این زبان چون سنگ و هم آهن‌‌وش است ** و آن چه بجهد از زبان چون آتش است
This tongue is like stone and is also like iron, and that which springs from the tongue is like fire.
سنگ و آهن را مزن بر هم گزاف ** گه ز روی نقل و گاه از روی لاف
Do not vainly strike stone and iron against each other, now for the sake of relating (a story), now for the sake of boasting,
ز آن که تاریک است و هر سو پنبه زار ** در میان پنبه چون باشد شرار1595
Because it is dark, and on every side are fields of cotton: how should sparks be amongst cotton?
ظالم آن قومی که چشمان دوختند ** ز آن سخنها عالمی را سوختند
Iniquitous are those persons who shut their eyes and by such (vain) words set a whole world ablaze.
عالمی را یک سخن ویران کند ** روبهان مرده را شیران کند
A single word lays waste a (whole) world, turns dead foxes into lions.
جانها در اصل خود عیسی دمند ** یک زمان زخمند و گاهی مرهمند
Spirits in their original nature have the (life-giving) breath of Jesus, (but while they remain embodied) at one time they are (like) the wound, and another time (like) the plaster.
گر حجاب از جانها برخاستی ** گفت هر جانی مسیح آساستی
If the (bodily) screen were removed from the spirits, the speech of every spirit would be like (the breath of) the Messiah.
گر سخن خواهی که گویی چون شکر ** صبر کن از حرص و این حلوا مخور1600
If you wish to utter words like sugar, refrain from concupiscence and do not eat this sweetmeat (the desires of the flesh).
صبر باشد مشتهای زیرکان ** هست حلوا آرزوی کودکان
Self-control is the thing desired by the intelligent; sweetmeat is what children long for.
هر که صبر آورد گردون بر رود ** هر که حلوا خورد واپس‌‌تر رود
تفسیر قول فرید الدین عطار قدس الله روحه: تو صاحب نفسی ای غافل میان خاک خون می‌‌خور که صاحب دل اگر زهری خورد آن انگبین باشد
Commentary on the saying of Farídu’ddín ‘Attár, -may God sanctify his spirit- “Thou art a sensualist: O heedless one, drink blood (mortify thyself) amidst the dust (of thy bodily existence), For if the spiritualist drink a poison, it will be (to him as) an antidote.”
صاحب دل را ندارد آن زیان ** گر خورد او زهر قاتل را عیان
It does not harm the spiritualist (saint) though he drink deadly poison for all to see,
ز آن که صحت یافت و از پرهیز رست ** طالب مسکین میان تب در است
Because he has attained to (spiritual) health and has been set free from (the need for) abstinence, (while) the poor seeker (of God) is (still) in the (state of) fever.
گفت پیغمبر که ای مرد جری ** هان مکن با هیچ مطلوبی مری1605
The Prophet said, "O seeker of the (Divine) allowance (bounty), do not contend with anyone who is sought.".
در تو نمرودی است آتش در مرو ** رفت خواهی اول ابراهیم شو
In thee is a Nimrod: do not go into the fire. If thou wish to go in, first become Abraham!
چون نه‌‌ای سباح و نه دریاییی ** در میفکن خویش از خود راییی
When thou art neither a swimmer nor a seaman, do not cast thyself (into the sea) from a (feeling of) self-conceit.
او ز آتش ورد احمر آورد ** از زیانها سود بر سر آورد
He (the saint) brings red roses from the fire, from losses he brings gain to the surface.
کاملی گر خاک گیرد زر شود ** ناقص ار زر برد خاکستر شود
If a perfect man (saint) take earth, it becomes gold; if an imperfect one has carried away gold, it becomes ashes.
چون قبول حق بود آن مرد راست ** دست او در کارها دست خداست1610
Since that righteous man is accepted of God, his hand in (all) things is the hand of God.
دست ناقص دست شیطان است و دیو ** ز آن که اندر دام تکلیف است و ریو
The hand of the imperfect man is the hand of Devil and demon, because he is in the trap of imposition and guile.
جهل آید پیش او دانش شود ** جهل شد علمی که در ناقص رود
If ignorance come to him (the perfect man), it becomes knowledge, (but) the knowledge that goes into the disbelieving man becomes ignorance.
هر چه گیرد علتی علت شود ** کفر گیرد کاملی ملت شود
Whatever an ill man takes becomes illness, (but) if a perfect man takes infidelity, it becomes religion.
ای مری کرده پیاده با سوار ** سر نخواهی برد اکنون پای دار
O thou who, being on foot, hast contended with a horseman, thou wilt not save thy head. Now hold thy foot (desist)!
تعظیم ساحران مر موسی را علیه السلام که چه فرمایی اول تو اندازی عصا یا ما
How the magicians paid respect to Moses, on whom be peace, saying, “What dost thou command? Wilt thou cast down thy rod first?”
ساحران در عهد فرعون لعین ** چون مری کردند با موسی به کین1615
The magicians in the time of the accursed Pharaoh, when they contended with Moses in enmity,
لیک موسی را مقدم داشتند ** ساحران او را مکرم داشتند
Yet gave Moses the precedence—the magicians held him in honour—
ز آن که گفتندش که فرمان آن تست ** گر تو می‌‌خواهی عصا بفکن نخست
Because they said to him, “’Tis for thee to command: (if) thou wishest, do thou cast down thy rod first (of all).”
