از بقیه‌ی خور که در دندانش ماند ** کرم‌ها رویید و بر دندان نشاند
The worms were produced by the residue of food left in its teeth; and it gave them lodging there.
مرغکان بینند کرم و قوت را ** مرج پندارند آن تابوت را
The little birds see the worms and the food and imagine that coffin to be a meadow.
چون دهان پر شد ز مرغ او ناگهان ** در کشدشان و فرو بندد دهان 4085
When its mouth is filled with birds, it suddenly swallows them and closes its mouth (again).
این جهان پر ز نقل و پر ز نان ** چون دهان باز آن تمساح دان
Know that this world full of dessert (viands) and bread is like the open mouth of the crocodile.
بهر کرم و طعمه ای روزی‌تراش ** از فن تمساح دهر آمن مباش
O thou who scrapest together the means of livelihood, (in thy desire) for worms and morsels do not feel secure from the artfulness of the crocodile, (which is) Time.
روبه افتد پهن اندر زیر خاک ** بر سر خاکش حبوب مکرناک
A fox falls (and lies) flat under his earth: above his earth are deceptive grains,
تا بیاید زاغ غافل سوی آن ** پای او گیرد به مکر آن مکردان
In order that the heedless crow may approach them and the crafty one cunningly seize her by the leg.
صدهزاران مکر در حیوان چو هست ** چون بود مکر بشر کو مهترست 4090
Since there are a hundred thousand cunning tricks in animals, how (great) must be the cunning of Man who is superior (to all other animals)!
مصحفی در کف چو زین‌العابدین ** خنجری پر قهر اندر آستین
In his hand (he carries) a copy of the Holy Book as (though he were) Zaynu ’l- ‘Ábidín; (but) in his sleeve a vengeful dagger.
گویدت خندان کای مولای من ** در دل او بابلی پر سحر و فن
He addresses thee smilingly—“O my lord,” (while) in his heart there is a Babylon of sorcery and guileful spells.
Mile after mile through the night the lightning's deception leads thee on, without a guide, in a dark wilderness.
بر که افتی گاه و در جوی اوفتی ** گه بدین سو گه بدان سوی اوفتی
Now thou fallest on a mountain, now into a river; now thou wanderest in this direction, now in that.
خود نبینی تو دلیل ای جاه‌جو ** ور ببینی رو بگردانی ازو 4100
O seeker of worldly estate, thou wilt never find the guide; and if thou find him, thou wilt avert thy face from him,
که سفر کردم درین ره شصت میل ** مر مرا گمراه گوید این دلیل
Saying, “I have travelled sixty miles on this road, and (now) this guide tells me I have lost my way.
گر نهم من گوش سوی این شگفت ** ز امر او راهم ز سر باید گرفت
If I give ear to this marvel, I must begin my journey again under his authority.
من درین ره عمر خود کردم گرو ** هرچه بادا باد ای خواجه برو
I have devoted my life to this journey: (I will pursue it) come what may. Begone, O Khwája!”
راه کردی لیک در ظن چو برق ** عشر آن ره کن پی وحی چو شرق
“(Yes), thou hast journeyed (far), but (only) in opinion (unsubstantial) as lightning: (come), make a tenth part of that journey for the sake of (Divine) inspiration (glorious) as the sunrise.
ظن لایغنی من الحق خوانده‌ای ** وز چنان برقی ز شرقی مانده‌ای 4105
Thou hast read (the Verse), Opinion cannot serve instead of truth, and (yet) by a lightning-flash like that thou hast been blinded to a rising sun.
هی در آ در کشتی ما ای نژند ** یا تو آن کشتی برین کشتی ببند
Hark, come into our boat, O wretched man, or (at least) tie that boat (of thine) to this boat (of ours).”
گوید او چون ترک گیرم گیر و دار ** چون روم من در طفیلت کوروار
He replies, “How should I abandon power and dominion? How should I follow thee blindly?”
کور با رهبر به از تنها یقین ** زان یکی ننگست و صد ننگست ازین
A blind man is certainly better off with a guide than (when he goes) alone: in the former case there is (only) one ignominy, while in the latter there are a hundred.
می‌گریزی از پشه در کزدمی ** می‌گریزی در یمی تو از نمی
Thou art fleeing from a gnat to a scorpion, thou art fleeing from a dewdrop into an ocean.
