که ای خداوند کریم و بردبار ** ده امانم زین دو شاخه‌ی اختیار

Saying, “Deliver me from this pillory of free-will, O gracious and long-suffering Lord!

جذب یک راهه‌ی صراط المستقیم ** به ز دو راه تردد ای کریم

The one-way pull on the straight Path is better than the two ways of perplexity, O gracious One.

زین دو ره گرچه همه مقصد توی ** لیک خود جان کندن آمد این دوی 205

Although Thou art the entire (only) goal of these two ways, yet indeed this duality is agonising to the spirit.

زین دو ره گرچه به جز تو عزم نیست ** لیک هرگز رزم هم‌چون بزم نیست

Although the destination of these two ways is unto Thee alone, yet the battle is never like the banquet.”

در نبی بشنو بیانش از خدا ** آیت اشفقن ان یحملنها

Hearken to the explanation thereof given by God in the Qur’án, (namely) the Verse they shrank from bearing it.

این تردد هست در دل چون وغا ** کین بود به یا که آن حال مرا

This perplexity in the heart is like war: (when a man is perplexed he says, “I wonder) whether this is better for my case or that.”

در تردد می‌زند بر همدگر ** خوف و اومید بهی در کر و فر

In perplexity the fear (of failure) and the hope of success are always in conflict with each other, (now) advancing and (now) retreating.

مناجات و پناه جستن به حق از فتنه‌ی اختیار و از فتنه‌ی اسباب اختیار کی سماوات و ارضین از اختیار و اسباب اختیار شکوهیدند و ترسیدند و خلقت آدمی مولع افتاد بر طلب اختیار و اسباب اختیار خویش چنانک بیمار باشد خود را اختیار کم بیند صحت خواهد کی سبب اختیارست تا اختیارش بیفزاید و منصب خواهد تا اختیارش بیفزاید و مهبط قهر حق در امم ماضیه فرط اختیار و اسباب اختیار بوده است هرگز فرعون بی‌نوا کس ندیده است

A prayer and a seeking refuge with God from the temptation of free-will and from the temptation of those things that minister to free-will; for the heavens and the earths dreaded and feared free-will and the things that minister to it, while the nature of Man is addicted to seeking free-will and all that ministers to his free-will; as (for example) if he is sick he feels himself to have little free-will and desires health, which ministers to free-will, in order that his free-will may be increased; and he desires high office in order that his free-will may be increased. And it was excess of free-will and of whatever ministers to it that caused the wrath of God to fall upon the peoples of the past. No one ever saw Pharaoh destitute.

اولم این جزر و مد از تو رسید ** ورنه ساکن بود این بحر ای مجید 210

From Thee first came this ebb and flow within me; else, O glorious One, this sea (of mine) was still.

هم از آنجا کین تردد دادیم ** بی‌تردد کن مرا هم از کرم

From the same source whence Thou gavest me this perplexity, graciously (now) make me unperplexed likewise.

ابتلاام می‌کنی آه الغیاث ** ای ذکور از ابتلاات چون اناث

Thou art afflicting me. Ah, help (me), O Thou by whose affliction men are (made weak) as women.

تا بکی این ابتلا یا رب مکن ** مذهبی‌ام بخش و ده‌مذهب مکن

How long (will) this affliction (continue)? Do not (afflict me), O Lord! Bestow on me one path, do not make me follow ten paths!

اشتری‌ام لاغری و پشت ریش ** ز اختیار هم‌چو پالان‌شکل خویش

I am (like) an emaciated camel, and my back is wounded by my free-will which resembles a pack-saddle.

این کژاوه گه شود این سو گران ** آن کژاوه گه شود آن سو کشان 215

At one moment this pannier weighs heavily on this side, at another moment that pannier sags to that side.

بفکن از من حمل ناهموار را ** تا ببینم روضه‌ی ابرار را

Let the ill-balanced load drop from me, that I may behold the meadow of the pious.

هم‌چو آن اصحاب کهف از باغ جود ** می‌چرم ایقاظ نی بل هم رقود

(Then), like the Fellows of the Cave, I shall browse on the orchard of Bounty— not awake, nay, they are asleep.

خفته باشم بر یمین یا بر یسار ** برنگردم جز چو گو بی‌اختیار

I shall recline on the right or on the left, I shall not roll save involuntarily, like a ball,

هم به تقلیب تو تا ذات الیمین ** یا سوی ذات الشمال ای رب دین

Just as Thou, O Lord of the Judgement, turnest me over either to the right or to the left.

صد هزاران سال بودم در مطار ** هم‌چو ذرات هوا بی‌اختیار 220

Hundreds of thousands of years I was flying (to and fro) involuntarily, like the motes in the air.

گر فراموشم شدست آن وقت و حال ** یادگارم هست در خواب ارتحال

If I have forgotten that time and state, (yet) the migration in sleep (to the spiritual world) recalls it to my memory.

می‌رهم زین چارمیخ چارشاخ ** می‌جهم در مسرح جان زین مناخ

(Every night) I escape from this four-branched cross and spring away from this (confined) halting-place into the (spacious) pasture of the spirit.

شیر آن ایام ماضیهای خود ** می‌چشم از دایه‌ی خواب ای صمد

From the nurse, Sleep, I suck the milk of those bygone days of mine, O Lord.

جمله عالم ز اختیار و هست خود ** می‌گریزد در سر سرمست خود

All the (people in the) world are fleeing from their free-will and (self-)existence to their drunken (unconscious) side.

تا دمی از هوشیاری وا رهند ** ننگ خمر و زمر بر خود می‌نهند 225

In order that for awhile they may be delivered from sobriety (consciousness), they lay upon themselves the opprobrium of wine and minstrelsy.

جمله دانسته کای این هستی فخ است ** فکر و ذکر اختیاری دوزخ است

All know that this existence is a snare, that volitional thought and memory are a hell.

می‌گریزند از خودی در بیخودی ** یا به مستی یا به شغل ای مهتدی

They are fleeing from selfhood into selflessness either by means of intoxication or by means of (some engrossing) occupation, O well-conducted man.