جانب کعبه نرفتی پای پیل ** با همه لت نه کثیر و نه قلیل
In spite of all blows the Elephant's feet would not move, either much or little, towards the Ka‘ba.
گفتیی خود خشک شد پاهای او ** یا بمرد آن جان صول‌افزای او
You would have said that its legs were paralysed or that its impetuous spirit was dead.
چونک کردندی سرش سوی یمن ** پیل نر صد اسپه گشتی گام‌زن
(But) whenever they turned its head towards Yemen, the fierce Elephant would begin to stride (forward) with the speed of a hundred horses.
حس پیل از زخم غیب آگاه بود ** چون بود حس ولی با ورود
(Since) the Elephant's perception was aware of the blow (coming) from the Unseen, how (much more) must the perception of the saint (endowed) with (the Divine) afflatus be (aware)!
نه که یعقوب نبی آن پاک‌خو ** بهر یوسف با همه اخوان او 2750
Is it not (the case) that the prophet Jacob, that man of holy nature, (said) for Joseph's sake to all his (Joseph's) brethren—
از پدر چون خواستندش دادران ** تا برندش سوی صحرا یک زمان
When the brothers begged their father to give him to them, that they might take him to the country for a while,
جمله گفتندش میندیش از ضرر ** یک دو روزش مهلتی ده ای پدر
(And) they all said to him, “Do not be afraid of harm (befalling him): give him one or two days' time, O father;
که چرا ما را نمی داری امین ** یوسف خود را به سیران و ظعین
For why wilt not thou entrust thy Joseph to us in going about and travelling (for pleasure),
تا به هم در مرجها بازی کنیم ** ما درین دعوت امین و محسنیم
That we may play together in the meadows? In (making) this request we are trustworthy and beneficent”—
گفت این دانم که نقلش از برم ** می‌فروزد در دلم درد و سقم 2755
Did not he (Jacob) say (to them), “I know this, that (the thought of) his being removed from me is kindling grief and sickness in my heart;
این دلم هرگز نمی‌گوید دروغ ** که ز نور عرش دارد دل فروغ
This heart of mine never lies, for my heart is illumined by the light of the highest heaven”?
آن دلیل قاطعی بد بر فساد ** وز قضا آن را نکرد او اعتداد
That (foreboding) was a decisive proof of (their) wickedness, but by (Divine) destiny he took no account (of it).
در گذشت از وی نشانی آن‌چنان ** که قضا در فلسفه بود آن زمان
An intimation like that passed away from him (from his mind), because Destiny was at that moment (engaged) in (putting into operation the Divine) philosophy.
این عجب نبود که کور افتد به چاه ** بوالعجب افتادن بینای راه
’Tis no wonder that a blind man should fall into a pit, (but) the falling of one who can see the way is beyond all wonder.
این قضا را گونه گون تصریفهاست ** چشم‌بندش یفعل‌الله ما یشاست 2760
This Destiny employs diverse shifts: its eye-binding spell is God doeth what He pleaseth.
هم بداند هم نداند دل فنش ** موم گردد بهر آن مهر آهنش
The heart knows and yet knows not its (Destiny's) artfulness: its (hard) iron becomes (soft) as wax for the seal.
گوییی دل گویدی که میل او ** چون درین شد هرچه افتد باش گو
’Tis as though the heart should say (to itself), “Since its (Destiny's) inclination is turned to (bringing) this (to pass), whatever may happen, let it come!”
خویش را زین هم مغفل می‌کند ** در عقالش جان معقل می‌کند
Accordingly it makes itself heedless of this (happening) and binds its soul fast in the shackle thereof.
گر شود مات اندرین آن بوالعلا ** آن نباشد مات باشد ابتلا
If that exalted one (the prophet or saint) is checkmated (worsted) in this (matter), ’tis not (really) checkmate, ’tis tribulation.
یک بلا از صد بلااش وا خرد ** یک هبوطش بر معارجها برد 2765
A single tribulation redeems him from a hundred tribulations, a single fall takes him (high) up on the ladders (of spiritual ascent).
خام شوخی که رهانیدش مدام ** از خمار صد هزاران زشت خام
The half-baked saucy fellow, whom the wine (of Love) has relieved from the surfeit of intoxication with a hundred thousand wicked half-baked (persons like himself),
عاقبت او پخته و استاد شد ** جست از رق جهان و آزاد شد
Finally becomes mature and adept: he escapes from enslavement to this world and is made free.
از شراب لایزالی گشت مست ** شد ممیز از خلایق باز رست
He is made drunken with the everlasting wine, he becomes (spiritually) discerning, and is delivered from created beings,
ز اعتقاد سست پر تقلیدشان ** وز خیال دیده‌ی بی‌دیدشان
From their weak conventional faith and from the illusions of their unseeing eyes.
