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.".
در تو نمرودی است آتش در مرو ** رفت خواهی اول ابراهیم شو
In thee is a Nimrod: do not go into the fire. If thou wish to go in, first become Abraham!
چون نهای سباح و نه دریاییی ** در میفکن خویش از خود راییی
When thou art neither a swimmer nor a seaman, do not cast thyself (into the sea) from a (feeling of) self-conceit.
او ز آتش ورد احمر آورد ** از زیانها سود بر سر آورد
He (the saint) brings red roses from the fire, from losses he brings gain to the surface.
کاملی گر خاک گیرد زر شود ** ناقص ار زر برد خاکستر شود
If a perfect man (saint) take earth, it becomes gold; if an imperfect one has carried away gold, it becomes ashes.
چون قبول حق بود آن مرد راست ** دست او در کارها دست خداست1610
Since that righteous man is accepted of God, his hand in (all) things is the hand of God.
دست ناقص دست شیطان است و دیو ** ز آن که اندر دام تکلیف است و ریو
The hand of the imperfect man is the hand of Devil and demon, because he is in the trap of imposition and guile.
جهل آید پیش او دانش شود ** جهل شد علمی که در ناقص رود
If ignorance come to him (the perfect man), it becomes knowledge, (but) the knowledge that goes into the disbelieving man becomes ignorance.
هر چه گیرد علتی علت شود ** کفر گیرد کاملی ملت شود
Whatever an ill man takes becomes illness, (but) if a perfect man takes infidelity, it becomes religion.