گنج زری که چو خسپی زیر ریگ ** با تو باشد ان نباشد مردریگ
(God gives you) a golden treasure that remains with you when you lie (buried) under the sand and is not left as a heritage.
پیش پیش آن جنازه‌ت می‌دود ** مونس گور و غریبی می‌شود
It runs before your hearse and becomes your companion in the tomb and in the state where all is strange.
بهر روز مرگ این دم مرده باش ** تا شوی با عشق سرمد خواجه‌تاش 3760
For the sake of your death-day be dead (to self), now, so that you may be (united) with everlasting Love, O fellow-servant.
صبر می‌بیند ز پرده‌ی اجتهاد ** روی چون گلنار و زلفین مراد
Through the curtain of the struggle (against self) renunciation sees the face like a pomegranate-flower and the two tresses of the Desired One.
غم چو آیینه‌ست پیش مجتهد ** کاندرین ضد می‌نماید روی ضد
Sorrow is as a mirror before the struggler, for in this contrary there appears the face of the (other) contrary.
بعد ضد رنج آن ضد دگر ** رو دهد یعنی گشاد و کر و فر
After the (one) contrary, (which is) pain, the other contrary, that is, gladness and triumph, shows its face.
این دو وصف از پنجه‌ی دستت ببین ** بعد قبض مشت بسط آید یقین
Observe these two qualities (contraction and expansion) in the fingers of your hand: assuredly after the closing of the fist comes the opening.
پنجه را گر قبض باشد دایما ** یا همه بسط او بود چون مبتلا 3765
If the fingers be always closed or entirely (invariably) open, he (their owner) is like an afflicted person.
زین دو وصفش کار و مکسب منتظم ** چون پر مرغ این دو حال او را مهم
His work and action is regulated by these two qualities: these two conditions are (as) important for him as the bird's wings (to the bird).
چونک مریم مضطرب شد یک زمان ** همچنانک بر زمین آن ماهیان
When Mary was all at once dismayed, like those fishes on land,
گفتن روح القدس مریم راکی من رسول حقم به تو آشفته مشو و پنهان مشو از من کی فرمان اینست
[How the Holy Spirit said to Mary, “I am sent to thee by God: be not agitated and do not hide from me, for this is the (Divine) command.”]
بانگ بر وی زد نمودار کرم ** که امین حضرتم از من مرم
The Exemplar of (Divine) Bounty cried out to her, “I am the trusted (messenger) of the Lord: be not afraid of me.
از سرافرازان عزت سرمکش ** از چنین خوش محرمان خود درمکش
Do not turn thy head away from the exalted (favourites) of (Divine) Majesty, do not withdraw thyself from such goodly confidants.”
این همی گفت و ذباله‌ی نور پاک ** از لبش می‌شد پیاپی بر سماک 3770
He was saying this, and (meanwhile) from his lips a wick (ray) of pure light was going up to Simák (Arcturus) step by step (uninterruptedly).
از وجودم می‌گریزی در عدم ** در عدم من شاهم و صاحب علم
“Thou art fleeing from my existence into non-existence (the Unseen World): in non-existence I am a King and standard-bearer.
خود بنه و بنگاه من در نیستیست ** یکسواره نقش من پیش ستیست
Verily, my home and dwelling-place is in non-existence: solely my (outward) form is before the Lady (Mary).
مریما بنگر که نقش مشکلم ** هم هلالم هم خیال اندر دلم
O Mary, look (well), for I am a difficult form (to apprehend): I am both a new moon and a phantasy in the heart.
چون خیالی در دلت آمد نشست ** هر کجا که می‌گریزی با توست
When a phantasy comes into thy heart and settles (there), it is (still) with thee wheresoever thou fleest—
جز خیالی عارضی باطلی ** کو بود چون صبح کاذب آفلی 3775
Except an unsubstantial and vain phantasy which is one that sinks (and disappears) like the false dawn.
من چو صبح صادقم از نور رب ** که نگردد گرد روزم هیچ شب
I am of the light of the Lord, like the true dawn, for no night prowls around my day.
هین مکن لاحول عمران زاده‌ام ** که ز لاحول این طرف افتاده‌ام
Hark, do not cry Lá hawl against me, O daughter of ‘Imrán, for I have descended hither from Lá hawl.
مر مرا اصل و غذا لاحول بود ** نور لاحولی که پیش از قول بود
Lá hawl was my origin and sustenance—the light of that Lá hawl which was prior to the spoken word.
تو همی‌گیری پناه ازمن به حق ** من نگاریده‌ی پناهم در سبق
Thou art taking refuge from me with God: I am in eternity the image of (Him who is) the (only) refuge.
آن پناهم من که مخلصهات بوذ ** تو اعوذ آری و من خود آن اعوذ 3780
I am the refuge that was oft (the source of) thy deliverance. Thou takest refuge (from me), and I myself am that refuge.
آفتی نبود بتر از ناشناخت ** تو بر یار و ندانی عشق باخت
There is no bane worse than ignorance: thou art with thy Friend and dost not know how to make love.
یار را اغیار پنداری همی ** شادیی را نام بنهادی غمی
Thou art deeming thy Friend a stranger: upon a joy thou hast bestowed the name of a grief.”
