بیخ و شاخ این ریاست را اگر ** باز گویم دفتری باید دگر
If I should relate the root and branch (the whole story) of dominion, another Book would be needed.
اسپ سرکش را عرب شیطانش خواند ** نی ستوری را که در مرعی بماند
The Arabs called a restive (high-spirited) horse a “devil” (shaytán); (they did) not (give that name to) the beast of burden that stayed (quietly) in the pasture.
شیطنت گردن کشی بد در لغت ** مستحق لعنت آمد این صفت 525
“Devilry” (shaytanat) in lexicology is (synonymous with) “rebelliousness”: this quality is deserving of execration.
این جهان محدود و آن خود بی حدست ** نقش و صورت پیش آن معنی سدست
There is room for a hundred eaters (guests) round a table, (but) there is not room in the (whole) world for two seekers of dominion.
آن نخواهد کین بود بر پشت خاک ** تا ملک بکشد پدر را ز اشتراک
The one is not willing that the other should be on the surface of the earth; so that a prince kills his father for partaking with him (in sovereignty).
آن شنیدستی که الملک عقیم ** قطع خویشی کرد ملکت‌جو ز بیم
Thou hast heard (the saying) that kingship is childless: the seeker of sovereignty has cut (the ties of) relationship because of (his) fear;
که عقیمست و ورا فرزند نیست ** هم‌چو آتش با کسش پیوند نیست
For he is childless and has no son: like fire, he has no kinship with any one.
هر چه یابد او بسوزد بر درد ** چون نیابد هیچ خود را می‌خورد 530
Whatsoever he finds he destroys and tears to pieces: when he finds nothing, he devours himself.
هیچ شو وا ره تو از دندان او ** رحم کم جو از دل سندان او
Become naught, escape from his teeth: do not seek mercy from his (hard) anvil-like heart.
چونک گشتی هیچ از سندان مترس ** هر صباح از فقر مطلق گیر درس
After thou hast become naught, do not fear the anvil: take lessons every morning from absolute poverty.
هست الوهیت ردای ذوالجلال ** هر که در پوشد برو گردد وبال
Divinity is the mantle of the Lord of glory: it becomes a plague to any one who puts it on.
تاج از آن اوست آن ما کمر ** وای او کز حد خود دارد گذر
His (God's) is the crown (of sovereignty), ours the belt (of servitude): woe to him that passes beyond his proper bound!
فتنه‌ی تست این پر طاووسیت ** که اشتراکت باید و قدوسیت 535
Thy peacock-feathers are a (sore) temptation to thee, for thou must needs have co-partnership (with God) and All-holiness.
قصه‌ی آن حکیم کی دید طاوسی را کی پر زیبای خود را می‌کند به منقار و می‌انداخت و تن خود را کل و زشت می‌کرد از تعجب پرسید کی دریغت نمی‌آید گفت می‌آید اما پیش من جان از پر عزیزتر است و این پر عدوی جان منست
Story of the Sage who saw a peacock tearing out his handsome feathers with his beak and dropping them (on the ground) and making himself bald and ugly. In astonishment he asked, “Hast thou no feeling of regret?” “I have,” said the peacock, “but life is dearer to me than feathers, and these (feathers) are the enemy of my life.”
پر خود می‌کند طاوسی به دشت ** یک حکیمی رفته بود آنجا بگشت
A peacock was tearing out his feathers in the open country, where a sage had gone for a walk.
گفت طاوسا چنین پر سنی ** بی‌دریغ از بیخ چون برمی‌کنی
He said, “O peacock, how art thou tearing out such fine feathers remorselessly from the root?
خود دلت چون می‌دهد تا این حلل ** بر کنی اندازیش اندر وحل
How indeed is thy heart consenting that thou shouldst tear off these gorgeous robes and let them fall in the mud?
هر پرت را از عزیزی و پسند ** حافظان در طی مصحف می‌نهند
Those who commit the Qur’án to memory place every feather of thine, on account of its being prized and acceptable, within the folding of the (Holy) Book.
بهر تحریک هوای سودمند ** از پر تو بادبیزن می‌کنند 540
For the sake of stirring the healthful air thy feathers are used as fans.
این چه ناشکری و چه بی‌باکیست ** تو نمی‌دانی که نقاشش کیست
What ingratitude and what recklessness is this! Dost not thou know who is their decorator?
یا همی‌دانی و نازی می‌کنی ** قاصدا قلع طرازی می‌کنی
Or dost thou know (that) and art thou showing disdain and purposely tearing out (such) a (fine) broidery?
ای بسا نازا که گردد آن گناه ** افکند مر بنده را از چشم شاه
Oh, there is many a disdain that becomes a sin and causes the servant to fall from favour with the King (God).
ناز کردن خوشتر آید از شکر ** لیک کم خایش که دارد صد خطر
To show disdain is sweeter than sugar; but chew it not, for it hath a hundred perils.
ایمن آبادست آن راه نیاز ** ترک نازش گیر و با آن ره بساز 545
The place of safety is the way of want (lowliness): abandon disdain and make up with (be satisfied with) that way.
