احمقانه از سنان رحمت مجو ** زان شهی جو کان بود در دست او
Do not foolishly beg the spear for mercy: beg (mercy) of the King in whose hand it (the spear) is (held).
باسنان و تیغ لابه چون کنی ** کو اسیر آمد به دست آن سنی
How shouldst thou supplicate the spear and sword which are captives in the hand of that Exalted One?
او به صنعت آزرست و من صنم ** آلتی کو سازدم من آن شوم 1685
He is (like) Ázar in craftsmanship, and I am the idol (made by Him): whatever instrument He may make of me, I become that.
گر مرا ساغر کند ساغر شوم ** ور مرا خنجر کند خنجر شوم
If He make me a cup, I become a cup; and if He make me a dagger, I become a dagger.
گر مرا چشمه کند آبی هم ** ور مرا آتش کند تابی دهم
If He make me a fountain, I give water; and if He make me fire, I give heat.
گر مرا باران کند خرمن دهم ** ور مرا ناوک کند در تن جهم
If He make rain of me, I give a cornstack; and if He make an arrow of me, I dart into the body.
گر مرا ماری کند زهر افکنم ** ور مرا یاری کند خدمت کنم
If He make me a snake (márí), I emit venom; and if He make me a friend (yárí), I do (kindly) service.
من چو کلکم در میان اصبعین ** نیستم در صف طاعت بین بین 1690
I am as a pen between His two fingers: I am not a waverer in the ranks of obedience (to Him).”
خاک را مشغول کرد او در سخن ** یک کفی بربود از آن خاک کهن
He (Azrael) engaged the Earth in (this) discourse, (and meanwhile) he snatched from the old Earth a handful (of clay).
ساحرانه در ربود از خاکدان ** خاک مشغول سخن چون بی‌خودان
(Deftly) like a magician he snatched it from the Earth, (whilst) the Earth was absorbed, like those beside themselves, in (listening to) his words.
برد تا حق تربت بی‌رای را ** تا به مکتب آن گریزان پای را
He brought the inconsiderate clay to God: (he brought) the runaway (back) to school.
گفت یزدان که به علم روشنم ** که ترا جلاد این خلقان کنم
God said, “(I swear) by My resplendent knowledge, I will make thee the executioner of these (My) creatures.”
گفت یا رب دشمنم گیرند خلق ** چون فشارم خلق را در مرگ حلق 1695
He replied, “O Lord, Thy creatures will regard me as their enemy when I strangle them at death.
تو روا داری خداوند سنی ** که مرا مبغوض و دشمن‌رو کنی
Dost Thou deem it right, O exalted Lord, to make me hated and like a foe in appearance?”
گفت اسبابی پدید آرم عیان ** از تب و قولنج و سرسام و سنان
He (God) said, “I will bring into clear view certain causes, (such as) fever and dysentery and phrenitis and spear(-wounds);
که بگردانم نظرشان را ز تو ** در مرضها و سببهای سه تو
For (so) I will turn their attention from thee to the diseases and threefold causes (of death).”
گفت یا رب بندگان هستند نیز ** که سببها را بدرند ای عزیز
He (Azrael) replied, “O Lord, there are also servants (of Thine) who rend (shatter the illusion of) causes, O Almighty.”
چشمشان باشد گذاره از سبب ** در گذشته از حجب از فضل رب 1700
Their eye pierces through the cause: by the grace of the Lord, it has passed beyond (all) veils.
سرمه‌ی توحید از کحال حال ** یافته رسته ز علت و اعتلال
It has obtained the collyrium of Unity from the oculist of ecstasy and has been delivered from ailment and infirmity.
ننگرند اندر تب و قولنج و سل ** راه ندهند این سببها را به دل
They do not look at fever and dysentery and consumption: they do not admit these causes into their heart;
زانک هر یک زین مرضها را دواست ** چون دوا نپذیرد آن فعل قضاست
For every one of these diseases has its cure: when it becomes incurable, that is the act of the (Divine) Decree.
هر مرض دارد دوا می‌دان یقین ** چون دوای رنج سرما پوستین
Know for certain that every disease has its cure, as (for example) a fur is the cure for the pain of cold;
چون خدا خواهد که مردی بفسرد ** سردی از صد پوستین هم بگذرد 1705
(Yet), when God wills that a man shall be frozen, the cold penetrates even a hundred furs
در وجودش لرزه‌ای بنهد که آن ** نه به جامه به شود نه از آشیان
And puts into his body a tremor that will not be made better by (wrapping himself in) clothes or by (snuggling in) the house.
چون قضا آید طبیب ابله شود ** وان دوا در نفع هم گمره شود
When the Decree comes, the physician is made foolish, and the medicine too loses its beneficial effect.
کی شود محجوب ادراک بصیر ** زین سببهای حجاب گول‌گیر
How should the perception of the (mystic) seer be veiled by these (secondary) causes, which are a veil to catch the dolt?
اصل بیند دیده چون اکمل بود ** فرع بیند چونک مرد احول بود
When the eye is quite perfect, it sees the root (origin); when a man is squint-eyed, it sees the branch (derivative).