می‌گریزی از جفاهای پدر ** در میان لوطیان و شور و شر 4110
Thou art fleeing from thy father's unkindnesses into the midst of scoundrels and mischief and trouble.
می‌گریزی هم‌چو یوسف ز اندهی ** تا ز نرتع نلعب افتی در چهی
Like Joseph, thou art fleeing from one sorrow to fall into a well (of woe) through (being beguiled by) “let us frolic and play.”
در چه افتی زین تفرج هم‌چو او ** مر ترا لیک آن عنایت یار کو
Because of this pastime thou fallest into a well, like him; but where is the (Divine) favour to help thee (as it helped him)?
گر نبودی آن به دستوری پدر ** برنیاوردی ز چه تا حشر سر
Had it not been (done) by his father's leave, he would never have emerged from the well till the Resurrection;
آن پدر بهر دل او اذن داد ** گفت چون اینست میلت خیر باد
(But) in order to please him his father gave the permission and said, “Since this is thy desire, may good come (of it)!”
هر ضریری کز مسیحی سر کشد ** او جهودانه بماند از رشد 4115
Any blind man who turns away in scorn from a Messiah will be left, like the Jews, without guidance;
قابل ضو بود اگر چه کور بود ** شد ازین اعراض او کور و کبود
(For) though he was blind, he was capable of receiving light; (but) from showing this aversion he becomes blind and blue (miserably lost).
گویدش عیسی بزن در من دو دست ** ای عمی کحل عزیزی با منست
Jesus says to him, “O blind man, cling to me with both hands: I have a precious collyrium.
از من ار کوری بیابی روشنی ** بر قمیص یوسف جان بر زنی
If thou art blind, thou wilt obtain light from me and lay hold of the (sweet-scented) Joseph's shirt of the spirit.”
کار و باری کت رسد بعد شکست ** اندر آن اقبال و منهاج رهست
The (real) fortune and highway (of success) lies in the business that comes to thee after utter defeat (self-abasement).
کار و باری که ندارد پا و سر ** ترک کن هی پیر خر ای پیر خر 4120
Give up the business that hath no foot or head (permanence): hark, old donkey, get for thyself a Pír!
غیر پیر استاد و سرلشکر مباد ** پیر گردون نی ولی پیر رشاد
May none but the Pír be (thy) master and captain!—not the Pír (old man) of the rolling sky, but the Pír of right guidance.
در زمان چون پیر را شد زیردست ** روشنایی دید آن ظلمت‌پرست
The devotee of darkness sees the light immediately as soon as he becomes subject to (the authority of) the Pír.
شرط تسلیم است نه کار دراز ** سود نبود در ضلالت ترک‌تاز
What is required is self-surrender, not long toil: ’tis useless to rush about in error.
من نجویم زین سپس راه اثیر ** پیر جویم پیر جویم پیر پیر
Henceforth I will not seek the way to the Ether (the highest celestial sphere): I will seek the Pír, I will seek the Pír, the Pír, the Pír!
پیر باشد نردبان آسمان ** تیر پران از که گردد از کمان 4125
The Pír is the ladder to Heaven: by whom (what) is the arrow made to fly? By the bow.
نه ز ابراهیم نمرود گران ** کرد با کرکس سفر بر آسمان
Was it not Abraham that caused the gross Nimrod to (attempt the) journey to heaven by means of the vulture?
از هوا شد سوی بالا او بسی ** لیک بر گردون نپرد کرکسی
(Impelled) by self-will, he often went upward; but no vulture can fly to heaven.
گفتش ابراهیم ای مرد سفر ** کرکست من باشم اینت خوب‌تر
Abraham said to him, “O traveller, I will be thy vulture: this is more seemly for thee.
چون ز من سازی به بالا نردبان ** بی پریدن بر روی بر آسمان
When thou makest of me a ladder to go aloft, thou wilt ascend to heaven without flying”—
آنچنان که می‌رود تا غرب و شرق ** بی ز زاد و راحله دل هم‌چو برق 4130
As the heart (spirit), without provisions or riding-camel, travels (swiftly) as lightning to west and east;
آنچنان که می‌رود شب ز اغتراب ** حس مردم شهرها در وقت خواب
As man's consciousness, wandering abroad whilst he is asleep, travels during the night to (remote) cities;
آنچنان که عارف از راه نهان ** خوش نشسته می‌رود در صد جهان
As the gnostic, sitting quietly (in one place), travels by a hidden track through a hundred worlds.