شیر را چون دید در چه کشته زار ** چرخ می‌‌زد شادمان تا مرغزار1340
Having seen the lion miserably slain in the well, he was skipping joyously all the way to the meadow,
دست می‌‌زد چون رهید از دست مرگ ** سبز و رقصان در هوا چون شاخ و برگ
Clapping his hands because he had escaped from the hand of Death; fresh and dancing in the air, like bough and leaf.
شاخ و برگ از حبس خاک آزاد شد ** سر بر آورد و حریف باد شد
Bough and leaf were set free from the prison of earth, lifted their heads, and became comrades of the wind;
برگها چون شاخ را بشکافتند ** تا به بالای درخت اشتافتند
The leaves, when they had burst (forth from) the bough, made haste to reach the top of the tree;
با زبان شطاه شکر خدا ** می‌‌سراید هر بر و برگی جدا
With the tongue of (seed that put forth) its sprouts each fruit and tree severally is singing thanks to God,
که بپرورد اصل ما را ذو العطا ** تا درخت استغلظ آمد و استوی1345
Saying, “The Bounteous Giver nourished our root until the tree grew big and stood upright.”
جانهای بسته اندر آب و گل ** چون رهند از آب و گلها شاد دل
(Even so) the spirits bound in clay, when they escape glad at heart from their (prisons of) clay,
در هوای عشق حق رقصان شوند ** همچو قرص بدر بی‌‌نقصان شوند
Begin to dance in the air of Divine Love and become flawless like the full moon's orb,
جسمشان در رقص و جانها خود مپرس ** و آن که گرد جان از آنها خود مپرس
Their bodies dancing, and their souls—nay, do not ask (how their souls fare); and of that which surrounds the soul—nay, do not ask of those things!
شیر را خرگوش در زندان نشاند ** ننگ شیری کاو ز خرگوشی بماند
The hare lodged the lion in prison. Shame on a lion who was discomfited by a hare!
در چنان ننگی و آن گه این عجب ** فخر دین خواهد که گویندش لقب1350
He is in such a disgrace, and still—this is a wonder—he would fain be addressed by the title of Fakhr-i Dín.
ای تو شیری در تک این چاه فرد ** نفس چون خرگوش خونت ریخت و خورد
O thou lion that liest alone at the bottom of this well, thy fleshly soul, like the hare, has shed and drunk thy blood;
نفس خرگوشت به صحرا در چرا ** تو به قعر این چه چون و چرا
Thy hare-soul is feeding in the desert, (whilst) thou art (lying) at the bottom of this well of “How?” and “Why?”
سوی نخجیران دوید آن شیر گیر ** کابشروا یا قوم إذ جاء البشیر
That lion-catcher (the hare) ran towards the beasts, crying, “Rejoice, O my people, since the announcer of joy is come.
مژده مژده ای گروه عیش‌‌ساز ** کان سگ دوزخ به دوزخ رفت باز
Glad news! Glad news, O company of merry-makers! That hell-hound has gone back to Hell.
مژده مژده کان عدوی جانها ** کند قهر خالقش دندانها1355
Glad news! Glad news! The enemy of your lives—his teeth have been torn out by the vengeance of his Creator.
آن که از پنجه بسی سرها بکوفت ** همچو خس جاروب مرگش هم بروفت
He who smote many heads with his claws—him too the broom of Death has swept away like rubbish.”
جمع شدن نخجیران گرد خرگوش و ثنا گفتن او را
How the beasts gathered round the hare and spoke in praise of him.
جمع گشتند آن زمان جمله وحوش ** شاد و خندان از طرب در ذوق و جوش
Then all the wild beasts assembled, joyous and laughing gleefully in rapture and excitement.
حلقه کردند او چو شمعی در میان ** سجده آوردند و گفتندش که هان
They formed a ring, he (the hare) in the midst like a candle: they bowed (in homage) and said to him, "Hark!"
تو فرشته‌‌ی آسمانی یا پری ** نی تو عزراییل شیران نری
“Art thou a heavenly angel or a peri? No, thou art the Azrael of fierce lions.
هر چه هستی جان ما قربان تست ** دست بردی دست و بازویت درست1360
Whatever thou art, our souls are offered in sacrifice to thee. Thou hast prevailed. Health to thy hand and arm!
راند حق این آب را در جوی تو ** آفرین بر دست و بر بازوی تو
God turned this water into thy stream. Blessing on thy hand and arm!
باز گو تا چون سگالیدی به مکر ** آن عوان را چون بمالیدی به مکر
Explain how thou didst meditate with guile, and how thou didst guilefully wipe out that ruffian.
باز گو تا قصه درمانها شود ** باز گو تا مرهم جانها شود
Explain, in order that the tale may be the means of curing (our malady); explain, that it may be a salve for our souls.
باز گو کز ظلم آن استم نما ** صد هزاران زخم دارد جان ما
Explain! for in consequence of the iniquity of that tyrant our souls have myriads of wounds.”
گفت تایید خدا بود ای مهان ** ور نه خرگوشی که باشد در جهان1365
“O Sirs,” said he, “it was (by) God's aid; else, who in the world is a hare (who am I, that I should have been able to do this)?
