نیست شه را طمع بهر خلق ساخت ** این همه دولت خنک آن کاو شناخت
The King hath no desire (for anything): He hath made all this empire for His creatures. Happy is he that knew!
آن که دولت آفرید و دو سرا ** ملک دولتها چه کار آید و را
Of what use should the possession of empires be to Him who created (all) empire and the two worlds?
پیش سبحان بس نگه دارید دل ** تا نگردید از گمان بد خجل
In the presence of His Glory keep watch, then, over your hearts, lest ye be put to shame by thinking evil.
کاو ببیند سر و فکر و جستجو ** همچو اندر شیر خالص تار مو3145
For He sees conscience and thought and quest (desire) as (plainly) as a thread of hair in pure milk.
آن که او بی‌‌نقش ساده سینه شد ** نقشهای غیب را آیینه شد
He whose clear breast has become devoid of (any) image (impression) has become a mirror for the impressions of the Invisible.
سر ما را بی‌‌گمان موقن شود ** ز آن که مومن آینه‌‌ی مومن شود
He becomes intuitively and undoubtingly aware of our inmost thought, because the true believer is the mirror of the true believer.
چون زند او نقد ما را بر محک ** پس یقین را باز داند او ز شک
When he rubs our coin on the touchstone, then he knows the difference between faith and doubt.
چون شود جانش محک نقدها ** پس ببیند قلب را و قلب را
When his soul becomes the touchstone of the coin, then he will see (distinguish) the (true) heart and the false money (of hypocrisy).
نشاندن پادشاهان صوفیان عارف را پیش روی خویش تا چشمشان بدیشان روشن شود
How kings seat in front of them the Súfís who know God, in order that their eyes may be illumined by (seeing) them.
پادشاهان را چنان عادت بود ** این شنیده باشی ار یادت بود3150
Such is the custom of kings: you will have heard of this, if you remember.
دست چپشان پهلوانان ایستند ** ز آنکه دل پهلوی چپ باشد ببند
The paladins stand on their left hand, because the heart (the seat of courage) is fixed on the left side (of the body).
مشرف و اهل قلم بر دست راست ** ز آن که علم و خط و ثبت آن دست راست
On the right hand are the chancellor and the secretaries, because the science of writing and book-keeping belongs (in practice) to that hand.
صوفیان را پیش رو موضع دهند ** کاینه‌‌ی جان‌‌اند و ز آیینه بهند
They give the Súfís the place in front of their countenance, for they (the Súfís) are a mirror for the soul, and better than a mirror,
سینه صیقلها زده در ذکر و فکر ** تا پذیرد آینه‌‌ی دل نقش بکر
(Since) they have polished their breasts (hearts) in commemoration (of God) and meditation, that the heart's mirror may receive the virgin (original) image.
هر که او از صلب فطرت خوب زاد ** آینه در پیش او باید نهاد3155
Whoever is born beautiful from the loins of Creation, a mirror must be placed before him.
عاشق آیینه باشد روی خوب ** صیقل جان آمد و تقوی القلوب
The beauteous face is in love with the mirror: it (such a face) is a polisher of the soul and (a kindler) of the fear of God in (men's) hearts.
آمدن مهمان پیش یوسف علیه السلام و تقاضا کردن یوسف از او تحفه و ارمغان
How the guest came to Joseph, on whom be peace, and how Joseph demanded of him a gift and present on his return from abroad.
آمد از آفاق یار مهربان ** یوسف صدیق را شد میهمان
The loving friend came from the ends of the earth and became the guest of Joseph the truthful,
کآشنا بودند وقت کودکی ** بر وساده‌‌ی آشنایی متکی
For they had been acquainted in childhood, reclining (together) on the cushion of acquaintance.
یاد دادش جور اخوان و حسد ** گفت کان زنجیر بود و ما اسد
He spoke to him (Joseph) of the injustice and envy of his brethren: Joseph said, “That was (like) a chain, and I was the lion.
عار نبود شیر را از سلسله ** نیست ما را از قضای حق گله3160
The lion is not disgraced by the chain: I do not complain of God's destiny.
شیر را بر گردن ار زنجیر بود ** بر همه زنجیر سازان میر بود
If the lion had a chain on his neck, (yet) he was prince over all the chain-makers.”
گفت چون بودی ز زندان و ز چاه ** گفت همچون در محاق و کاست ماه
He asked, “How wert thou in regard to the prison and the well?” “Like the moon,” said Joseph, “in the interlunar period (when she is) on the wane.”
در محاق ار ماه نو گردد دو تا ** نی در آخر بدر گردد بر سما
If in that period the new moon is bent double, does not she at last become the full moon in the sky?
گر چه دردانه به هاون کوفتند ** نور چشم و دل شد و بیند بلند
Though the seed-pearl is pounded in the mortar, it becomes the light of eye and heart and looks aloft.
گندمی را زیر خاک انداختند ** پس ز خاکش خوشه‌‌ها بر ساختند3165
They cast a grain of wheat under earth, then from its earth they raised up ears of corn;
بار دیگر کوفتندش ز آسیا ** قیمتش افزود و نان شد جان فزا
Once more they crushed it with the mill: its value increased and it became soul invigorating bread;