تا نجوشد دیگهای خرد زود ** دیگ ادراکات خردست و فرود
Lest the small pots boil (too) quickly: the pot of the perceptions is small and low.
پاک سبحانی که سیبستان کند ** در غمام حرفشان پنهان کنند
The Holy Transcendent One who makes the apple-orchard conceals them (the apples) in a mist of words.
زین غمام بانگ و حرف و گفت و گوی ** پرده‌ای کز سیب ناید غیر بوی 85
From this mist of sound and words and talk (arises such) a screen that naught of the apple comes (into perception) save the scent.
باری افزون کش تو این بو را به هوش ** تا سوی اصلت برد بگرفته گوش
At least draw (inhale) this scent in greater quantity with (the nostrils of) your intelligence, that taking you by the ear it may lead you towards your origin.
بو نگه‌دار و بپرهیز از زکام ** تن بپوش از باد و بود سرد عام
Preserve the scent and beware of the rheum: protect your body from the cold wind (breath) and being of the vulgar,
تا نینداید مشامت را ز اثر ** ای هواشان از زمستان سردتر
Lest by the effect (thereof) it stop up your nose: oh, their air is colder than winter.
چون جمادند و فسرده و تن‌شگرف ** می‌جهد انفاسشان از تل برف
They are like lifeless matter and frozen and stout of body: their breaths issue from a snow-hill.
چون زمین زین برف در پوشد کفن ** تیغ خورشید حسام‌الدین بزن 90
When the earth (of your being) is covered with a shroud of this snow, brandish the sunbeam-sword of Husámu’ddín.
هین بر آر از شرق سیف‌الله را ** گرم کن زان شرق این درگاه را
Hark, lift up the sword of Allah from the east: with (the radiance of) that east make this portal hot.
برف را خنجر زند آن آفتاب ** سیلها ریزد ز کهها بر تراب
That Sun smites the snow with a dagger: it causes the torrents to pour from the mountains upon the (frozen) earth,
زانک لا شرقیست و لا غربیست او ** با منجم روز و شب حربیست او
For it is neither of the east nor of the west: by day and by night it is at war with the astronomer,
که چرا جز من نجوم بی‌هدی ** قبله کردی از لیمی و عمی
Saying, “Why in thy baseness and blindness hast thou made a qibla other than me of stars that give no true guidance?
تا خوشت ناید مقال آن امین ** در نبی که لا احب الا فلین 95
Displeasing to thee are the words of that trusty one in the Qur’án—‘I love not them that set.’
از قزح در پیش مه بستی کمر ** زان همی رنجی ز وانشق القمر
(Prompted) by Quzah, thou hast girt thyself (for service) before the moon: hence thou art vexed by (the sign announced in the Verse) and the moon shall be split asunder.
منکری این را که شمس کورت ** شمس پیش تست اعلی‌مرتبت
Thou disbelievest that the sun shall be folded up: in thy opinion the sun is of the highest degree.
از ستاره دیده تصریف هوا ** ناخوشت آید اذا النجم هوی
Thou deemest change of weather to be caused by the stars: thou art displeased with (the text) when the star shall fall.
خود مثرتر نباشد مه ز نان ** ای بسا نان که ببرد عرق جان
Verily, the moon produces no greater effect than bread: O many a loaf of bread that severs the vein of life!
خود مثرتر نباشد زهره زآب ** ای بسا آبا که کرد او تن خراب 100
Verily, (the planet) Venus produces no greater effect than water: O many a water that has destroyed the body!
مهر آن در جان تست و پند دوست ** می‌زند بر گوش تو بیرون پوست
Love of those (stars) is (implanted) in thy soul, and the advice of thy friend strikes (only) on the outer skin of thy ear.
پند ما در تو نگیرد ای فلان ** پند تو در ما نگیرد هم بدان
(If) our advice takes no hold of thee, O great man, know that neither does thy advice take any hold of us.
جز مگر مفتاح خاص آید ز دوست ** که مقالید السموات آن اوست
(Thy ears are closed) unless, perchance, the special (sovereign) key (to open them) come from the Friend to whom belong the keys of the heavens.”
این سخن هم‌چون ستاره‌ست و قمر ** لیک بی‌فرمان حق ندهد اثر
This discourse is like the stars and the moon (in splendour), but without the command of God it makes no impression.
این ستاره‌ی بی‌جهت تاثیر او ** می‌زند بر گوشهای وحی‌جو 105
The impression made by this star (which is) beyond locality strikes (only) on ears that seek inspiration,
کی بیایید از جهت تا بی‌جهات ** تا ندراند شما را گرگ مات
Saying, “Come ye from (the world of) locality to the world without spatial relations, in order that the wolf may not tear you to pieces in checkmate (utter discomfiture).”
آنچنان که لمعه‌ی درپاش اوست ** شمس دنیا در صفت خفاش اوست
Since its pearl-scattering radiance is such (as has been mentioned), the sun of the present world may be described as its bat.
هفت چرخ ازرقی در رق اوست ** پیک ماه اندر تب و در دق اوست
The seven blue (celestial) spheres are in servitude to it; the courier moon is fevered and wasted away by it.