قوتم بخشید و دل را نور داد ** نور دل مر دست و پا را زور داد
He (God) bestowed power on me and gave light to my heart: the light in my heart gave strength to hand and foot.”
از بر حق می‌‌رسد تفضیلها ** باز هم از حق رسد تبدیلها
From God come preferments (to high position), from God also come changes (which bring one to low estate).
حق به دور و نوبت این تایید را ** می‌‌نماید اهل ظن و دید را
God in (due) course and turn is ever displaying this (Divine) aid to doubters and seers (alike).
پند دادن خرگوش نخجیران را که بدین شاد مشوید
How the hare admonished the beasts, saying, “Do not rejoice in this!”
هین به ملک نوبتی شادی مکن ** ای تو بسته‌‌ی نوبت آزادی مکن
Take heed! Do not exult in a kingdom bestowed in turns (passing from one to another), O thou who art the bondsman of Vicissitude, do not act as though thou wert free!
آن که ملکش برتر از نوبت تنند ** برتر از هفت انجمش نوبت زنند1370
(But) those for whom is prepared a kingdom beyond Vicissitude, for them the drums (of sovereignty) are beaten beyond the Seven Planets.
برتر از نوبت ملوک باقی‌‌اند ** دور دایم روحها با ساقی‌‌اند
Beyond Vicissitude are the kings everlasting: their spirits are circling with the Cupbearer perpetually.
ترک این شرب ار بگویی یک دو روز ** در کنی اندر شراب خلد پوز
If thou wilt renounce this drinking (of worldly pleasures) for a day or two (for thy brief lifetime), thou wilt dip thy mouth in the drink of Paradise.
تفسیر رجعنا من الجهاد الاصغر الی الجهاد الاکبر
Commentary on (the Tradition) “We have returned from the lesser Jihád to the greater Jihád.”
ای شهان کشتیم ما خصم برون ** ماند خصمی زو بتر در اندرون
O kings, we have slain the outward enemy, (but) there remains within (us) a worse enemy than he.
کشتن این کار عقل و هوش نیست ** شیر باطن سخره‌‌ی خرگوش نیست
To slay this (enemy) is not the work of reason and intelligence: the inward lion is not subdued by the hare.
دوزخ است این نفس و دوزخ اژدهاست ** کاو به دریاها نگردد کم و کاست1375
This carnal self (nafs) is Hell, and Hell is a dragon (the fire of) which is not diminished by oceans (of water).
هفت دریا را در آشامد هنوز ** کم نگردد سوزش آن خلق سوز
It would drink up the Seven Seas, and still the blazing of that consumer of all creatures would not become less.
سنگها و کافران سنگ دل ** اندر آیند اندر او زار و خجل
Stones and stony-hearted infidels enter it, miserable and shamefaced,
هم نگردد ساکن از چندین غذا ** تا ز حق آید مر او را این ندا
(But) still it is not appeased by all this food, until there comes to it from God this call—
سیر گشتی سیر گوید نی هنوز ** اینت آتش اینت تابش اینت سوز
“Art thou filled, art thou filled?” It says, “Not yet; lo, here is the fire, here is the glow, here is the burning!”
عالمی را لقمه کرد و در کشید ** معده‌‌اش نعره زنان هل من مزید1380
It made a mouthful of and swallowed a whole world, its belly crying aloud, “Is there any more?”
حق قدم بر وی نهد از لا مکان ** آن گه او ساکن شود از کن فکان
God, from (the realm) where place is not, sets His foot on it: then it subsides at (the command) Be, and it was.
چون که جزو دوزخ است این نفس ما ** طبع کل دارد همیشه جزوها
Inasmuch as this self of ours is a part of Hell, and the parts always have the nature of the whole,
این قدم حق را بود کاو را کشد ** غیر حق خود کی کمان او کشد
To God (alone) belongs this foot (power) to kill it: who, indeed, but God should draw its bow (vanquish it)?
در کمان ننهند الا تیر راست ** این کمان را باژگون کژ تیرهاست
Only the straight arrow is put on the bow, (but) this bow (of the self) has (its) arrows bent back and crooked.
راست شو چون تیر و واره از کمان ** کز کمان هر راست بجهد بی‌‌گمان1385
Be straight, like an arrow, and escape from the bow, for without doubt every straight (arrow) will fly from the bow (to its mark).
چون که واگشتم ز پیکار برون ** روی آوردم به پیکار درون
When I turned back from the outer warfare, I set my face towards the inner warfare.
قد رجعنا من جهاد الاصغریم ** با نبی اندر جهاد اکبریم
We have returned from the lesser Jihád, we are engaged along with the Prophet in the greater Jihád.
قوت از حق خواهم و توفیق و لاف ** تا به سوزن بر کنم این کوه قاف
I pray God to grant me strength and aid and (the right of) boasting, that I may root up with a needle this mountain of Qáf.
سهل شیری دان که صفها بشکند ** شیر آن است آن که خود را بشکند
Deem of small account the lion (champion) who breaks the ranks (of the enemy): the (true) lion is he that breaks (conquers) himself.
آمدن رسول روم تا نزد عمر و دیدن او کرامات عمر را
How the ambassador of Rúm came to the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, and witnessed the gifts of grace with which ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, was endowed.