ای عجب چه فن زند ادراکشان ** پیش جزر و مد بحر بی‌نشان 2770
Oh, what device can their mental perception employ, I wonder, against the ebb and flow of the trackless Sea?
زان بیابان این عمارت‌ها رسید ** ملک و شاهی و وزارتها رسید
From that Desert came (all) these signs of cultivation and prosperity; (thence) came (all) empires and kingships and vizierates.
Yearning with desire they (phenomenal ideas) come in troops from the Desert of Non-existence into the visible (material) world.
کاروان بر کاروان زین بادیه ** می‌رسد در هر مسا و غادیه
Caravan on caravan, they arrive from this Desert every evening and morning.
آید و گیرد وثاق ما گرو ** که رسیدم نوبت ما شد تو رو
They come and seize our houses in distraint, (each one) saying, “I have arrived, ’tis my turn, do thou begone!”
چون پسر چشم خرد را بر گشاد ** زود بابا رخت بر گردون نهاد 2775
When the son has opened the eye of reason (attained to years of discretion), the father at once puts his (own) baggage in the cart.
جاده‌ی شاهست آن زین سو روان ** وآن از آن سو صادران و واردان
’Tis (like) the King's highway—(travellers) departing and arriving, one going in this direction, another in that direction.
نیک بنگر ما نشسته می‌رویم ** می‌نبینی قاصد جای نویم
Consider well! We, (though apparently) sitting still, are (really) marching: don't you see that we are bound for a new place (of abode)?
بهر حالی می‌نگیری راس مال ** بلک از بهر غرض‌ها در مل
You do not get (and spend) your capital for any present need; nay, but (you keep it) for your ultimate purposes.
پس مسافر این بود ای ره‌پرست ** که مسیر و روش در مستقبلست
The traveller, then, O devotee of the Way, is he whose march and face are towards the future,
هم‌چنانک از پرده‌ی دل بی‌کلال ** دم به دم در می‌رسد خیل خیال 2780
Even as the troops of Phantasy are at every moment arriving (and passing) unweariedly through the curtains of the heart.
گر نه تصویرات از یک مغرس‌اند ** در پی هم سوی دل چون می‌رسند
If (these) ideas are not (sprung) from one (and the same) Plantation, how are they coming to the heart on each other's heels?
جوق جوق اسپاه تصویرات ما ** سوی چشمه‌ی دل شتابان از ظما
Company after company, the army of our ideas, (impelled) by thirst, is speeding towards the fountain of the heart.
جره‌ها پر می‌کنند و می‌روند ** دایما پیدا و پنهان می‌شوند
They fill their jars and go: they are continually appearing and vanishing.
فکرها را اختران چرخ دان ** دایر اندر چرخ دیگر آسمان
Regard (your) thoughts as stars of the sky (which are) revolving in the sphere of another heaven.
سعد دیدی شکر کن ایثار کن ** نحس دیدی صدقه و استغفار کن 2785
(If) you have experienced good fortune (spiritual thoughts), give thanks (to God) and do works of charity; (if) you have experienced bad fortune (sensual thoughts), give alms and ask pardon (of God).
ما کییم این را بیا ای شاه من ** طالعم مقبل کن و چرخی بزن
Who am I in relation to this? Come, O my King, make my ruling star auspicious and wheel once (towards me).
روح را تابان کن از انوار ماه ** که ز آسیب ذنب جان شد سیاه
Illumine my spirit with moonbeams, for my soul is blackened (eclipsed) by contact with the (Dragon's) Tail.
از خیال و وهم و ظن بازش رهان ** از چه و جور رسن بازش رهان
Deliver it from fancy and vain imagination and opinion, deliver it from the well and the tyranny of the rope,
تا ز دلداری خوب تو دلی ** پر بر آرد بر پرد ز آب و گلی
In order that through Thy goodly lovingkindness a heart (such as mine) may lift its wings and soar up from a (body of) water and earth.
ای عزیز مصر و در پیمان درست ** یوسف مظلوم در زندان تست 2790
O Prince of Egypt and faithful keeper of thy promise, the wronged Joseph is in thy prison.
در خلاص او یکی خوابی ببین ** زود که الله یحب المحسنین
Quickly dream a dream of his release, for God loveth the beneficent.
هفت گاو لاغری پر گزند ** هفت گاو فربهش را می‌خورند
The seven noxious lean kine are devouring its (the spirit's) seven fat kine.
هفت خوشه‌ی خشک زشت ناپسند ** سنبلات تازه‌اش را می‌چرند
The seven dry, ugly, and unapproved ears of corn are feeding on its fresh ears.
قحط از مصرش بر آمد ای عزیز ** هین مباش ای شاه این را مستجیز
Famine has arisen in its Egypt, O mighty Potentate: hark, O King, do not continue to sanction this.
یوسفم در حبس تو ای شه نشان ** هین ز دستان زنانم وا رهان 2795
Let my Joseph sit in Thy prison, O King: come, deliver me from the wiles of the women.