مرکب اعناق مردم را مپا ** تا نیاید نقرست اندر دو پا
Do not be perpetually riding on the necks of people, lest gout attack your feet.
مرکبی را که آخرش تو ده دهی ** که به شهری مانی و ویران‌دهی 330
The vehicle which you will curse in the end, saying, “Thou resemblest a (flourishing) city, but thou art (really) a ruined village”—
ده دهش اکنون که چون شهرت نمود ** تا نباید رخت در ویران گشود
Curse it now when it (still) appears to you like a city, in order that (ultimately) you may not have to unload in the wilderness.
ده دهش اکنون که صد بستانت هست ** تا نگردی عاجز و ویران‌پرست
Curse it now when you (still) possess a hundred gardens, lest you become unable (to renounce it) and (become) devoted to the wilderness (of worldly fortune).
گفت پیغامبر که جنت از اله ** گر همی‌خواهی ز کس چیزی مخواه
The Prophet said, “If thou desirest Paradise from God, desire nothing from any one (else).
چون نخواهی من کفیلم مر ترا ** جنت الماوی و دیدار خدا
When thou desirest nothing (from any one), I am thy surety for the Garden of resort and the vision of God.”
آن صحابی زین کفالت شد عیار ** تا یکی روزی که گشته بد سوار 335
Because of this suretyship that Companion (of the Prophet) became so independent (of others) that one day when he had mounted (his horse),
تازیانه از کفش افتاد راست ** خود فرو آمد ز کس آنرا نخواست
And the whip fell right out of his hand, he himself dismounted and did not ask any one to give it to him.
آنک از دادش نیاید هیچ بد ** داند و بی‌خواهشی خود می‌دهد
He (God), from whose gifts no evil cometh, knows (your want) and Himself will give it without any asking.
ور به امر حق بخواهی آن رواست ** آنچنان خواهش طریق انبیاست
But if you ask by God's command, that is right: such asking is the way followed by the prophets.
بد نماند چون اشارت کرد دوست ** کفر ایمان شد چون کفر از بهر اوست
When the Beloved has signified (that you should do so and so), ’tis evil no more: infidelity (itself) becomes faith when the infidelity is for His sake.
هر بدی که امر او پیش آورد ** آن ز نیکوهای عالم بگذرد 340
Any evil deed prompted by His command surpasses (all) the good deeds in the world.
زان صدف گر خسته گردد نیز پوست ** ده مده که صد هزاران در دروست
Even if the skin (exterior) of the oyster-shell be damaged, do not curse it, for within it there are a hundred thousand pearls.
این سخن پایان ندارد بازگرد ** سوی شاه و هم‌مزاج بازگرد
This topic hath no end. Return to the King (God) and become endued with the nature of the falcon.
باز رو در کان چو زر ده‌دهی ** تا رهد دستان تو از ده‌دهی
Like pure gold, return to the mine, in order that your hands may be delivered from (the necessity of) giving the ten (fingers);
صورتی را چون بدل ره می‌دهند ** از ندامت آخرش ده می‌دهند
(For) when they (worldlings) admit a phenomenal form into their hearts, in the end they curse it in contrition.
توبه می‌آرند هم پروانه‌وار ** باز نسیان می‌کشدشان سوی کار 345
The repentance they show is like that of the moth: (soon) forgetfulness draws them back again to the (same) work.
هم‌چو پروانه ز دور آن نار را ** نور دید و بست آن سو بار را
Like the moth, he (such a one) deems the fire (seen) from a distance to be light, and packs off (sets out) towards it.
چون بیامد سوخت پرش را گریخت ** باز چون طفلان فتاد و ملح ریخت
As soon as he comes (to the fire), it burns his wings, and he flees; and (then) again he falls, like (greedy) children (in a hurry), and spills the salt.
بار دیگر بر گمان طمع سود ** خویش زد بر آتش آن شمع زود
Once more, thinking and hoping to profit, he quickly dashes himself on the fire of that candle.
بار دیگر سوخت هم واپس بجست ** باز کردش حرص دل ناسی و مست
Once more he is scorched and recoils; (then) again the greed of his heart makes him forgetful and intoxicated.
آن زمان کز سوختن وا می‌جهد ** هم‌چو هندو شمع را ده می‌دهد 350
At the moment when he recoils on being scorched, he gives the ten (fingers), like the Hindú (slave), to the candle,
که ای رخت تابان چون ماه شب‌فروز ** وی به صحبت کاذب و مغرورسوز
Saying, “Oh, thy face is splendid as the night-illuming moon, but oh, in (actual) intercourse thou art false and destructive to him that is duped (by thee).”
باز از یادش رود توبه و انین ** کاوهن الرحمن کید الکاذبین
(Then) again his repentance and moaning go out of his memory, for God hath made the stratagems of the liars to be feeble.
در عموم تاویل این آیت کی کلما اوقدوا نارا للحرب
Concerning the interpretation, in a general sense, of the Verse: “as often as they kindle a fire for war.”
