قطرهای از دجلهی خوبی اوست ** کان نمیگنجد ز پری زیر پوست
It (everything in the universe) is a drop of the Tigris of His beauty, which (beauty) because of its fullness is not contained under the skin (that should enclose it).
گنج مخفی بد ز پری چاک کرد ** خاک را تابان تر از افلاک کرد
’Twas a hidden treasure: because of its fullness it burst forth and made the earth more shining than the heavens.
گنج مخفی بد ز پری جوش کرد ** خاک را سلطان اطلس پوش کرد
’Twas a hidden treasure: because of its fullness it surged up and made the earth (like) a sultan robed in satin.
ور بدیدی شاخی از دجلهی خدا ** آن سبو را او فنا کردی فنا
And if he (the Arab) had seen a branch of the Divine Tigris, he would have destroyed that jug, destroyed it.
آن که دیدندش همیشه بیخودند ** بیخودانه بر سبو سنگی زدند2865
They that saw it are always beside themselves: like one beside himself, they hurled a stone at the jug (of their self-existence).
ای ز غیرت بر سبو سنگی زده ** و این سبو ز اشکست کاملتر شده
O thou who from jealousy hast hurled a stone at the jug, and thy brokenness has in truth become soundness,
خم شکسته آب از او ناریخته ** صد درستی زین شکست انگیخته
The jar is shattered, (but) the water is not spilled from it: from this shattering have arisen a hundred soundnesses.
جزو جزو خم به رقص است و به حال ** عقل جزوی را نموده این محال
Every piece of the jar is in dance and ecstasy, (though) to the partial (discursive) reason this seems absurd.
نی سبو پیدا در این حالت نه آب ** خوش ببین و الله اعلم بالصواب
In this state (of ecstasy) neither the jug is manifest nor the water. Consider well, and God knoweth best what is right.
چون در معنی زنی بازت کنند ** پر فکرت زن که شهبازت کنند2870
When you knock at the door of Reality, it will be opened to you: beat the pinion of thought, in order that you may be made a king-falcon.
پر فکرت شد گل آلود و گران ** ز آن که گل خواری ترا گل شد چو نان
The pinion of your thought has become mud-stained and heavy because you are a clay-eater: clay has become to you as bread.
نان گل است و گوشت کمتر خور از این ** تا نمانی همچو گل اندر زمین
Bread and meat are (originally) clay: eat little thereof, that you may not remain in the earth, like clay.
چون گرسنه میشوی سگ میشوی ** تند و بد پیوند و بد رگ میشوی
When you become hungry, you become a dog: you become fierce and ill-tempered and ill-natured.
چون شدی تو سیر مرداری شدی ** بیخبر بیپا چو دیواری شدی
When you have eaten your fill, you have become a carcase: you have become devoid of understanding and without feet (inert), like a wall.
پس دمی مردار و دیگر دم سگی ** چون کنی در راه شیران خوش تگی2875
So at one time you are a carcase and at another time a dog: how will you run well in the road of the lions (follow the saints)?
آلت اشکار خود جز سگ مدان ** کمترک انداز سگ را استخوان
Know that your only means of hunting is the dog (the animal soul): throw bones to the dog but seldom,
ز آن که سگ چون سیر شد سرکش شود ** کی سوی صید و شکار خوش دود
Because when the dog has eaten its fill, it becomes rebellious: how should it run to the goodly chase and hunt?
آن عرب را بینوایی میکشید ** تا بدان درگاه و آن دولت رسید
Want of food was leading the Arab till he arrived at that (exalted) court and that (high) fortune.
در حکایت گفتهایم احسان شاه ** در حق آن بینوای بیپناه
We have related in the (foregoing) story the kindness shown by the King to that needy one who had no refuge.
هر چه گوید مرد عاشق بوی عشق ** از دهانش میجهد در کوی عشق2880
Whatsoever the man in love (with God) speaks, the scent of Love is springing from his mouth into the abode of Love.
گر بگوید فقه فقر آید همه ** بوی فقر آید از آن خوش دمدمه
If he speak (formal) theology, it all turns to (spiritual) poverty: the scent of poverty comes from that man of sweet and beguiling discourse.
ور بگوید کفر دارد بوی دین ** ور به شک گوید شکش گردد یقین
And if he speak infidelity, it has the scent of (the true) religion, and if he speak doubtfully, his doubt turns to certainty.
کف کژ کز بحر صدقی خاسته است ** اصل صاف آن فرع را آراسته است
The perverse froth that has risen from a sea of sincerity— that branch (derivative) has been adorned by the pure root (source).
آن کفش را صافی و محقوق دان ** همچو دشنام لب معشوق دان
Know that its froth is pure and worthy: know that it is like revilement from the lips of the beloved,
گشته آن دشنام نامطلوب او ** خوش ز بهر عارض محبوب او2885
Whose unsought reproaches have become sweet (to the lover) for the sake of her cheek which he desires.