چون رهند از دست خود دستی زنند ** چون جهند از نقص خود رقصی کنند
When they are freed from the hand (dominion) of self, they clap a hand; when they escape from their own imperfection, they make a dance.
مطربانشان از درون دف می‌زنند ** بحرها در شورشان کف می‌زنند
From within them musicians strike the tambourine; at their ecstasy the seas burst into foam.
تو نبینی لیک بهر گوششان ** برگها بر شاخها هم کف‌زنان
You see it not, but for their ears the leaves too on the boughs are clapping hands.
تو نبینی برگها را کف زدن ** گوش دل باید نه این گوش بدن100
You do not see the clapping of the leaves: one must have the spiritual ear, not this ear of the body.
گوش سر بر بند از هزل و دروغ ** تا ببینی شهر جان با فروغ
Close the ear of the head to jesting and lying, that you may see the resplendent city of the soul.
سر کشد گوش محمد در سخن ** کش بگوید در نبی حق هو اذن
The ear of Mohammed draws out the hidden meaning in the words (of the religious hypocrites), for God saith of him in the Qur’án, “He is an ear.”
سر به سر گوشست و چشم است این نبی ** تازه زو ما مرضعست او ما صبی
This Prophet is entirely ear and eye; we are refreshed by him: he is (as) the suckler and we (as) the (infant) boy.
این سخن پایان ندارد باز ران ** سوی اهل پیل و بر آغاز ران
This discourse hath no end. Go back to those who had to do with the elephant, and start at the beginning.
بقیه‌ی قصه‌ی متعرضان پیل‌بچگان
The remainder of the Story of those who molested the young elephants.
هر دهان را پیل بویی می‌کند ** گرد معده‌ی هر بشر بر می‌تند105
“The elephant takes a sniff at every mouth and keeps poking round the belly of every man,
تا کجا یابد کباب پور خویش ** تا نماید انتقام و زور خویش
To see where she will find the roasted flesh of her young, so that she may manifest her vengeance and strength.”
گوشتهای بندگان حق خوری ** غیبت ایشان کنی کیفر بری
You eat the flesh of God's servants: you backbite them, you will suffer retribution.
هان که بویای دهانتان خالقست ** کی برد جان غیر آن کو صادقست
Beware, for he that smells your mouths is the Creator: how shall any one save his life except him that is true (to God)?
وای آن افسوسیی کش بوی‌گیر ** باشد اندر گور منکر یا نکیر
Woe to the scoffer whose smell shall be tested in the grave by Munkar or Nakír!
نه دهان دزدیدن امکان زان مهان ** نه دهان خوش کردن از دارودهان110
There is no possibility of withdrawing the mouth from those mighty ones, nor of sweetening the mouth with medicinal ointments.
آب و روغن نیست مر روپوش را ** راه حیلت نیست عقل و هوش را
(In the grave) there is no water and oil to cover the face, there is no way of evasion (open) to intelligence and sagacity.
چند کوبد زخمهای گرزشان ** بر سر هر ژاژخا و مرزشان
How many a time will the blows of their maces beat upon the head and rump of every vain gabbler!
گرز عزرائیل را بنگر اثر ** گر نبینی چوب و آهن در صور
Look at the effect of the mace of ‘Azrá’íl, (even) if you do not see the wood and iron in (their material) forms.
هم بصورت می‌نماید گه گهی ** زان همان رنجور باشد آگهی
Sometimes too they appear in (material) form: the patient (himself) is aware thereof.
گوید آن رنجور ای یاران من ** چیست این شمشیر بر ساران من115
The patient says, “O my friends, what is this sword over my head?”
ما نمی‌بینیم باشد این خیال ** چه خیالست این که این هست ارتحال
(They reply), “We do not see it; this must be fancy.” What fancy is this? (Nay), for it is (the hour of) departure (to the other world).
چه خیالست این که این چرخ نگون ** از نهیب این خیالی شد کنون
What fancy is this, from terror of which this inverted sphere (the sky) has now become (as insubstantial as) a phantom?
گرزها و تیغها محسوس شد ** پیش بیمار و سرش منکوس شد
To the sick man the maces and swords became perceptible (visible), and his head dropped down.
او همی‌بیند که آن از بهر اوست ** چشم دشمن بسته زان و چشم دوست
He sees that that (vision) is for his sake: the eye of foe and friend (alike) is barred from it.
حرص دنیا رفت و چشمش تیز شد ** چشم او روشن گه خون‌ریز شد120
Worldly greed vanished, his eye became keen: his eye became illumined at the moment of bloodshed (death).