اینچنین نخلی که لطف یار ماست ** چونک ما دزدیم نخلش دار ماست
Such a date-palm, which is our Friend's favour—since we are robbers, His date-palm is our gallows.
اینچنین مشکین که زلف میر ماست ** چونک بی‌عقلیم این زنجیر ماست
Such a musky (fragrant) object, which is the tress of our Prince—since we are demented, this (tress) is our chain.
اینچنین لطفی چو نیلی می‌رود ** چونک فرعونیم چون خون می‌شود 3785
Such a (Divine) grace is flowing like a Nile—since we are Pharaohs, it is becoming like blood.
خون همی‌گوید من آبم هین مریز ** یوسفم گرگ از توم ای پر ستیز
The blood is saying, “I am water. Beware, do not spill (me)! I am (really) Joseph, (but) you make me the wolf, O contentious man.”
تو نمی‌بینی که یار بردبار ** چونک با او ضد شدی گردد چو مار
Don't you see that a long-suffering friend becomes like a snake when you have grown hostile to him?
لحم او و شحم او دیگر نشد ** او چنان بد جز که از منظر نشد
His flesh and fat (real nature) is unchanged: (’tis) only in appearance (that) he has become so evil.
عزم کردن آن وکیل ازعشق کی رجوع کند به بخارا لاابالی‌وار
How that Wakíl, (moved) by love, made up his mind to return to Bukhárá recklessly.
شمع مریم را بهل افروخته ** که بخارا می‌رود آن سوخته
Leave the candle of Mary lighted, for that ardent (lover) is going to Bukhárá,
سخت بی‌صبر و در آتشدان تیز ** رو سوی صدر جهان می‌کن گریز 3790
Mightily impatient and in the blazing furnace (of love). Go, make a transition to the (story of the) Sadr-i Jahán.
این بخارا منبع دانش بود ** پس بخاراییست هر کنش بود
This “Bukhárá” is the source if knowledge; therefore every one who has that (knowledge) is a native of “Bukhárá.”
پیش شیخی در بخارا اندری ** تا به خواری در بخارا ننگری
In the presence of a Shaykh you are in “Bukhárá”: see that you do not look on “Bukhárá” as lowly.
جز به خواری در بخارای دلش ** راه ندهد جزر و مد مشکلش
Save with lowliness (shown by you), its difficult ebb and flow will not give (you) entrance into the “Bukhárá” of his heart.
ای خنک آن را که ذلت نفسه ** وای آنکس را که یردی رفسه
Oh, happy he whose carnal soul is abased! Alas for that one whose recalcitrance destroys (him)!
فرقت صدر جهان در جان او ** پاره پاره کرده بود ارکان او 3795
Separation from the Sadr-i Jahán had shattered (the Wakíl’s) foundations to pieces in his soul.
گفت بر خیزم هم‌آنجا واروم ** کافر ار گشتم دگر ره بگروم
He said, “I will rise up and go back thither: if I have become an infidel, I will believe once more.
واروم آنجا بیفتم پیش او ** پیش آن صدر نکواندیش او
I will go back thither and fall before him-before its (Bukhárá’s) kindly-thinking Sadr (Prince).
گویم افکندم به پیشت جان خویش ** زنده کن یا سر ببر ما را چو میش
I will say, ‘I throw myself before thee: revive (me) or cut off my head, like a sheep!
کشته و مرده به پیشت ای قمر ** به که شاه زندگان جای دگر
‘Tis better to be slain and dead before thee, O Moon, that to be the king of the living in another place.
آزمودم من هزاران بار بیش ** بی تو شیرین می‌نبینم عیش خویش 3800
I have put it to the test more than a thousand times: I don not deem my life sweet without thee.
غن لی یا منیتی لحن النشور ** ابرکی یا ناقتی تم السرور
Sing to me, O object of my desire, the melody of resurrection! Kneel, O my she-camel! The joy is complete.
ابلعی یا ارض دمعی قد کفی ** اشربی یا نفس وردا قد صفا
O earth, swallow my tears- surely they are enough. Drink, O my soul, a draught that is now pure!
عدت یا عیدی الینا مرحبا ** نعم ما روحت یا ریح الصبا
Thou hast returned to us, O my festival! Welcome! How goodly is the refreshment thou hast brought, O Zephyr!’”
گفت ای یاران روان گشتم وداع ** سوی آن صدری که امیرست و مطاع
He said, “Farewell, my friends: I have set out towards the Sadr who commands and is obeyed.
دم‌بدم در سوز بریان می‌شوم ** هرچه بادا باد آنجا می‌روم 3805
Moment by moment I am being roasted in the flames. (of separation from him): I will go thither, come what may!
گرچه دل چون سنگ خارا می‌کند ** جان من عزم بخارا می‌کند
Although he is making his heart like a hard rock (against me), my soul is bound for Bukhárá.
مسکن یارست و شهر شاه من ** پیش عاشق این بود حب الوطن
It is the abode of my Friend and the city of my King: in the lover’s eyes this is (the meaning of) love of one’s native land.”
پرسیدن معشوقی از عاشق غریب خود کی از شهرها کدام شهر را خوشتر یافتی و انبوه‌تر و محتشم‌تر و پر نعمت‌تر و دلگشاتر
How a loved one asked her lover who had travelled in foreign countries, “Which city didst thou find the fairest and most thronged and the most magnificent and rich and charming?”