ای بسا نازآوری زد پر و بال ** آخر الامر آن بر آن کس شد وبال
Oh, many a disdainfulness flapped its wings and plumes, (but) in the end it became a bane to that (arrogant) person.
Become dead, that the Lord who brings forth the living may bring forth a (spiritually) living one from this dead one.
دی شوی بینی تو اخراج بهار ** لیل گردی بینی ایلاج نهار
(If) thou become December (Winter), thou wilt experience the bringing forth of Spring; (if) thou become night, thou wilt experience the advent of day.
بر مکن آن پر که نپذیرد رفو ** روی مخراش از عزا ای خوب‌رو
Do not tear out thy feathers, for ’tis irreparable: do not rend thy face in grief, O beauteous one.
آنچنان رویی که چون شمس ضحاست ** آنچنان رخ را خراشیدن خطاست
Such a face that resembles the morning sun—’tis sinful to rend a countenance like that.
زخم ناخن بر چنان رخ کافریست ** که رخ مه در فراق او گریست 555
’Tis (an act of) infidelity (to inflict) scratches upon a countenance (of) such (beauty) that the moon's countenance wept at parting from it.
یا نمی‌بینی تو روی خویش را ** ترک کن خوی لجاج اندیش را
Or dost not thou see (the beauty of) thy face? Abandon that contumacious disposition (which prevents thee from seeing it).”
در بیان آنک صفا و سادگی نفس مطمنه از فکرتها مشوش شود چنانک بر روی آینه چیزی نویسی یا نقش کنی اگر چه پاک کنی داغی بماند و نقصانی
Explaining that the purity and simplicity of the tranquil soul are disturbed by thoughts, just as (when) you write or depict anything on the surface of a mirror, though you may (afterwards) obliterate it entirely, (yet) a mark and blemish will remain (on the mirror).
روی نفس مطمنه در جسد ** زخم ناخنهای فکرت می‌کشد
The face of the tranquil soul in the body suffers wounds inflicted by the nails of thought.
فکرت بد ناخن پر زهر دان ** می‌خراشد در تعمق روی جان
Know that evil thought is a poisonous nail: in (the case of) deep reflection it rends the face of the soul.
تا گشاید عقده‌ی اشکال را ** در حدث کردست زرین بیل را
In order that he (the thinker) may loose the knot of a difficulty, he has put a golden spade into ordure.
عقده را بگشاده گیر ای منتهی ** عقده‌ی سختست بر کیسه‌ی تهی 560
Suppose the knot is loosed, O adept (thinker): ’tis (like) a tight knot on an empty purse.
Thou hast grown old in (the occupation of) loosing knots: suppose a few more knots are loosed (by thee, what then?).
عقده‌ای که آن بر گلوی ماست سخت ** که بدانی که خسی یا نیک‌بخت
The knot that is (fastened) tight on our throat is that thou shouldst know whether thou art vile or fortunate.
حل این اشکال کن گر آدمی ** خرج این کن دم اگر آدم‌دمی
Solve this problem, if thou art a man: spend thy breath (life) on this, if thou hast the breath (spirit) of Adam (within thee).
حد اعیان و عرض دانسته گیر ** حد خود را دان که نبود زین گزیر
Suppose thou knowest the definitions of (all) substances and accidents, (how shall it profit thee?): know the (true) definition of thyself, for this is indispensable.
چون بدانی حد خود زین حدگریز ** تا به بی‌حد در رسی ای خاک‌بیز 565
When thou knowest the definition of thyself, flee from this definition, that thou mayst attain to Him who hath no definition, O sifter of dust.
عمر در محمول و در موضوع رفت ** بی‌بصیرت عمر در مسموع رفت
(Thy) life has gone (to waste) in (the consideration of logical) predicate and subject: (thy) life, devoid of (spiritual) insight, has gone in (study of) what has been received by hearsay.
هر دلیلی بی‌نتیجه و بی‌اثر ** باطل آمد در نتیجه‌ی خود نگر
Every proof (that is) without (a spiritual) result and effect is vain: consider the (final) result of thyself!
جز به مصنوعی ندیدی صانعی ** بر قیاس اقترانی قانعی
Thou hast never perceived a Maker except by means of a thing made: thou art content with a syllogism.
می‌فزاید در وسایط فلسفی ** از دلایل باز برعکسش صفی
The philosopher multiplies links (consisting) of (logical) proofs; on the other hand, the elect (the mystic) is contrary to him (in this respect).
این گریزد از دلیل و از حجاب ** از پی مدلول سر برده به جیب 570
The latter flees from the proof and from the veil (between himself and God): he has sunk his head in his bosom for the sake of (contemplating) the Object of the proof.
گر دخان او را دلیل آتشست ** بی‌دخان ما را در آن آتش خوشست
If to him (the philosopher) the smoke is a proof of the fire, to us (mystics) ’tis sweet (to be) in the fire without the smoke,
خاصه این آتش که از قرب ولا ** از دخان نزدیک‌تر آمد به ما
Especially this Fire which, through (our) nighness and fealty (to God), is nearer to us than the smoke.