هم‌چو ماهی بسته است او به شست ** شاه زاده ماند سالی و تو شصت
She (the World) hath imprisoned thee, like a fish, in her net: the prince remained (there) one year, and thou sixty.
شصت سال از شست او در محنتی ** نه خوشی نه بر طریق سنتی3200
From (being enmeshed in) her net thou art in tribulation sixty years: neither art thou happy nor (dost thou walk) in the way of the Sunna.
فاسقی بدبخت نه دنیات خوب ** نه رهیده از وبال و از ذنوب
Thou art a miserable unrighteous man: neither is thy worldly life good (happy) nor art thou delivered from guilt and sins.
نفخ او این عقده‌ها را سخت کرد ** پس طلب کن نفخه‌ی خلاق فرد
Her (the World's) breathing hath made these knots tight: seek, then, the breathing of the unique Creator,
تا نفخت فیه من روحی ترا ** وا رهاند زین و گوید برتر آ
In order that “I breathed of My spirit into him” may deliver thee from this (sorcery) and say (to thee), “Come higher!”
جز به نفخ حق نسوزد نفخ سحر ** نفخ قهرست این و آن دم نفح مهر
The breathing of sorcery is not consumed save by the breathing of God: this (the former) is the breathing of (Divine) wrath, (while) that (the latter) exhalation is the breathing of (Divine) love.
رحمت او سابقست از قهر او ** سابقی خواهی برو سابق بجو3205
His mercy is prior to His wrath: (if) thou desirest priority (in spiritual rank), go, seek that (attribute) which is prior,
تا رسی اندر نفوس زوجت ** کای شه مسحور اینک مخرجت
That thou mayst attain unto the souls that are wedded; for lo, this, O ensorcelled prince, is thy way of escape.
با وجود زال ناید انحلال ** در شبیکه و در بر آن پر دلال
With the existence of the old woman, there can be no undoing (of the knots), (whilst thou art) in the net and in the arms of that (paramour) full of blandishments.
نه بگفتست آن سراج امتان ** این جهان و آن جهان را ضرتان
Hath not the Lamp of the peoples called this world and that world the two fellow-wives (who are always quarrelling with each other)?
پس وصال این فراق آن بود ** صحت این تن سقام جان بود
Therefore union with this (world) is separation from that (world): the health of this body is the sickness of the spirit.
سخت می‌آید فراق این ممر ** پس فراق آن مقر دان سخت‌تر3210
Hard is the separation from this transitory abode: know, then, that the separation from that permanent abode is harder
چون فراق نقش سخت آید ترا ** تا چه سخت آید ز نقاشش جدا
Since it is hard for thee to be separated from the form, how hard must it be to be parted from its Maker!
ای که صبرت نیست از دنیای دون ** چونت صبرست از خدا ای دوست چون
O thou that hast not the patience to do without the vile world, how, O friend, how hast thou the patience to do without God?
چونک صبرت نیست زین آب سیاه ** چون صبوری داری از چشمه‌ی اله
Since thou hast not the patience to do without this black water, how hast thou the patience to do without God's (pure) fountain?
چونک بی این شرب کم داری سکون ** چون ز ابراری جدا وز یشربون
Since thou art restless without this (worldly) drink, how art thou (remaining patiently) apart from the righteous and from they shall drink (of the wine of Paradise)?
گر ببینی یک نفس حسن ودود ** اندر آتش افکنی جان و وجود3215
If for one moment thou behold the beauty of the Loving One and cast thy soul and existence into the fire (of love),
جیفه بینی بعد از آن این شرب را ** چون ببینی کر و فر قرب را
After that thou wilt regard this (worldly) drink as a carcase, when thou beholdest the glory and splendour of nighness (unto Him).
هم‌چو شه‌زاده رسی در یار خویش ** پس برون آری ز پا تو خار خویش
Like the prince, thou wilt attain unto thy Beloved; then thou wilt draw out from thy foot the thorn of self.
جهد کن در بی‌خودی خود را بیاب ** زودتر والله اعلم بالصواب
Strive for selflessness, find thy (true) self as soon as possible— and God best knoweth the right course.
هر زمانی هین مشو با خویش جفت ** هر زمان چون خر در آب و گل میفت
Take heed, never be wedded to self: do not, like an ass, be always falling into water and mud.
از قصور چشم باشد آن عثار ** که نبیند شیب و بالا کور وار3220
That stumbling arises from shortsightedness; for like a blind man, he (such a one) does not see the ups and downs.
Make the scent of Joseph's shirt thy stay, because his scent makes the eye clear.
صورت پنهان و آن نور جبین ** کرده چشم انبیا را دوربین
The hidden Form and the Light of that Brow have made the eyes of the prophets far-seeing.
نور آن رخسار برهاند ز نار ** هین مشو قانع به نور مستعار
The Light of that Countenance will deliver (thee) from the fire: hark, be not content with borrowed light.
چشم را این نور حالی‌بین کند ** جسم و عقل و روح را گرگین کند
This (borrowed) light makes the eye to see that which is transient: it makes body and mind and spirit to be scabby (diseased).
