این ده و این دو امیر و قومشان ** گشته بند آن وزیر بدنشان460
These twelve amírs and their followers became in bondage to (a prey to) that vizier of evil sign.
اعتماد جمله بر گفتار او ** اقتدای جمله بر رفتار او
They all put trust in his words, they all took his procedure as a pattern.
پیش او در وقت و ساعت هر امیر ** جان بدادی گر بدو گفتی بمیر
Each amír would have given up his life in his presence at the time and hour (on the spot), if he (the vizier) had bidden him die.
تخلیط وزیر در احکام انجیل
How the vizier confused the ordinances of the Gospel.
ساخت طوماری به نام هر یکی ** نقش هر طومار دیگر مسلکی
He prepared a scroll in the name of (addressed to) each one, the (written) form of each scroll (of) a different tenor,
حکم‌‌های هر یکی نوعی دگر ** این خلاف آن ز پایان تا به سر
The ordinances of each (of) a diverse kind, this contradicting that from the end to the beginning.
در یکی راه ریاضت را و جوع ** رکن توبه کرده و شرط رجوع465
In one he made the path of asceticism and hunger to be the basis of repentance and the condition (necessary) for conversion.
در یکی گفته ریاضت سود نیست ** اندر این ره مخلصی جز جود نیست
In one he said: “Asceticism profits naught: in this Way there is no place (means) of deliverance but generosity.”
در یکی گفته که جوع و جود تو ** شرک باشد از تو با معبود تو
In one he said: “Your hunger and generosity are (imply) association on your part (of other objects) with (Him who is) the object of your worship.
جز توکل جز که تسلیم تمام ** در غم و راحت همه مکر است و دام
Excepting trust (in God) and complete resignation in sorrow and joy, all is a deceit and snare.”
در یکی گفته که واجب خدمت است ** ور نه اندیشه‌‌ی توکل تهمت است
In one he said: “It is incumbent (on you) to serve (God); else the thought of putting trust (in Him) is (a cause of) suspicion.”
در یکی گفته که امر و نهیهاست ** بهر کردن نیست شرح عجز ماست470
In one he said: “There are (Divine) commands and prohibitions, (but they) are not for practice (observance): they are (only) to show our weakness (inability to fulfil them),
تا که عجز خود ببینیم اندر آن ** قدرت حق را بدانیم آن زمان
So that we may behold our weakness therein and at that time recognise the power of Him.”
در یکی گفته که عجز خود مبین ** کفر نعمت کردن است آن عجز هین
In one he said: “Do not regard your weakness: that weakness is an act of ingratitude. Beware!
قدرت خود بین که این قدرت از اوست ** قدرت تو نعمت او دان که هوست
Regard your power, for this power is from Him: know that your power is the gift of Him who is Hú (the Absolute God).”
در یکی گفته کز این دو بر گذر ** بت بود هر چه بگنجد در نظر
In one he said: “Leave both these (qualities) behind: whatsoever is contained in sight (regard for other than God) is an idol (something which involves dualism).”
در یکی گفته مکش این شمع را ** کین نظر چون شمع آمد جمع را475
In one he said: “Do not put out this candle (of sight), for this sight is as a candle (lighting the way) to (interior) concentration.
از نظر چون بگذری و از خیال ** کشته باشی نیم شب شمع وصال
When you relinquish sight and phantasy (too soon), you will have put out the candle of union at midnight.”
در یکی گفته بکش باکی مدار ** تا عوض بینی نظر را صد هزار
In one he said: “Put it out—have no fear—that you may see myriads of sights in exchange;
که ز کشتن شمع جان افزون شود ** لیلی‌‌ات از صبر تو مجنون شود
For by putting it out the candle of the spirit is increased: by your self-denial your Laylá (beloved) becomes your Majnún (lover).
ترک دنیا هر که کرد از زهد خویش ** بیش آید پیش او دنیا و پیش
If any one abandons the world by his own (act of) renunciation, the world comes to him (with homage) more and more.”
در یکی گفته که آن چه‌‌ت داد حق ** بر تو شیرین کرد در ایجاد حق480
In one he said: “That which God hath given you He made sweet to you in (at the time of) bringing it into existence.
بر تو آسان کرد و خوش آن را بگیر ** خویشتن را در میفگن در زحیر
He made it easy (blessed) to you, and do you take it gladly: do not throw yourself into anguish.”
در یکی گفته که بگذار آن خود ** کان قبول طبع تو ردست و بد
In one he said: “Let go all that belongs to self, for it is wrong and bad to comply with your nature.”
راههای مختلف آسان شده ست ** هر یکی را ملتی چون جان شده ست
(Many) different roads have become easy (to follow): every one's religion has become (to him) as (dear) as life.
گر میسر کردن حق ره بدی ** هر جهود و گبر از او آگه بدی
If God's making (religion) easy were the (right) road, every Jew and Zoroastrian would have knowledge of Him.