گفت نی اول شما ای ساحران ** افکنید آن مکرها را در میان
“Nay,” said he, “first do ye, O magicians, cast down those tricks (objects of enchantment) into the middle (where all can see them).”
این قدر تعظیم دینشان را خرید ** کز مری آن دست و پاهاشان برید
This amount of respect purchased their (belief in) (the true) religion, so that it (the true belief) cut off the hands and feet of their contention (prevented them from disputing further with Moses).
ساحران چون حق او بشناختند ** دست و پا در جرم آن درباختند1620
When the magicians acknowledged his (Moses') right, they sacrificed their hands and feet (as a penance) for the sin of that (contention).
لقمه و نکته ست کامل را حلال ** تو نه‌‌ای کامل مخور می‌‌باش لال
To the perfect man (every) mouthful (of food) and (every) saying is lawful. Thou art not perfect: do not eat, be mute,
چون تو گوشی او زبان نی جنس تو ** گوشها را حق بفرمود أنصتوا
Inasmuch as thou art an ear and he a tongue, not thy congener: God said to the ears, “Be silent.”
کودک اول چون بزاید شیر نوش ** مدتی خامش بود او جمله گوش
When the sucking babe is born, at first it keeps silence for a while, it is all ear.
مدتی می‌‌بایدش لب دوختن ** از سخن تا او سخن آموختن
For a while it must close its lips (and refrain) from speech, until it learns to speak;
ور نباشد گوش و تی‌‌تی می‌‌کند ** خویشتن را گنگ گیتی می‌‌کند1625
And if it is not (silent like) an ear but makes babbling sounds, it makes itself the dumbest creature in the world.
کر اصلی کش نبود آغاز گوش ** لال باشد کی کند در نطق جوش
He that is deaf by nature, he that had no ear at the beginning, is dumb: how should he burst into speech?
ز آن که اول سمع باید نطق را ** سوی منطق از ره سمع اندر آ
Since, in order to speak, one must first hear, do thou come to speech by the way of hearing.
ادخلوا الأبیات من أبوابها ** و اطلبوا الأغراض فی أسبابها
And enter ye the houses by their doors, and seek ye the ends in their causes.
نطق کان موقوف راه سمع نیست ** جز که نطق خالق بی‌‌طمع نیست
There is no speech independent of the way of hearing except the speech of the Creator who is without want.
مبدع است او تابع استاد نی ** مسند جمله و را اسناد نی1630
He is the Originator, He follows no master; He is the support of all things, He hath no support,
باقیان هم در حرف هم در مقال ** تابع استاد و محتاج مثال
(While) the rest, (engaged) in handicrafts and talk, follow a master and have need of a pattern.
زین سخن گر نیستی بیگانه‌‌ای ** دلق و اشکی گیر در ویرانه‌‌ای
If thou art not alien to (unfit to hear) this discourse, assume the frock of a dervish and (take to shedding) tears in some deserted place,
ز آن که آدم ز آن عتاب از اشک رست ** اشک تر باشد دم توبه پرست
Because Adam by means of tears escaped from that reproof: moist tears are the breath (speech) of the penitent.
بهر گریه آمد آدم بر زمین ** تا بود گریان و نالان و حزین
For weeping's sake Adam came (down) to the earth, that he might be weeping and moaning and sorrowful.
آدم از فردوس و از بالای هفت ** پای ماچان از برای عذر رفت1635
Adam, (cast out) from Paradise and from above the Seven (Heavens), went to the “shoe-row” for the purpose of excusing himself.
گر ز پشت آدمی وز صلب او ** در طلب می‌‌باش هم در طلب او
If thou art from the back of Adam and from his loins, be constant in seeking (forgiveness) amongst his company.
ز آتش دل و آب دیده نقل ساز ** بوستان از ابر و خورشید است باز
Prepare a dessert of heart-fire (burning grief) and eye-water (tears): the garden is made open (blooming) by cloud and sun.
تو چه دانی قدر آب دیده‌‌گان ** عاشق نانی تو چون نادیدگان
What dost thou know of the taste of the water of the eyes? Thou art a lover of bread, like the blind (beggars).
گر تو این انبان ز نان خالی کنی ** پر ز گوهرهای اجلالی کنی
If thou make this wallet empty of bread, thou wilt make it full of glorious jewels.
طفل جان از شیر شیطان باز کن ** بعد از آنش با ملک انباز کن1640
Wean the babe, thy soul, from the Devil's milk, and after that make it consort with the Angel.
تا تو تاریک و ملول و تیره‌‌ای ** دان که با دیو لعین همشیره‌‌ای
Whilst thou art dark and vexed and gloomy, know that thou art sucking from the same breast as the accursed Devil.
لقمه‌‌ای کان نور افزود و کمال ** آن بود آورده از کسب حلال
The mouthful that gave increase of light and perfection is obtained from lawful earnings.