صورتش نورست و در تحقیق نار ** گر ضیا خواهی دو دست از وی بدار3225
It has the appearance of light, but in reality it is fire: keep thy hands off it, if thou desire the (true) radiance.
دم به دم در رو فتد هر جا رود ** دیده و جانی که حالی‌بین بود
The eye and spirit that sees (only) the transient falls on its face continually wherever it goes.
دور بیند دوربین بی‌هنر ** هم‌چنانک دور دیدن خواب در
A far-seeing man who lacks knowledge may see far, just as (one has) far sight in dreams.
خفته باشی بر لب جو خشک‌لب ** می‌دوی سوی سراب اندر طلب
You are asleep with parched lips on the bank of the river, and (in your dream) are running in search of water towards the mirage.
دور می‌بینی سراب و می‌دوی ** عاشق آن بینش خود می‌شوی
You see the mirage far away and run (towards it): you become in love with your own sight.
می‌زنی در خواب با یاران تو لاف ** که منم بینادل و پرده‌شکاف3230
In the dream you boast to your friends, saying, “I am the one whose heart possesses vision, and (I am) the one that rends the veil.
نک بدان سو آب دیدم هین شتاب ** تا رویم آنجا و آن باشد سراب
Lo, I see water yonder: hark, make haste that we may go there”—and ’tis (only) the mirage.
هر قدم زین آب تازی دورتر ** دو دوان سوی سراب با غرر
At every step you hurry farther away from the water, whilst you keep running on towards the perilous mirage.
عین آن عزمت حجاب این شده ** که به تو پیوسته است و آمده
Your very setting-out has become the barrier (which prevents you) from (seeing) this that has come close to you.
بس کسا عزمی به جایی می‌کند ** از مقامی کان غرض در وی بود
Oh, many a one sets out to some place from the spot where the object of his quest is (to be found).
دید و لاف خفته می‌ناید به کار ** جز خیالی نیست دست از وی بدار3235
The (far) sight and boasting of the sleeper is of no avail; it is naught but a phantasy: hold aloof from it.
خوابناکی لیک هم بر راه خسپ ** الله الله بر ره الله خسپ
Thou art sleepy, but anyhow sleep on the Way: for God's sake, for God's sake, sleep on the Way of God,
تا بود که سالکی بر تو زند ** از خیالات نعاست بر کند
That perchance a Traveller (on the Way) may attach himself to thee and tear thee from the phantasies of slumber.
خفته را گر فکر گردد هم‌چو موی ** او از آن دقت نیابد راه کوی
(Even) if the sleeper's thought become (subtle) as a hair, he will not find the way to the Abode by that subtlety.
فکر خفته گر دوتا و گر سه‌تاست ** هم خطا اندر خطا اندر خطاست
Whether the sleeper's thought is twofold or threefold, still it is error on error on error.
موج بر وی می‌زند بی‌احتراز ** خفته پویان در بیابان دراز3240
The waves are beating upon him without restraint, (whilst) he asleep is running in the long wilderness.
خفته می‌بیند عطشهای شدید ** آب اقرب منه من حبل الورید
The sleeper dreams of the sore pangs of thirst, (whilst) the water is nearer unto him than the neck-vein.
حکایت آن زاهد کی در سال قحط شاد و خندان بود با مفلسی و بسیاری عیان و خلق می‌مردند از گرسنگی گفتندش چه هنگام شادیست کی هنگام صد تعزیت است گفت مرا باری نیست
Story of the ascetic who, notwithstanding his destitution and numerous family, was rejoicing and laughing in a year of drought whilst the people were dying of hunger. They said to him, "What is the occasion for joy? It is an occasion for a hundred mournings." "For me at any rate ’tis not (so)," he replied.
هم‌چنان کن زاهد اندر سال قحط ** بود او خندان و گریان جمله رهط
Even as (for example) that ascetic was laughing in a year of drought, while all (his) folk were weeping.
پس بگفتندش چه جای خنده است ** قحط بیخ مومنان بر کنده است
So they said to him, “What is the occasion for laughter, (when) the drought has uprooted (destroyed) the true believers?
رحمت از ما چشم خود بر دوختست ** ز آفتاب تیز صحرا سوختست
The (Divine) mercy hath closed its eyes to us: the plain is burnt by the fierce sun.
کشت و باغ و رز سیه استاده است ** در زمین نم نیست نه بالا نه پست3245
Crops and vineyards and vines are standing black: there is no moisture in the earth, neither up nor down.
خل می‌میرند زین قحط و عذاب ** ده ده و صد صد چو ماهی دور از آب
The people are dying from this drought and torment by tens and hundreds like fish far from the water.
بر مسلمانان نمی‌آری تو رحم ** مومنان خویشند و یک تن شحم و لحم
Thou art taking no pity on the Moslems; (yet) the true believers are kinsmen and one body (of) fat and flesh.
رنج یک جزوی ز تن رنج همه‌ست ** گر دم صلحست یا خود ملحمه‌ست
The pain of one part of the body is the pain of all (its parts), whether it be the hour of peace or war.”