مرغ بی‌هنگام شد آن چشم او ** از نتیجه‌ی کبر او و خشم او
That eye of his, from the result of his pride and his anger, became (like) the cock that crows unseasonably.
سر بریدن واجب آید مرغ را ** کو بغیر وقت جنباند درا
It is necessary to cut off the head of the bird that rings the bell (crows) at the wrong time.
هر زمان نزعیست جزو جانت را ** بنگر اندر نزع جان ایمانت را
At every moment thy particular spirit is struggling with death: in thy spirit's death-struggle look to thy faith!
عمر تو مانند همیان زرست ** روز و شب مانند دینار اشمرست
Thy life is like a purse of gold: day and night are like him who counts the gold coins (the money-changer).
می‌شمارد می‌دهد زر بی وقوف ** تا که خالی گردد و آید خسوف125
He (Time) counts and gives the gold without stopping, until it (the purse) is emptied and there comes the eclipse (death).
گر ز که بستانی و ننهی بجای ** اندر آید کوه زان دادن ز پای
If you take away from a mountain and do not put (anything) in the place (of what you have taken), the mountain will be demolished by that giving.
پس بنه بر جای هر دم را عوض ** تا ز واسجد واقترب یابی غرض
Therefore, for every breath (that you give out), put an equivalent in its place, so that by (acting in accordance with the text) and fall to worship and draw nigh you may gain your object.
در تمامی کارها چندین مکوش ** جز به کاری که بود در دین مکوش
Do not strive so much to complete (your worldly) affairs: do not strive in any affair that is not religious.
عاقبت تو رفت خواهی ناتمام ** کارهاات ابتر و نان تو خام
(Otherwise) at the end you will depart incomplete, your (spiritual) affairs marred and your bread unbaked.
وان عمارت کردن گور و لحد ** نه به سنگست و به چوب و نه لبد130
And the beautifying of your grave and sepulchre is not (done) by means of stone and wood and plaster;
بلک خود را در صفا گوری کنی ** در منی او کنی دفن منی
Nay, but by digging for yourself a grave in (spiritual) purity and burying (your) egoism in His egoism,
خاک او گردی و مدفون غمش ** تا دمت یابد مددها از دمش
And by becoming His dust and buried in love of Him, so that your breath may gain replenishments from His breath.
گورخانه و قبه‌ها و کنگره ** نبود از اصحاب معنی آن سره
A tomb with domes and turrets—that is not good (approved) on the part of the followers of Reality.
بنگر اکنون زنده اطلس‌پوش را ** هیچ اطلس دست گیرد هوش را
Look now at a living person attired in satin: does the satin help his understanding at all?
در عذاب منکرست آن جان او ** گزدم غم دل دل غمدان او135
His soul is in hateful torment, the scorpion of grief is in his grief-laden heart.
از برون بر ظاهرش نقش و نگار ** وز درون ز اندیشه‌ها او زار زار
Outside, on his exterior, broideries and decorations; but within he is sorely lamenting from (bitter) thoughts,
و آن یکی بینی در آن دلق کهن ** چون نبات اندیشه و شکر سخن
While you may see another in an old patched frock, his thoughts (sweet) as the sugar-cane and his words (like) sugar.
بازگشتن به حکایت پیل
Returning to the Story of the elephant.
گفت ناصح بشنوید این پند من ** تا دل و جانتان نگردد ممتحن
Said the sincere adviser, “Hearken to this counsel of mine, so that your hearts and souls may not be afflicted.
با گیاه و برگها قانع شوید ** در شکار پیل‌بچگان کم روید
Be content with herbage and leaves, do not go in chase of the young elephants.
من برون کردم ز گردن وام نصح ** جز سعادت کی بود انجام نصح140
I have put off from my neck (I have discharged) the debt of admonition: how should the end (final result) of admonition be aught but felicity?
من به تبلیغ رسالت آمدم ** تا رهانم مر شما را از ندم
I came to deliver the message, that I may save you from (fruitless) repentance.
هین مبادا که طمع رهتان زند ** طمع برگ از بیخهاتان بر کند
Beware! Let not greed waylay you, let not greed for victual tear you up by the roots!”
این بگفت و خیربادی کرد و رفت ** گشت قحط و جوعشان در راه زفت
This he said, and gave a farewell and departed; their famine and hunger waxed great on the way.
ناگهان دیدند سوی جاده‌ای ** پور پیلی فربهی نو زاده‌ای
Suddenly, in the direction of a highroad, they espied a fat young elephant, newly born.