کلما هم اوقدوا نار الوغی ** اطفاء الله نارهم حتی انطفا
As often as they kindle the fire of (spiritual) warfare, God quenches their fire so that it is put out (entirely).
عزم کرده که دلا آنجا مه‌ایست ** گشته ناسی زانک اهل عزم نیست
He (such an one) makes a resolution, saying, “O (my) heart, do not stay there!” (but soon) he becomes forgetful, for he is not (really) resolute.
چون نبودش تخم صدقی کاشته ** حق برو نسیان آن بگماشته 355
Since there was no seed of sincerity sown by him, God has caused him to forget that (resolution).
گرچه بر آتش‌زنه‌ی دل می‌زند ** آن ستاره‌ش را کف حق می‌کشد
Though he strikes the match of his heart, the Hand of God is always extinguishing the star (spark).
قصه‌ای هم در تقریر این
A Story in further exposition of this.
شرفه‌ای بشنید در شب معتمد ** برگرفت آتش‌زنه که آتش زند
A man of trust heard a sound of footsteps (in his house) during the night: he took up the fire-lighter to strike a flame.
دزد آمد آن زمان پیشش نشست ** چون گرفت آن سوخته می‌کرد پست
At that (same) moment the thief came and sat down beside him, and whenever the tinder caught (fire) he put it out,
می‌نهاد آنجا سر انگشت را ** تا شود استاره‌ی آتش فنا
Laying the tip of his finger on the place, in order that the fiery star (spark) might vanish.
خواجه می‌پنداشت کز خود می‌مرد ** این نمی‌دید او که دزدش می‌کشد 360
The Khwája thought it was dying of itself: he didn't see that the thief was extinguishing it.
خواجه گفت این سوخته نمناک بود ** می‌مرد استاره از تریش زود
The Khwája said, “This tinder was moist: on account of its wetness the star (spark) is dying at once.”
بس که ظلمت بود و تاریکی ز پیش ** می‌ندید آتش‌کشی را پیش خویش
As there was great mirk and darkness in front (of him), he didn't see a fire-extinguisher beside him.
این چنین آتش‌کشی اندر دلش ** دیده‌ی کافر نبیند از عمش
(So) the infidel's eye, because of (its) dimness, does not see a similar fire-extinguisher in his heart.
چون نمی‌داند دل داننده‌ای ** هست با گردنده گرداننده‌ای
How is the heart of any knowing person ignorant (that) with the moving (object) there is (necessarily) a mover?
چون نمی‌گویی که روز و شب به خود ** بی‌خداوندی کی آید کی رود 365
Why don't you say (to yourself), “How should day and night come and go of themselves without a Lord?”
گرد معقولات می‌گردی ببین ** این چنین بی‌عقلی خود ای مهین
You are conversant with intelligibles; (but) see what a lack of intelligence is shown by you (in this matter), O despicable man!
خانه با بنا بود معقول‌تر ** یا که بی‌بنا بگو ای کم‌هنر
Is a house more intelligible with a builder or without a builder? Answer, O man of little knowledge!
خط با کاتب بود معقول‌تر ** یا که بی‌کاتب بیندیش ای پسر
Is writing more intelligible with a writer or without a writer? Think, O son!
جیم گوش و عین چشم و میم فم ** چون بود بی‌کاتبی ای متهم
How should the jím of the ear and the ‘ayn of the eye and the mím of the mouth be (formed) without a Writer, O suspect?
شمع روشن بی‌ز گیراننده‌ای ** یا بگیراننده‌ی داننده‌ای 370
Is the bright (lighted) candle without one who lights it or with a skilful lighter?
صنعت خوب از کف شل ضریر ** باشد اولی یا بگیرایی بصیر
Is it more reasonable to expect good craftsmanship from the hand of one who is palsied and blind or from one who has control (of his hands) and can see?
پس چو دانستی که قهرت می‌کند ** بر سرت دبوس محنت می‌زند
Since, therefore, you have apprehended (the fact) that He (God) will overpower you and beat the mace of tribulation on your head,
پس بکن دفعش چو نمرودی به جنگ ** سوی او کش در هوا تیری خدنگ
Like a Nimrod, repel Him by war (if you can)! Launch an arrow of (hard) poplar-wood into the air against Him!
هم‌چو اسپاه مغل بر آسمان ** تیر می‌انداز دفع نزع جان
Like the Mongol soldiery, shoot an arrow at Heaven to prevent your soul being torn (from your body)!
یا گریز از وی اگر توانی برو ** چون روی چون در کف اویی گرو 375
Or flee from Him, if you can, and go (your way); (but) how can you go, since you are a pawn in His hand?
در عدم بودی نرستی از کفش ** از کف او چون رهی ای دست‌خوش
(When) you were in non-existence, you did not escape from His hand: how will you escape from His hand (now), O helpless one?
آرزو جستن بود بگریختن ** پیش عدلش خون تقوی ریختن
To seek (one's own) desire is to flee (from God) and shed the blood of piety in the presence of His justice.
این جهان دامست و دانه‌آرزو ** در گریز از دامها روی آر زو
This world is a trap, and desire is its bait: flee from the traps, quickly turn your face (towards God).