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کو بگفتت در کمان تیری بنه ** کی بگفتندت که اندر کش تو زه
- Saying, “It (the Divine intimation) told you to put an arrow to the bow, (but) when were you told to pull the bowstring (hard)?
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او نگفتت که کمان را سختکش ** در کمان نه گفت او نه پر کنش
- It did not tell you to draw the bow hard: it bade you put (the arrow) to the bow, not ‘shoot with your full strength.’
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از فضولی تو کمان افراشتی ** صنعت قواسیی بر داشتی 2350
- You, from (motives of) vanity, raised the bow aloft and brought to a high pitch the art of archery.
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ترک این سخته کمانی رو بگو ** در کمان نه تیر و پریدن مجو
- Go, renounce this skill in drawing the strongbow: put the arrow to the bow and do not seek to draw to the full extent (of your power).
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چون بیفتد بر کن آنجا میطلب ** زور بگذار و بزاری جو ذهب
- When it (the arrow) falls, dig up the spot and search: abandon (trust in) strength and seek the gold by means of piteous supplication.”
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آنچ حقست اقرب از حبل الورید ** تو فکنده تیر فکرت را بعید
- That which is real is nearer than the neck-artery; you have shot the arrow of thought far afield.
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ای کمان و تیرها بر ساخته ** صید نزدیک و تو دور انداخته
- O you who have provided yourself with bow and arrows, the prey is near and you have shot far.
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هرکه دوراندازتر او دورتر ** وز چنین گنجست او مهجورتر 2355
- The farther one shoots, the farther away and more separated is he from a treasure like this.
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فلسفی خود را از اندیشه بکشت ** گو بدو کوراست سوی گنج پشت
- The philosopher killed (exhausted) himself with thinking: let him run on (in vain), for his back is turned towards the treasure.
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گو بدو چندانک افزون میدود ** از مراد دل جداتر میشود
- Let him run on: the more he runs, the more remote does he become from the object of his heart’s desire.
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جاهدوا فینا بگفت آن شهریار ** جاهدوا عنا نگفت ای بیقرار
- That (Divine) King said, “(those who) have striven in (for) Us”: He did not say, “(those who) have striven away from Us,” O restless one,
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همچو کنعان کو ز ننگ نوح رفت ** بر فراز قلهی آن کوه زفت
- As (was the case with) Canaan, who in disdain of Noah went up to the top of that great mountain.
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هرچه افزونتر همیجست او خلاص ** سوی که میشد جداتر از مناص 2360
- The more he sought deliverance (by turning) towards the mountain, the more was he separated from the place of refuge,
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همچو این درویش بهر گنج و کان ** هر صباحی سختتر جستی کمان
- Like this dervish (who) for the sake of the treasure and the mine (of riches) sought (to thaw) the bow more strongly every morning,
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هر کمانی کو گرفتی سختتر ** بود از گنج و نشان بدبختتر
- And the more strongly he gripped the bow each time, the worse luck he had in respect of (finding) the treasure and (hitting) the mark.
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این مثل اندر زمانه جانی است ** جان نادانان به رنج ارزانی است
- This parable is of vital import (to the soul) in the world: the soul of the ignorant is worthy of pain (deserves to suffer.)
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زانک جاهل ننگ دارد ز اوستاد ** لاجرم رفت و دکانی نو گشاد
- Inasmuch as the ignoramus disdains his teacher, consequently he goes and opens a new shop.
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آن دکان بالای استاد ای نگار ** گنده و پر کزدمست و پر ز مار 2365
- O (you who are vain and specious as a) picture, that shop, (set up) over the teacher, is stinking and full of scorpions and snakes.
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زود ویران کن دکان و بازگرد ** سوی سبزه و گلبنان و آبخورد
- Quickly lay waste that shop and turn back to the greenery and the rose-tress and the watering-place;
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نه چو کنعان کو ز کبر و ناشناخت ** از که عاصم سفینهی فوز ساخت
- Not like Canaan, who from pride and ignorance made of the “protecting” mountain a ship (ark) of safety.
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علم تیراندازیش آمد حجاب ** وان مراد او را بده حاضر به جیب
- His (the fakir’s) knowledge of archery became a veil (barrier) to him, while (all the time) he had that object of desire present in his bosom.
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ای بسا علم و ذکاوات و فطن ** گشته رهرو را چو غول و راهزن
- Oh, how often have knowledge and keen wits and understandings become as (deadly as) the ghoul or brigand to the wayfarer!
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بیشتر اصحاب جنت ابلهند ** تا ز شر فیلسوفی میرهند 2370
- Most of those destined for Paradise are simpletons (simple-minded), so that they escape from the mischief of philosophy.
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خویش را عریان کن از فضل و فضول ** تا کند رحمت به تو هر دم نزول
- Strip yourself of (useless) learning and vanity, in order that (the Divine) mercy may descend on you at every moment.
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زیرکی ضد شکستست و نیاز ** زیرکی بگذار و با گولیبساز
- Cleverness is the opposite of abasement and supplication: give up cleverness and sort with stupidity.