آنچ قوت مرغ بابیلی بود ** سیری معدهی چنین پیلی شود
And that what is (only) a swift's (portion of) food should become the (means of) filling the belly of such an elephant.
فجفجه افتاد اندر مرد و زن ** قدر پشه میخورد آن پیلتن
Whispering arose amongst the men and women—“That man who has the body of an elephant eats as little as a fly!”
حرص و وهم کافری سرزیر شد ** اژدها از قوت موری سیر شد
The greed and vanity of unbelief was overthrown: the dragon was satisfied with the food of an ant.
آن گدا چشمی کفر از وی برفت ** لوت ایمانیش لمتر کرد و زفت
The beggar-like greediness of unbelief departed from him: the sweet food of the Faith made him stout and strong.
آنک از جوع البقر او میطپید ** همچو مریم میوهی جنت بدید 285
He who was quivering from ravenous hunger beheld, like Mary, the fruit of Paradise.
میوهی جنت سوی چشمش شتافت ** معدهی چون دوزخش آرام یافت
The fruit of Paradise sped to his body: his Hell-like belly gained repose.
ذات ایمان نعمت و لوتیست هول ** ای قناعت کرده از ایمان به قول
The essence of the Faith is a mighty blessing and exceedingly delicious food, O thou who art content with naught of the Faith but the profession!
بیان آنک نور که غذای جانست غذای جسم اولیا میشود تا او هم یار میشود روح را کی اسلم شیطانی علی یدی
Explaining that the Light which is the food of the spirit becomes the food of the saint's body, so that it (his body) also becomes friendly with the spirit (according to the saying of the Prophet), “My satan hath accepted Islam at my hands.”
گرچه آن مطعوم جانست و نظر ** جسم را هم زان نصیبست ای پسر
Although that (Light) is the food of the spirit and the (spiritual) sight, the body too partakes of it, O son.
گر نگشتی دیو جسم آن را اکول ** اسلم الشیطان نفرمودی رسول
If the devilish body had not become fond of eating it, the Prophet would not have said, “The devil accepted Islam.”
دیو زان لوتی که مرده حی شود ** تا نیاشامد مسلمان کی شود 290
How should the devil become a Moslem until it drink of the sweet food by which the dead is made living?
دیو بر دنیاست عاشق کور و کر ** عشق را عشقی دگر برد مگر
The devil is passionately in love with the world, blind and deaf; (but this) love, no doubt, may be cut off by another love.
از نهانخانهی یقین چون میچشد ** اندکاندک رخت عشق آنجا کشد
When it tastes the wine from the cellar of clairvoyance, little by little it will transfer its love thither.
یا حریص االبطن عرج هکذا ** انما المنهاج تبدیل الغذا
O thou whose belly is greedy, turn away thus (from the world): the only method is change of food.
یا مریض القلب عرج للعلاج ** جملة التدبیر تبدیل المزاج
O thou whose heart is sick, turn to the remedy: the entire regimen is change of disposition.
ایها المحبوس فی رهن الطعام ** سوف تنجو ان تحملت الفطام 295
O thou who art kept in pawn to food, thou wilt escape if thou suffer thyself to be weaned.
ان فیالجوع طعام وافر ** افتقدها وارتج یا نافر
Verily, in hunger there is plenteous food: search after it diligently and cherish the hope (of finding it), O shrinker.
اغتذ بالنور کن مثل البصر ** وافق الاملاک یا خیر البشر
Feed on the Light, be like the eye, be in accord with the angels, O best of mankind.
چون ملک تسبیح حق را کن غذا ** تا رهی همچون ملایک از اذا
Like the Angel, make the glorification of God thy food, that like the angels thou mayst be delivered from vexation.
جبرئیل ار سوی جیفه کم تند ** او به قوت کی ز کرکس کم زند
If Gabriel pays no attention to the carcase, (yet) how should he be inferior in strength to the vulture?
حبذا خوانی نهاده در جهان ** لیک از چشم خسیسان بس نهان 300
What a goodly table is spread in the world! But it is quite hidden from the eyes of the vile.
گر جهان باغی پر از نعمت شود ** قسم موش و مار هم خاکی بود
Though the world should become a delightful orchard, still the portion of the mouse and the snake would consist of earth.
انکار اهل تن غذای روح را و لرزیدن ایشان بر غذای خسیس
How the corporealists ignore the food of the spirit and tremble with anxiety for the vile food.
قسم او خاکست گر دی گر بهار ** میر کونی خاک چون نوشی چو مار
Its (the vile creature's) food is earth, whether in winter or in spring; thou art the lord of creation: how is it thou eatest earth like the snake?
در میان چوب گوید کرم چوب ** مر کرا باشد چنین حلوای خوب
The wood-worm in the midst of wood says, “For whom (else) should be such fine sweetmeat?”
کرم سرگین در میان آن حدث ** در جهان نقلی نداند جز خبث
The dung-worm amidst (all) that pollution knows no dessert in the world but filth.
مناجات
Prayer.
ای خدای بینظیر ایثار کن ** گوش را چون حلقه دادی زین سخن 305
O God who art without peer, show favour! Since Thou hast bestowed on (our) ear this discourse as an ear-ring,