او یکی دزدست فتنه‌سیرتی ** چون خیال او را بهر دم صورتی
He (the Devil) is a mischievous thief: like a phantom, he has (he appears in) a (different) shape at every moment.
کس نداند مکر او الا خدا ** در خدا بگریز و وا ره زان دغا
None but God knows his cunning: take refuge with God and escape from that impostor.
مناظره‌ی مرغ با صیاد در ترهب و در معنی ترهبی کی مصطفی علیه‌السلام نهی کرد از آن امت خود را کی لا رهبانیة فی الاسلام
The bird's debate with the fowler concerning monasticism and about the meaning of the monasticism which Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, forbade his community to practise, saying, “There is no monkery in Islam.”
مرغ گفتش خواجه در خلوت مه‌ایست ** دین احمد را ترهب نیک نیست
The bird said to him, “O Khwája, don't stay in (monastic) seclusion: monasticism is not good in regard to the religion of Ahmad (Mohammed).
از ترهب نهی کردست آن رسول ** بدعتی چون در گرفتی ای فضول
The Prophet has forbidden monasticism: how have you embraced a heresy, O trifler?
جمعه شرطست و جماعت در نماز ** امر معروف و ز منکر احتراز 480
The conditions (imposed by Islam) are: (to take part in) the Friday worship and the public prayers, to enjoin good and shun evil,
رنج بدخویان کشیدن زیر صبر ** منفعت دادن به خلقان هم‌چو ابر
To bear patiently affliction caused by the ill-natured, and to confer benefit on (God's) creatures as (bounteously as) the clouds.
خیر ناس آن ینفع الناس ای پدر ** گر نه سنگی چه حریفی با مدر
O father, the best of the people is he who benefits the people: if you are not a stone, why are you consorting with the clod?
در میان امت مرحوم باش ** سنت احمد مهل محکوم باشد
Live amongst the community that is the object of (Divine) mercy: do not forsake the religion of Ahmad (Mohammed), be ruled (by his practice).”
گفت عقل هر که را نبود رسوخ ** پیش عاقل او چو سنگست و کلوخ
He (the fowler) replied, “Any one whose intelligence is infirm, he in the opinion of the intelligent is like a stone and clod.
چون حمارست آنک نانش امنیتست ** صحبت او عین رهبانیتست 485
One whose (only) wish is for bread resembles an ass: companionship with him is the essence of monkery.
زانک غیر حق همه گردد رفات ** کل آت بعد حین فهو آت
(Do not associate with him), for all except God crumbles away, (and) everything that is coming after a time will (inevitably) come.
حکم او هم حکم قبله‌ی او بود ** مرده‌اش خوان چونک مرده‌جو بود
His predicament is the same as that of his qibla (object of desire): call him ‘dead’ inasmuch as he seeks the dead.
هر که با این قوم باشد راهبست ** که کلوخ و سنگ او را صاحبست
Any one who lives with these (worldly) people is a monk, for his companions are (like) clods and stones.
خود کلوخ و سنگ کس را ره نزد ** زین کلوخان صد هزار آفت رسد
In sooth, (actual) clods and stones never waylaid (and ruined) any one, (while) from those clods come a hundred thousand corruptions.”
گفت مرغش پس جهاد آنگه بود ** کین چنین ره‌زن میان ره بود 490
The bird said to him, “(Well), then, the Jihád (spiritual war) is (waged) at the time when a brigand like this is on the road.
از برای حفظ و یاری و نبرد ** بر ره ناآمن آید شیرمرد
The valiant man enters on the unsafe road for the purpose of protecting and helping and fighting.
عرق مردی آنگهی پیدا شود ** که مسافر همره اعدا شود
The root (innate quality) of manhood (only) becomes apparent at the time when the traveller meets his enemies on the road.
چون نبی سیف بودست آن رسول ** امت او صفدرانند و فحول
Since the Messenger (of Allah) was the Prophet of the sword, (the people of) his community are heroes and champions.
مصلحت در دین ما جنگ و شکوه ** مصلحت در دین عیسی غار و کوه
In our religion the right thing is war and terror; in the religion of Jesus the right thing is (retirement to) cave and mountain.”
گفت آری گر بود یاری و زور ** تا به قوت بر زند بر شر و شور 495
He (the fowler) said, “Yes; if one has help (from God) and strength to make a mighty attack on evil and mischief.
چون نباشد قوتی پرهیز به ** در فرار لا یطاق آسان بجه
(But) when there is no strength, ’tis better to abstain: spring easily away in flight from what cannot be endured.”
گفت صدق دل بباید کار را ** ورنه یاران کم نیاید یار را
It (the bird) replied, “Firmness of heart is needed for achievement, but a (firm) friend does not lack friends.
Be a (firm) friend, that you may find friends innumerable; for without friends you will be left helpless.
دیو گرگست و تو هم‌چون یوسفی ** دامن یعقوب مگذار ای صفی
The Devil is a wolf, and you are like Joseph: do not let go Jacob's skirt, O excellent one.
