صورتش بر خاک و جان بر لامکان ** لامکانی فوق وهم سالکان
His form is on earth and his spirit in “no-place,” a “no-place” beyond the imagination of travellers (on the mystic Way):
لامکانی نه که در فهم آیدت ** هر دمی در وی خیالی زایدت
Not such a “no-place” that it should come into thy understanding (or that) a fancy about it should be born in thee every moment;
بل مکان و لامکان در حکم او ** همچو در حکم بهشتی چارجو
Nay, place and “no-place” are in his control, just as the four (Paradisal) rivers are in the control of one who dwells in Paradise.
شرح این کوته کن و رخ زین بتاب ** دم مزن و الله اعلم بالصواب
Cut short the explanation of this and avert thy face from it: do not breathe a word (more)—and God knows best what is right.
باز میگردیم ما ای دوستان ** سوی مرغ و تاجر و هندوستان1585
We return, O friends, to the bird and the merchant and India.
مرد بازرگان پذیرفت این پیام ** کاو رساند سوی جنس از وی سلام
The merchant accepted this message (and promised) that he would convey the greeting from her (the parrot) to her congeners.
دیدن خواجه طوطیان هندوستان را در دشت و پیغام رسانیدن از آن طوطی
How the merchant saw the parrots of India in the plain and delivered the parrot's message.
چون که تا اقصای هندوستان رسید ** در بیابان طوطی چندی بدید
When he reached the farthest bounds of India, he saw a number of parrots in the plain.
مرکب استانید پس آواز داد ** آن سلام و آن امانت باز داد
He halted his beast; then he gave voice, delivered the greeting and (discharged) the trust.
طوطیی ز آن طوطیان لرزید بس ** اوفتاد و مرد و بگسستش نفس
One of those parrots trembled exceedingly, fell, and died, and its breath stopped.
شد پشیمان خواجه از گفت خبر ** گفت رفتم در هلاک جانور1590
The merchant repented of having told the news, and said, “I have gone about to destroy the creature.
این مگر خویش است با آن طوطیک ** این مگر دو جسم بود و روح یک
This one, surely, is kin to that little parrot (of mine): they must have been two bodies and one spirit.
این چرا کردم چرا دادم پیام ** سوختم بیچاره را زین گفت خام
Why did I do this? Why did I give the message? I have consumed the poor creature by this raw (foolish) speech.”
این زبان چون سنگ و هم آهنوش است ** و آن چه بجهد از زبان چون آتش است
This tongue is like stone and is also like iron, and that which springs from the tongue is like fire.
سنگ و آهن را مزن بر هم گزاف ** گه ز روی نقل و گاه از روی لاف
Do not vainly strike stone and iron against each other, now for the sake of relating (a story), now for the sake of boasting,
ز آن که تاریک است و هر سو پنبه زار ** در میان پنبه چون باشد شرار1595
Because it is dark, and on every side are fields of cotton: how should sparks be amongst cotton?
ظالم آن قومی که چشمان دوختند ** ز آن سخنها عالمی را سوختند
Iniquitous are those persons who shut their eyes and by such (vain) words set a whole world ablaze.
عالمی را یک سخن ویران کند ** روبهان مرده را شیران کند
A single word lays waste a (whole) world, turns dead foxes into lions.
جانها در اصل خود عیسی دمند ** یک زمان زخمند و گاهی مرهمند
Spirits in their original nature have the (life-giving) breath of Jesus, (but while they remain embodied) at one time they are (like) the wound, and another time (like) the plaster.
گر حجاب از جانها برخاستی ** گفت هر جانی مسیح آساستی
If the (bodily) screen were removed from the spirits, the speech of every spirit would be like (the breath of) the Messiah.
گر سخن خواهی که گویی چون شکر ** صبر کن از حرص و این حلوا مخور1600
If you wish to utter words like sugar, refrain from concupiscence and do not eat this sweetmeat (the desires of the flesh).
صبر باشد مشتهای زیرکان ** هست حلوا آرزوی کودکان
Self-control is the thing desired by the intelligent; sweetmeat is what children long for.
هر که صبر آورد گردون بر رود ** هر که حلوا خورد واپستر رود
تفسیر قول فرید الدین عطار قدس الله روحه: تو صاحب نفسی ای غافل میان خاک خون میخور که صاحب دل اگر زهری خورد آن انگبین باشد
Commentary on the saying of Farídu’ddín ‘Attár, -may God sanctify his spirit- “Thou art a sensualist: O heedless one, drink blood (mortify thyself) amidst the dust (of thy bodily existence), For if the spiritualist drink a poison, it will be (to him as) an antidote.”
صاحب دل را ندارد آن زیان ** گر خورد او زهر قاتل را عیان
It does not harm the spiritualist (saint) though he drink deadly poison for all to see,
ز آن که صحت یافت و از پرهیز رست ** طالب مسکین میان تب در است
Because he has attained to (spiritual) health and has been set free from (the need for) abstinence, (while) the poor seeker (of God) is (still) in the (state of) fever.
گفت پیغمبر که ای مرد جری ** هان مکن با هیچ مطلوبی مری1605
The Prophet said, "O seeker of the (Divine) allowance (bounty), do not contend with anyone who is sought.".