خیره شد دلاک و بس حیران بماند ** تا به دیر انگشت در دندان بماند
The barber became distraught and then remained in bewilderment: he stood for a long time with his fingers in his teeth;
بر زمین زد سوزن از خشم اوستاد ** گفت در عالم کسی را این فتاد3000
The master angrily flung the needle to the ground and said, “Has this happened to any one in the world?
شیر بیدم و سر و اشکم که دید ** این چنین شیری خدا خود نافرید
Who (ever) saw a lion without tail and head and belly? God himself did not create a lion like this.”
ای برادر صبر کن بر درد نیش ** تا رهی از نیش نفس گبر خویش
O brother, endure the pain of the lancet, that you may escape from the poison of your miscreant self (nafs),
کان گروهی که رهیدند از وجود ** چرخ و مهر و ماهشان آرد سجود
For sky and sun and moon bow in worship to the people who have escaped from self existence.
هر که مرد اندر تن او نفس گبر ** مر و را فرمان برد خورشید و ابر
Any one in whose body the miscreant self has died, sun and cloud obey his command.
چون دلش آموخت شمع افروختن ** آفتاب او را نیارد سوختن3005
Since his heart has learned to light the candle (of spiritual knowledge and love), the sun cannot burn him.
گفت حق در آفتاب منتجم ** ذکر تزاور کذا عن کهفهم
God hath made mention of the rising sun as turning aside— like that—from their cave.
خار جمله لطف چون گل میشود ** پیش جزوی کاو سوی کل میرود
The thorn becomes entirely beautiful, like the rose, in the sight of the particular that is going towards the Universal.
چیست تعظیم خدا افراشتن ** خویشتن را خوار و خاکی داشتن
What is (the meaning of) to exalt and glorify God? To deem yourself despicable and (worthless) as dust.
چیست توحید خدا آموختن ** خویشتن را پیش واحد سوختن
What is (the meaning of) to learn the knowledge of God's unity? To consume yourself in the presence of the One.
گر همیخواهی که بفروزی چو روز ** هستی همچون شب خود را بسوز3010
If you wish to shine like day, burn up your night-like self-existence.
هستیات در هست آن هستی نواز ** همچو مس در کیمیا اندر گداز
Melt away your existence, as copper (melts away) in the elixir, in the being of Him who fosters (and sustains) existence.
در من و ما سخت کرده ستی دو دست ** هست این جملهی خرابی از دو هست
You have fastened both your hands tight on (are determined not to give up) “I” and “we”: all this (spiritual) ruin is caused by dualism.
رفتن گرگ و روباه در خدمت شیر به شکار
How the wolf and fox went to hunt in attendance on the lion.
شیر و گرگ و روبهی بهر شکار ** رفته بودند از طلب در کوهسار
A lion, wolf, and fox had gone to hunt in the mountains in quest (of food),
تا به پشت همدگر بر صیدها ** سخت بر بندند بار قیدها
That by supporting each other they might tie fast the burden of the fetters (of captivity) on the hunted animals,
هر سه با هم اندر آن صحرای ژرف ** صیدها گیرند بسیار و شگرف3015
And all three together might seize much and great quarry in that deep wilderness.
گر چه ز یشان شیر نر را ننگ بود ** لیک کرد اکرام و همراهی نمود
Although the fierce lion was ashamed of them (the wolf and fox), yet he did them honour and gave them his company on the way.
این چنین شه را ز لشکر زحمت است ** لیک همره شد جماعت رحمت است
To a king like this the (escort of) soldiers are an annoyance, but he accompanied them: a united party is a mercy (from God).
این چنین مه را ز اختر ننگهاست ** او میان اختران بهر سخاست
A moon like this is disgraced by the stars: it is amongst the stars for generosity's sake.
امر شاورهم پیمبر را رسید ** گر چه رایی نیست رایش را ندید
The (Divine) command, Consult them, came to the Prophet, though no counsel is to be compared with his own.
در ترازو جو رفیق زر شده ست ** نی از آن که جو چو زر گوهر شده ست3020
In the scales barley has become the companion of gold, (but that is) not because barley has become a substance like gold.
روح قالب را کنون همره شده ست ** مدتی سگ حارس درگه شده ست
The spirit has now become the body's fellow-traveller: the dog has become for a time the guardian of the palace-gate.
چون که رفتند این جماعت سوی کوه ** در رکاب شیر با فر و شکوه
When this party (the wolf and fox) went to the mountains at the stirrup (side) of the lion majestic and grand,
گاو کوهی و بز و خرگوش زفت ** یافتند و کار ایشان پیش رفت
They found a mountain-ox and goat and fat hare, and their business went forward (prosperously).
