نیم‌دانش دست او را بسته کرد ** جان ببرد الا که خود را خسته کرد
Half-knowledge tied his hand, (so that) he saved his life and only wounded himself.
روز گشت و آن مریدان کاسته ** نوحه‌ها از خانه‌شان برخاسته
Day broke, and the disciples were thinned: wails of lamentation arose from their house.
پیش او آمد هزاران مرد و زن ** کای دو عالم درج در یک پیرهن2135
Thousands of men and women came to him (Báyazíd), saying, “O thou in whose single shirt the two worlds are contained,
این تن تو گر تن مردم بدی ** چون تن مردم ز خنجر گم شدی
If this body of thine were a human body, it would have been destroyed, like a human body, by the daggers.”
با خودی با بی‌خودی دوچار زد ** با خود اندر دیده‌ی خود خار زد
A self-existent one encountered a selfless one in combat: the self-existent one drove a thorn into his own eye (hurt himself).
ای زده بر بی‌خودان تو ذوالفقار ** بر تن خود می‌زنی آن هوش دار
O you who stab the selfless ones with the sword, you are stabbing your own body with it. Beware!
زانک بی‌خود فانی است و آمنست ** تا ابد در آمنی او ساکنست
For the selfless one has passed away (in God) and is safe: he is dwelling in safety for ever.
نقش او فانی و او شد آینه ** غیر نقش روی غیر آن جای نه2140
His form has passed away and he has become a mirror: naught is there but the form (image) of the face of another.
گر کنی تف سوی روی خود کنی ** ور زنی بر آینه بر خود زنی
If you spit (at it), you spit at your own face; and if you strike at the mirror, you strike at yourself;
ور ببینی روی زشت آن هم توی ** ور ببینی عیسی و مریم توی
And if you see an ugly face (in that mirror), ’tis you; and if you see Jesus and Mary, ’tis you.
او نه اینست و نه آن او ساده است ** نقش تو در پیش تو بنهاده است
He is neither this nor that: he is simple (pure and free from attributes of self): he has placed your image before you.
چون رسید اینجا سخن لب در ببست ** چون رسید اینجا قلم درهم شکست
When the discourse reached this point, it closed its lips; when the pen reached this point, it broke to pieces.
لب ببند ار چه فصاحت دست داد ** دم مزن والله اعلم بالرشاد2145
Close thy lips (O my soul): though eloquence is at thy command, do not breathe a word—and God best knoweth the right way.
برکنار بامی ای مست مدام ** پست بنشین یا فرود آ والسلام
O you who are drunken with the wine (of love), you are on the edge of the roof: sit down or (else) descend, and peace be with you!
هر زمانی که شدی تو کامران ** آن دم خوش را کنار بام دان
Every moment when you enjoy (union with the Beloved), deem that delightful moment to be the edge of the roof.
بر زمان خوش هراسان باش تو ** هم‌چو گنجش خفیه کن نه فاش تو
Be trembling for (fear of losing) the delightful moment: conceal it like a treasure, do not divulge it.
تا نیاید بر ولا ناگه بلا ** ترس ترسان رو در آن مکمن هلا
Lest calamity suddenly befall (your) plighted love, take heed, go very fearfully into that place of ambush.
ترس جان در وقت شادی از زوال ** زان کنار بام غیبست ارتحال2150
The spirit's fear of loss at the moment of enjoyment is (the sign of its) departure (descent) from the hidden roof-edge.
گر نمی‌بینی کنار بام راز ** روح می‌بیند که هستش اهتزاز
If you do not see the mysterious roof-edge, (yet) the spirit is seeing, for it is shuddering (with fear).
هر نکالی ناگهان کان آمدست ** بر کنار کنگره‌ی شادی بدست
Every sudden chastisement that has come to pass has taken place on the edge of the turret of enjoyment.
جز کنار بام خود نبود سقوط ** اعتبار از قوم نوح و قوم لوط
Indeed there is no fall except (on) the edge of the roof: (take) warning from (the fate of) the people of Noah and the people of Lot.
بیان سبب فصاحت و بسیارگویی آن فضول به خدمت رسول علیه‌السلام
Explaining the cause of the eloquence and loquacity of that impertinent man in the presence of the Prophet, on whom be peace.
پرتو مستی بی‌حد نبی ** چون بزد هم مست و خوش گشت آن غبی
When the ray (reflexion) of the Prophet's boundless intoxication struck (the objector), that stupid fellow also became drunken and merry.
لاجرم بسیارگو شد از نشاط ** مست ادب بگذاشت آمد در خباط2155
Of course, in consequence of (drunken) glee he became loquacious: the intoxicated man neglected (to observe) respect and began to rave.
نه همه جا بی‌خودی شر می‌کند ** بی‌ادب را می چنان‌تر می‌کند
Not on every occasion does selflessness (intoxication) work mischief, (but) wine makes the unmannerly person more so.
گر بود عاقل نکو فر می‌شود ** ور بود بدخوی بتر می‌شود
If he (the wine-drinker) be intelligent, he becomes decorous (displays goodly qualities when beside himself); and if he be evil-natured, he becomes worse.