گرگ اغلب آنگهی گیرا بود ** کز رمه شیشک به خود تنها رود 500
Generally the wolf seizes (his prey) at the moment when a year-old sheep strays alone by itself from the flock.
آنک سنت یا جماعت ترک کرد ** در چنین مسبع نه خون خویش خورد
He who has abandoned (the performance of) the Sunna with the (Moslem) community, has not he drunk his own blood (exposed himself to destruction) in such a haunt of wild beasts?
هست سنت ره جماعت چون رفیق ** بی‌ره و بی‌یار افتی در مضیق
The Sunna is the (safe) road, and the community are like (your) companions (on the road): without the road and without comrades you will fall into (sore) straits;
همرهی نه کو بود خصم خرد ** فرصتی جوید که جامه‌ی تو برد
(But) not the fellow-traveller who is an enemy to Reason and seeks an opportunity to carry off your clothes,
می‌رود با تو که یابد عقبه‌ای ** که تواند کردت آنجا نهبه‌ای
(And only) goes about with you in order to find a mountain-pass where he can plunder you!
یا بود اشتردلی چون دید ترس ** گوید او بهر رجوع از راه درس 505
Nor one who has the (timorous) heart of a camel and, when he feels afraid, instructs (you) to turn back on the road!
یار را ترسان کند ز اشتردلی ** این چنین همره عدو دان نه ولی
By his camel's courage he frightens his comrade: know that such a fellow-traveller is an enemy, not a friend.
راه جان‌بازیست و در هر غیشه‌ای ** آفتی در دفع هر جان‌شیشه‌ای
The road (to God) is self-sacrifice, and in every thicket is a bane to drive back any one whose soul is (brittle) as a glass bottle.
راه دین زان رو پر از شور و شرست ** که نه راه هر مخنث گوهرست
The road of religion is full of trouble and bale for the reason that it is not the road for any one whose nature is effeminate.
در ره این ترس امتحانهای نفوس ** هم‌چو پرویزن به تمییز سبوس
On this road (men's) souls are tried by terror as a sieve (is used) for sifting bran.
راه چه بود پر نشان پایها ** یار چه بود نردبان رایها 510
What is the road? Full of footprints. What is the comrade? The ladder whereby minds ascend.
گیرم آن گرگت نیابد ز احتیاط ** بی ز جمعیت نیابی آن نشاط
I grant that, through (your) taking precautions, the wolf may not find you, (but) without company you will not find that (spiritual) alacrity.
آنک تنها در رهی او خوش رود ** با رفیقان سیر او صدتو شود
He who cheerfully goes alone on a journey—(if he goes) with companions his progress is increased a hundredfold.
با غلیظی خر ز یاران ای فقیر ** در نشاط آید شود قوت‌پذیر
Notwithstanding the grossness of the ass, it (the ass) is exhilarated, O dervish, by comrades (of its own kind) and becomes capable of (exerting) strength.
هر خری کز کاروان تنها رود ** بر وی آن راه از تعب صدتو شود
To any ass that goes alone (and away) from the caravan the road is (made) a hundredfold (longer) by fatigue.
چند سیخ و چند چوب افزون خورد ** تا که تنها آن بیابان را برد 515
How many more goadings and cudgellings does it suffer that it may cross the desert (unaccompanied and) alone!
مر ترا می‌گوید آن خر خوش شنو ** گر نه‌ای خر هم‌چنین تنها مرو
That ass is saying to you (implicitly), ‘Take good heed! Don't travel alone like this, unless you are an ass!’
آنک تنها خوش رود اندر رصد ** با رفیقان بی‌گمان خوشتر رود
Beyond doubt he who cheerfully goes alone into the custom-house will go more cheerfully (when he is) with companions.
هر نبیی اندرین راه درست ** معجزه بنمود و همراهان بجست
Every prophet (that walked) on this straight road produced evidentiary miracles and sought fellow-travellers.
گر نباشد یاری دیوارها ** کی برآید خانه و انبارها
Were it not for the help given by the walls, how should houses and magazines arise?
هر یکی دیوار اگر باشد جدا ** سقف چون باشد معلق در هوا 520
If each wall be separated (from the others), how shall the roof remain suspended in the air?
گر نباشد یاری حبر و قلم ** کی فتد بر روی کاغذها رقم
If no help be given by ink and pen, how shall the writing come on to the surface of the paper?
این حصیری که کسی می‌گسترد ** گر نپیوندد به هم بادش برد
If this rush-mat which some one is spreading were not joined together (interwoven), the wind would carry it away.
حق ز هر جنسی چو زوجین آفرید ** پس نتایج شد ز جمعیت پدید
Since God created pairs of every kind, therefore (all) results are produced by means of union.”
او بگفت و او بگفت از اهتزاز ** بحثشان شد اندرین معنی دراز
He (the fowler) spoke (on one side) and it (the bird) spoke (on the other side): their debate on this subject was prolonged by the vehemence (with which they argued).
مثنوی را چابک و دلخواه کن ** ماجرا را موجز و کوتاه کن 525
Make the Mathnawí nimble and pleasing to the heart: abridge and shorten (their) controversy.