هر که باشد در پی شیر حراب ** کم نیاید روز و شب او را کباب
Whoever is on the heels of him that is a lion in combat, roast-meat does not fail him by day or by night.
چون ز که در بیشه آوردندشان ** کشته و مجروح و اندر خون کشان3025
When they brought them (the animals which they had caught) from the mountains to the jungle, killed and wounded and dragging along in (streams of) blood,
گرگ و روبه را طمع بود اندر آن ** که رود قسمت به عدل خسروان
The wolf and fox hoped that a division (of the prey) would be made according to the justice of emperors.
عکس طمع هر دوشان بر شیر زد ** شیر دانست آن طمعها را سند
The reflexion of the hope of both of them struck the lion: the lion knew (what was) the ground for those hopes.
هر که باشد شیر اسرار و امیر ** او بداند هر چه اندیشد ضمیر
Any one that is the lion and prince of (spiritual) mysteries, he will know all that the conscience thinks.
هین نگه دار ای دل اندیشه جو ** دل ز اندیشهی بدی در پیش او
Beware! Guard thyself, O heart disposed to thinking, from any evil thought in his presence.
داند و خر را همیراند خموش ** در رخت خندد برای رویپوش3030
He knows and keeps riding on silently: he smiles in thy face in order to mask (his feelings).
شیر چون دانست آن وسواسشان ** وانگفت و داشت آن دم پاسشان
When the lion perceived their bad ideas, he did not declare (his knowledge), and paid (courteous) regard (to them) at the time,
لیک با خود گفت بنمایم سزا ** مر شما را ای خسیسان گدا
But he said to himself, “I will show you what (chastisement) ye deserve, O beggarly villains!
مر شما را بس نیامد رای من ** ظنتان این است در اعطای من
Was my judgement not enough for you? Is this your opinion of my bounty,
ای عقول و رایتان از رای من ** از عطاهای جهان آرای من
O ye whose understanding and judgement are (derived) from my judgement and from my world-adorning gifts?
نقش با نقاش چه سگالد دگر ** چون سگالش اوش بخشید و خبر3035
What else (but good) should the picture think of the painter, since he bestowed thought and knowledge upon it?
این چنین ظن خسیسانه به من ** مر شما را بود ننگان زمن
Had ye such a vile opinion of me, O ye who are a scandal to the world?
ظانین بالله ظن السوء را ** گر نبرم سر بود عین خطا
If I should not behead them that think ill of God, it would be the essence of wrong.
وارهانم چرخ را از ننگتان ** تا بماند بر جهان این داستان
I will deliver the Sphere (of Time) from your disgrace, so that this tale shall remain in the world (as a warning).”
شیر با این فکر میزد خنده فاش ** بر تبسمهای شیر ایمن مباش
While thus meditating, the lion continued to smile visibly: do not trust the smiles of the lion!
مال دنیا شد تبسمهای حق ** کرد ما را مست و مغرور و خلق3040
Worldly wealth is (like) the smiles of God: it has made us drunken and vainglorious and threadbare (deprived of the means of salvation).
فقر و رنجوری به استت ای سند ** کان تبسم دام خود را بر کند
Poverty and distress are better for thee, O lord, for (then) that smile will remove its lure.
امتحان کردن شیر گرگ را و گفتن که پیش آی ای گرگ بخش کن صیدها را میان ما
How the lion made trial of the wolf and said, “Come forward, O wolf, and divide the prey amongst us.”
گفت شیر ای گرگ این را بخش کن ** معدلت را نو کن ای گرگ کهن
The lion said, “O wolf, divide this (prey): O old wolf, make justice new (give it new life by thy example).
نایب من باش در قسمتگری ** تا پدید آید که تو چه گوهری
Be my deputy in the office of distributor, that it may be seen of what substance thou art.”
گفت ای شه گاو وحشی بخش تست ** آن بزرگ و تو بزرگ و زفت و چست
“O King,” said he, “the wild ox is thy share: he is big, and thou art big and strong and active.
بز مرا که بز میانه ست و وسط ** روبها خرگوش بستان بیغلط3045
The goat is mine, for the goat is middle and intermediate; do thou, O fox, receive the hare, and no mistake!”
شیر گفت ای گرگ چون گفتی بگو ** چون که من باشم تو گویی ما و تو
The lion said, “O wolf, how hast thou spoken? Say! When I am here, dost thou speak of ‘I’ and ‘thou’?
گرگ خود چه سگ بود کاو خویش دید ** پیش چون من شیر بیمثل و ندید
Truly, what a cur the wolf must be, that he regarded himself in the presence of a lion like me who am peerless and unrivalled!”
گفت پیش آ ای خری کاو خود بدید ** پیشش آمد پنجه زد او را درید
(Then) he said, “Come forward, O thou self-esteeming ass!” He approached him, the lion seized him with his claws and rent him.