جواب آمدن کی آنک نظر او بر اسباب و مرض و زخم تیغ نیاید بر کار تو عزرائیل هم نیاید کی تو هم سببی اگر چه مخفی‌تری از آن سببها و بود کی بر آن رنجور مخفی نباشد کی و هو اقرب الیه منکم و لکن لا تبصرون
The (Divine) answer, (namely), “One who does not regard causes and diseases and sword-wounds will likewise pay no regard to thy action, O Azrael, for thou too art a (secondary) cause, although thou art more concealed than those (other) causes.” And maybe it (the real nature of Azrael) is not concealed from the sick (dying) man, for He (God) is nigher to him than ye are, but ye do not see.
گفت یزدان آنک باشد اصل دان ** پس ترا کی بیند او اندر میان 1710
God said, “He who perceives the origin (does not regard the derivative): how, then, should he be conscious of thy intervention?
گرچه خویش را عامه پنهان کرده‌ای ** پیش روشن‌دیدگان هم پرده‌ای
Although thou hast concealed thyself (thy real nature) from the vulgar, still to the clear-eyed (mystics) thou art (no more than) a veil (instrument).”
وانک ایشان را شکر باشد اجل ** چون نظرشان مست باشد در دول
And (indeed) those to whom death is (sweet) as sugar—how should their sight be intoxicated (dazzled) with the fortunes (of this world)?
تلخ نبود پیش ایشان مرگ تن ** چون روند از چاه و زندان در چمن
Bodily death is not bitter to them, since they go from a dungeon and prison into a garden.
وا رهیدند از جهان پیچ‌پیچ ** کس نگرید بر فوات هیچ هیچ
They have been delivered from the world of torment: none weeps for the loss of (what amounts to) nothing, nothing.
برج زندان را شکست ارکانیی ** هیچ ازو رنجد دل زندانیی 1715
(If) an elemental spirit breaks the bastion of a prison, will the heart of any prisoner be angry with him?
کای دریغ این سنگ مرمر را شکست ** تا روان و جان ما از حبس رست
(Will they say?) “Alas, he has broken this marble stone, so that our spirits and souls have escaped from confinement.
آن رخام خوب و آن سنگ شریف ** برج زندان را بهی بود و الیف
The beautiful marble and the noble stone of the prison-bastion were pleasing and agreeable (to us).
چون شکستش تا که زندانی برست ** دست او در جرم این باید شکست
Why did he break them, so that the prisoners escaped? His hand must be broken (cut off) as a penalty for this (crime).”
هیچ زندانی نگوید این فشار ** جز کسی کز حبس آرندش به دار
No prisoner will talk such nonsense except that one who is brought from prison to the gallows.
تلخ کی باشد کسی را کش برند ** از میان زهر ماران سوی قند 1720
How should it (death) be bitter to one whom they take from amidst snake-poison towards sugar?
جان مجرد گشته از غوغای تن ** می‌پرد با پر دل بی‌پای تن
The soul, freed from the turmoil of the body, is soaring on the wings of the heart (spirit) without bodily feet (means of movement),
هم‌چو زندانی چه که اندر شبان ** خسپد و بیند به خواب او گلستان
Like the prisoner in a dungeon who falls asleep at night and dreams of a rosegarden,
گوید ای یزدان مرا در تن مبر ** تا درین گلشن کنم من کر و فر
And says, “O God, do not bring me (back) to my body, (but let me alone) in order that I may walk as a prince in this garden.”
گویدش یزدان دعا شد مستجاب ** وا مرو والله اعلم بالصواب
God says to him, “Thy prayer is granted: go not back”—and God best knoweth the right course.
این چنین خوابی ببین چون خوش بود ** مرگ نادیده به جنت در رود 1725
Consider how delightful is such a dream! Without having seen death, he (the dreamer) goes into Paradise.
هیچ او حسرت خورد بر انتباه ** بر تن با سلسله در قعر چاه
Does he feel any regret for (his former) wakefulness and for the body (which he has left) in chains at the bottom of the dungeon?
مومنی آخر در آ در صف رزم ** که ترا بر آسمان بودست بزم
(If) thou art a true believer, come now, enter the ranks of battle, for a feast has been (prepared) for thee in Heaven.
بر امید راه بالا کن قیام ** هم‌چو شمعی پیش محراب ای غلام
In the hope of journeying upwards, (arise and) take thy stand before the mihráb, (to pray and weep) like a candle, O youth!
اشک می‌بار و همی‌سوز از طلب ** هم‌چو شمع سر بریده جمله شب
Let thy tears fall like rain, and burn (be ardent) in search (aspiration) all night long, like the candle beheaded (by the flame).
لب فرو بند از طعام و از شراب ** سوی خوان آسمانی کن شتاب 1730
Close thy lips against food and drink: hasten towards the Heavenly table.
دم به دم بر آسمان می‌دار امید ** در هوای آسمان رقصان چو بید
Continually keep thy hope (fixed) on Heaven, dancing (quivering) like the willow in desire for Heaven.
دم به دم از آسمان می‌آیدت ** آب و آتش رزق می‌افزایدت
Continually from Heaven (spiritual) water and fire will be coming to thee and increasing thy provision.