گر بدی جان زنده بی پرتو کنون ** هیچ گفتی کافران را میتون
If the soul were now alive without (that) radiance, would He (God) ever have called the infidels “dead”
هین بگو که ناطقه جو میکند ** تا به قرنی بعد ما آبی رسد
Come, speak (O my soul)! for the Logos is digging a channel to the end that some water may reach a generation after us.
گرچه هر قرنی سخنآری بود ** لیک گفت سالفان یاری بود
Although (in) every generation there is one who brings the word (of God), yet the sayings of them that have gone before are helpful
نه که هم توریت و انجیل و زبور ** شد گواه صدق قرآن ای شکور
Is it not (the case) that the Pentateuch and the Gospel and the Psalms have borne witness to the truth of theQur’an, O thankful one?
روزی بیرنج جو و بیحساب ** کز بهشتت آورد جبریل سیب2540
Seek a (spiritual) livelihood (won) without toil and without reckoning, so that Gabriel may bring you apples from Paradise;
بلک رزقی از خداوند بهشت ** بیصداع باغبان بی رنج کشت
Nay, (that there may come to you) a livelihood from the Lord of Paradise, without headache (trouble) on the part of the gardener and without the toil of sowing.
زانک نفع نان در آن نان داد اوست ** بدهدت آن نفع بی توسیط پوست
Inasmuch as in that (spiritual) bread the benefit of (conferred by) the bread is His (God’s) gift, He gives you that benefit (directly), without making the husk a means (of imparting it to you).
ذوق پنهان نقش نان چون سفرهایست ** نان بی سفره ولی را بهرهایست
The savour is hidden; the outward form of the bread is (visible) like a table-cloth: the bread that is without table-cloth is a portion (reserved) for the saint.
رزق جانی کی بری با سعی و جست ** جز به عدل شیخ کو داود تست
How will you, notwithstanding (all your) endeavour and search, gain the spiritual livelihood except through ‘the justice of the Shaykh who is your David?
نفس چون با شیخ بیند کام تو ** از بن دندان شود او رام تو2545
‘When the fleshly soul sees your steps (joined) with (those of) the Shaykh, willy-nilly it becomes submissive to you.
صاحب آن گاو رام آنگاه شد ** کز دم داود او آگاه شد
Then (and then only) did the owner of the cow become sub missive, when he was made aware of the (inspired) words of David.
عقل گاهی غالب آید در شکار ** برسگ نفست که باشد شیخ یار
The intellect, in chase (of spiritual truth), prevails over your currish fleshly soul (only) at the time when the Shaykh is its helper.
نفس اژدرهاست با صد زور و فن ** روی شیخ او را زمرد دیده کن
The fleshly soul is a dragon with hundredfold strength and cunning: the face of the Shaykh is the emerald that plucks out its eye
گر تو صاحب گاو را خواهی زبون ** چون خران سیخش کن آن سو ای حرون
If you wish the owner of the cows to be abased, goad him in that direction as (you would goad) asses, O contumacious man!
چون به نزدیک ولی الله شود ** آن زبان صد گزش کوته شود2550
When he approaches him (the saint) who is nigh unto God, his tongue, a hundred ells long, is shortened.
صد زبان و هر زبانش صد لغت ** زرق و دستانش نیاید در صفت
(He hath) a hundred tongues, and each tongue of him (hath) a hundred languages: his fraud and guile come not into (the bounds of) description.
مدعی گاو نفس آمد فصیح ** صد هزاران حجت آرد ناصحیح
The claimant for the cow, the fleshly soul, is eloquent and brings forward hundreds of thousands of unsound pleas.
شهر را بفریبد الا شاه را ** ره نتاند زد شه آگاه را
He deceives (all in) the city except the king: he cannot waylay the sagacious king.
نفس را تسبیح و مصحف در یمین ** خنجر و شمشیر اندر آستین
The fleshly soul hath glorification of God (on its tongue), and the Qur’án in its right hand; (but) in its sleeve (it hath) dagger and sword.
مصحف و سالوس او باور مکن ** خویش با او همسر و همسر مکن2555
Do not believe its Qur’án and hypocritical ostentation, do not make yourself its confidant and comrade;
سوی حوضت آورد بهر وضو ** واندر اندازد ترا در قعر او
(For) it will take you to the tank to perform the ritual ablution, and will cast you to the bottom thereof.
عقل نورانی و نیکو طالبست ** نفس ظلمانی برو چون غالبست
The intellect is luminous and a seeker of good: how (then) does the dark fleshly soul prevail over it?
زانک او در خانه عقل تو غریب ** بر در خود سگ بود شیر مهیب
(It prevails) because it is at home, (while) your intellect is a stranger: the dog at his own door is (like) a terrible lion.
باش تا شیران سوی بیشه روند ** وین سگان کور آنجا بگروند
Wait till the lions go (back) to the jungle and these blind dogs’ will believe (in them) there.
مکر نفس و تن نداند عام شهر ** او نگردد جز بوحی القلب قهر2560
The common folk of the city do not know the deceit of the fleshly soul and of the body: it (the fleshly soul) is not subdued save by (Divine) inspiration in the heart.