchase.
این کری را مدت او تا اجل ** تا درین مدت کنی در وی عمل
The period of this hiring is till death, in order that thou mayst work in it (the house) during this period.
پاره‌دوزی می‌کنی اندر دکان ** زیر این دکان تو مدفون دو کان2550
Thou art sewing patches in the shop, (while) under this shop of thine two mines (of treasure) are buried.
هست این دکان کرایی زود باش ** تیشه بستان و تکش را می‌تراش
This shop is held on hire: be quick, take the pick-axe and break up its foundation,
تا که تیشه ناگهان بر کان نهی ** از دکان و پاره‌دوزی وا رهی
That of a sudden thou mayst lay the axe on the mine and be delivered from the shop and from patch-sewing.
پاره‌دوزی چیست خورد آب و نان ** می‌زنی این پاره بر دلق گران
What is patch-sewing? The drinking of water and the eating of bread: thou art applying these patches to the heavy cloak.
هر زمان می‌درد این دلق تنت ** پاره بر وی می‌زنی زین خوردنت
This cloak, thy body, is always being torn, and thou art patching it by this eating and drinking of thine.
ای ز نسل پادشاه کامیار ** با خود آ زین پاره‌دوزی ننگ دار2555
O thou who art of the progeny of the fortunate King, come to thyself, be ashamed of this patch-sewing.
پاره‌ای بر کن ازین قعر دکان ** تا برآرد سر به پیش تو دو کان
Tear a patch (piece) from off this shop-floor, in order that two mines (of treasure) may lift up their head (emerge into view) before thee,
پیش از آن کین مهلت خانه‌ی کری ** آخر آید تو نخورده زو بری
Ere this lease of the hired house come to an end without thy having gained any profit from it.
پس ترا بیرون کند صاحب دکان ** وین دکان را بر کند از روی کان
Then the owner of the shop will turn thee out and will demolish this shop for the sake of the (hidden) mine,
تو ز حسرت گاه بر سر می‌زنی ** گاه ریش خام خود بر می‌کنی
(While) thou at one moment wilt beat thy head in remorse, and at another tear thy foolish beard,
کای دریغا آن من بود این دکان ** کور بودم بر نخوردم زین مکان2560
Saying, “Alas, this shop was mine, (but) I was blind and got no profit from this place of abode.
ای دریغا بود ما را برد باد ** تا ابد یا حسرتا شد للعباد
Alas, the wind swept our existence away: (the text) O sorrow for the servants of God is come (true) unto everlasting.
غره شدن آدمی به ذکاوت و تصویرات طبع خویشتن و طلب ناکردن علم غیب کی علم انبیاست
[How Man is deluded by the sagacity and imaginations of his (carnal) nature and does not seek knowledge of the Unseen, which is the knowledge possessed by the prophets.]
دیدم اندر خانه من نقش و نگار ** بودم اندر عشق خانه بی‌قرار
I saw (beautiful) pictures and paintings in the house: I was without self-control in (my) love of the house.
بودم از گنج نهانی بی‌خبر ** ورنه دستنبوی من بودی تبر
I was unaware of any hidden treasure; otherwise, the axe would have been (as) the pomander in my hand.
آه گر داد تبر را دادمی ** این زمان غم را تبرا دادمی
Ah, if I had given the axe its due, I should now have given a quittance to (should have been quit of) grief.
چشم را بر نقش می‌انداختم ** هم‌چو طفلان عشقها می‌باختم2565
I was casting my eye on the picture and falling idly in love (with it), like children.”
پس نکو گفت آن حکیم کامیار ** که تو طفلی خانه پر نقش و نگار
That fortunate Sage, then, has said well, “Thou art a child: the house is full of pictures and paintings.”
در الهی‌نامه بس اندرز کرد ** که بر آر دودمان خویش گرد
In the Iláhí-náma he gave many an injunction, saying, “Raise the dust from (utterly demolish) thine own household.”
بس کن ای موسی بگو وعده‌ی سوم ** که دل من ز اضطرابش گشت گم
(Pharaoh said), “Enough, O Moses! Tell (me) the third promise, for my heart has become lost (distraught) from the agitation caused by (eagerness to hear) it.”
گفت موسی آن سوم ملک دوتو ** دو جهانی خالص از خصم و عدو
Moses said, “This third (promise) is a twofold empire—(an empire) appertaining to the two worlds (temporal and spiritual), free from adversary and enemy;
بیشتر زان ملک که اکنون داشتی ** کان بد اندر جنگ و این در آشتی2570
Greater than the empire of which thou art now in possession; for that was (whilst thou wert) at war (with God), and this (will be whilst thou art) at peace (with Him).
آنک در جنگت چنان ملکی دهد ** بنگر اندر صلح خوانت چون نهد
He who bestows on thee, (whilst thou art) at war, such an empire as this— consider how (bounteously) He will lay the table for thee (when thou art) at peace.
آن کرم که اندر جفا آنهات داد ** در وفا بنگر چه باشد افتقاد
That (Divine) bounty which gave thee those (goodly) things in thy unrighteousness—consider what will be (its) care (for thee) in thy faithfulness.”
گفت ای موسی چهارم چیست زود ** بازگو صبرم شد و حرصم فزود
“O Moses,” said he, “what is the fourth (promise)? Quickly declare (it): my patience is gone and my desire has waxed great.”
گفت چارم آنک مانی تو جوان ** موی هم‌چون قیر و رخ چون ارغوان
He said, “The fourth is that thou wilt remain (ever) young, (with) hair (black) like pitch and cheeks (pink) like the arghawán (flower of the Judas-tree).
رنگ و بو در پیش ما بس کاسدست ** لیک تو پستی سخن کردیم پست2575
To us (prophets) colour and perfume are very worthless, but thou art low, (so) we have made our words low.
افتخار از رنگ و بو و از مکان ** هست شادی و فریب کودکان
Boasting of colour and perfume and dwelling-place is a joy and deception (only) to children.
بیان این خبر کی کلموا الناس علی قدر عقولهم لا علی قدر عقولکم حتی لا یکذبوا الله و رسوله
[Explanation of the Tradition, "Speak ye unto men according to the measure of their understandings, not according to the measure of your understandings, so that God and His messenger may not be given the lie."]
چونک با کودک سر و کارم فتاد ** هم زبان کودکان باید گشاد
Since my business happens to be with a child, I must accordingly speak the language suited to children,
که برو کتاب تا مرغت خرم ** یا مویز و جوز و فستق آورم
Saying, ‘Go to school, that I may buy a bird for thee or bring (home) raisins and walnuts and pistachio nuts.’
جز شباب تن نمی‌دانی به کیر ** این جوانی را بگیر ای خر شعیر
Thou knowest only the youth of the body: take this youthfulness: take the barley, O ass!
هیچ آژنگی نیفتد بر رخت ** تازه ماند آن شباب فرخت2580
No wrinkle will fall upon thy face: thy fortunate youthfulness will remain fresh.
نه نژند پیریت آید برو ** نه قد چون سرو تو گردد دوتو
Neither will the witheredness of old age come over thy countenance, nor will thy cypress-like figure. be (bent) double;
نه شود زور جوانی از تو کم ** نه به دندانها خللها یا الم
Nor will the strength of youth vanish from thee, nor in thy teeth will there be decay or pain;