زهره چنگ مسله در وی زده ** مشتری با نقد جان پیش آمده
Venus lays her hand upon it to beseech (its favour); Jupiter comes forward to offer to it the ready money of his soul.
در هوای دستبوس او زحل ** لیک خود را می‌نبیند از محل 110
Saturn is eager to kiss its hand, but he does not regard himself as worthy of that honour.
دست و پا مریخ چندین خست ازو ** وآن عطارد صد قلم بشکست ازو
On account of it, Mars has inflicted so many wounds on his hands and feet; and on account of it Mercury has broken a hundred pens.
با منجم این همه انجم به جنگ ** کای رها کرده تو جان بگزیده رنگ
All these stars (planets) are at war with the astronomer, saying, “O thou who hast let the spirit go and hast preferred colour (vanity),
جان ویست و ما همه رنگ و رقوم ** کوکب هر فکر او جان نجوم
It is the spirit, and we all are (mere) colour and designs: the star (spark) of every thought in it is the soul of the (material) stars.”
فکر کو آنجا همه نورست پاک ** بهر تست این لفظ فکر ای فکرناک
Where is thought (in relation to it)? There all is pure light: this word “thought” is (used only) for thy sake, O thinker.
هر ستاره خانه دارد در علا ** هیچ خانه در نگنجد نجم ما 115
Every (material) star hath its house on high: our star is not contained in any house.
جای سوز اندر مکان کی در رود ** نور نامحدود را حد کی بود
How should that which burns (transcends) place (spatial relations) enter into space? How should there be a limit for the illimitable light?
لیک تمثیلی و تصویری کنند ** تا که در یابد ضعیفی عشقمند
But they (the mystics) use a comparison and illustration, in order that a loving feeble-minded man may apprehend (the truth).
مثل نبود لیک باشد آن مثال ** تا کند عقل مجمد را گسیل
’Tis not a simile, but ’tis a parable for the purpose of releasing (melting) the frozen intellect.
عقل سر تیزست لیکن پای سست ** زانک دل ویران شدست و تن درست
The intellect is strong in the head but weak in the legs, because it is sick of heart (spiritually decayed) though sound of body (materially flourishing).
عقلشان در نقل دنیا پیچ پیچ ** فکرشان در ترک شهوت هیچ هیچ 120
Their (the unspiritual men's) intellect is deeply involved in the dessert (pleasures) of this world: never, never do they think of abandoning sensuality.
صدرشان در وقت دعوی هم‌چو شرق ** صبرشان در وقت تقوی هم‌چو برق
In the hour of pretension their breasts are (glowing) like the orient sun, (but) in the hour of pious devotion their endurance is (brief) as the lightning.
عالمی اندر هنرها خودنما ** هم‌چو عالم بی‌وفا وقت وفا
A learned man who shows self-conceit in (displaying) his talents is faithless as the world at the time for keeping faith.
وقت خودبینی نگنجد در جهان ** در گلو و معده گم گشته چو نان
At the time when he regards himself (with pride) he is not contained in the world: he has become lost in the gullet and belly, like bread.
این همه اوصافشان نیکو شود ** بد نماند چونک نیکوجو شود
(Yet) all these (evil) qualities of theirs may become good: evil does not remain when it turns to seeking good.
گر منی گنده بود هم‌چون منی ** چون به جان پیوست یابد روشنی 125
If egoism is foul-smelling like semen, (yet) when it attains unto the spirit (spirituality) it gains light.
هر جمادی که کند رو در نبات ** از درخت بخت او روید حیات
Every mineral that sets its face towards (aspires to evolve into) the plant (the vegetative state)—life grows from the tree of its fortune.
هر نباتی کان به جان رو آورد ** خضروار از چشمه‌ی حیوان خورد
Every plant that turns its face towards the (animal) spirit drinks, like Khizr, from the Fountain of Life.
باز جان چون رو سوی جانان نهد ** رخت را در عمر بی‌پایان نهد
Once more, when the (animal) spirit sets its face towards the (Divine) Beloved, it lays down its baggage (and passes) into the life without end.
سال سایل از مرغی کی بر سر ربض شهری نشسته باشد سر او فاضل‌ترست و عزیزتر و شریف‌تر و مکرم‌تر یا دم او و جواب دادن واعظ سایل را به قدر فهم او
How an inquirer asked (a preacher) about a bird that was supposed to have settled on the wall of a city—“Is its head more excellent and estimable and noble and honourable or its tail?”—and how the preacher gave him a reply suited to the measure of his understanding.
واعظی را گفت روزی سایلی ** کای تو منبر را سنی‌تر قایلی
One day an inquirer said to a preacher, “O thou who art the pulpit's most eminent expounder,
یک سالستم بگو ای ذو لباب ** اندرین مجلس سالم را جواب 130
I have a question to ask. Answer my question in this assembly-place, O possessor of the marrow (of wisdom).
بر سر بارو یکی مرغی نشست ** از سر و از دم کدامینش بهست
A bird has settled on the city-wall: which is better—its head or its tail?”
گفت اگر رویش به شهر و دم به ده ** روی او از دم او می‌دان که به
He replied, “If its face is to the town and its tail to the country, know that its face is better than its tail;