یک حکایت بشنو از تاریخ‌گوی ** تا بری زین راز سرپوشیده بوی
Listen to a tale of the chronicler, in order that you may get an inkling of this veiled mystery.
مارگیری رفت سوی کوهسار ** تا بگیرد او به افسونهاش مار
A snake-catcher went to the mountains to catch a snake by his incantations.
گر گران و گر شتابنده بود ** آنک جویندست یابنده بود
Whether one be slow or speedy (in movement), he that is a seeker will be a finder.
در طلب زن دایما تو هر دو دست ** که طلب در راه نیکو رهبرست
Always apply yourself with both hands (with all your might) to seeking, for search is an excellent guide on the way.
لنگ و لوک و خفته‌شکل و بی‌ادب ** سوی او می‌غیژ و او را می‌طلب980
(Though you be) lame and limping and bent in figure and unmannerly, ever creep towards Him and be in quest of Him.
گه بگفت و گه بخاموشی و گه ** بوی کردن گیر هر سو بوی شه
Now by speech and now by silence and now by smelling, catch in every quarter the scent of the King.
گفت آن یعقوب با اولاد خویش ** جستن یوسف کنید از حد بیش
Jacob said to his sons, “Make search for Joseph beyond (all) bounds.
هر حس خود را درین جستن بجد ** هر طرف رانید شکل مستعد
In this search earnestly direct your every sense towards every side, like one that is ready.”
گفت از روح خدا لا تیاسوا ** همچو گم کرده پسر رو سو بسو
He (Jacob) said, “Do not despair of God's breath (mercy)”; go thou (also) to and fro as one that has lost his son.
از ره حس دهان پرسان شوید ** گوش را بر چار راه آن نهید985
Inquire by means of the sense of the mouth, and lay your ears on the four roads of that (which ye seek).
هر کجا بوی خوش آید بو برید ** سوی آن سر کاشنای آن سرید
Whenever a sweet scent comes, smell in the direction of that mystery, for ye are acquainted with that direction.
هر کجا لطفی ببینی از کسی ** سوی اصل لطف ره یابی عسی
Whenever thou art aware of a kindness from any one, ’tis possible thou mayst find the way to the source of the kindness.
این همه خوشها ز دریاییست ژرف ** جزو را بگذار و بر کل دار طرف
All these lovely things are from a deep Sea: leave the part and keep thine eye (fixed) upon the Whole.
جنگهای خلق بهر خوبیست ** برگ بی برگی نشان طوبیست
The wars of mankind are for the sake of Beauty; the garniture of ungarnishedness is the sign of the Túbá tree.
خشمهای خلق بهر آشتیست ** دام راحت دایما بی‌راحتیست990
The angers of mankind are for the sake of Peace; restlessness is ever the snare for Rest.
هر زدن بهر نوازش را بود ** هر گله از شکر آگه می‌کند
Every blow is for the sake of fondness; every complaint makes (thee) aware of gratitude (due for benefits received).
بوی بر از جزو تا کل ای کریم ** بوی بر از ضد تا ضد ای حکیم
Smell (all the way) from the part to the Whole, O noble one; smell (all the way) from opposite to opposite, O wise one.
جنگها می آشتی آرد درست ** مار گیر از بهر یاری مار جست
Assuredly wars bring peace; the snake-catcher sought the snake for the purpose of friendship.
بهر یاری مار جوید آدمی ** غم خورد بهر حریف بی‌غمی
Man seeks a snake for the purpose of friendship and cares for one that is without care (for him).
او همی‌جستی یکی ماری شگرف ** گرد کوهستان و در ایام برف995
He (the snake-catcher) was searching for a big snake round about the mountains and in the days of snow.
اژدهایی مرده دید آنجا عظیم ** که دلش از شکل او شد پر ز بیم
He espied there a huge dead dragon, at the aspect whereof his heart was filled with fear.
مارگیر اندر زمستان شدید ** مار می‌جست اژدهایی مرده دید
(Whilst) the snake-catcher was looking for snakes in the hard winter, he espied a dead dragon.
مارگیر از بهر حیرانی خلق ** مار گیرد اینت نادانی خلق
The snake-catcher catches snakes in order to amaze the people—behold the foolishness of the people!
آدمی کوهیست چون مفتون شود ** کوه اندر مار حیران چون شود
Man is a mountain: how should he be led into temptation? How should a mountain become amazed at a snake?
خویشتن نشناخت مسکین آدمی ** از فزونی آمد و شد در کمی1000
Wretched Man does not know himself: he has come from a high estate and fallen into lowlihood.
خویشتن را آدمی ارزان فروخت ** بود اطلس خویش بر دلقی بدوخت
Man has sold himself cheaply: he was satin, he has sewn himself on (become attached) to a tattered cloak.
صد هزاران مار و که حیران اوست ** او چرا حیران شدست و ماردوست
Hundreds of thousands of snakes and mountains are amazed at him: why (then) has he become amazed and fond of a snake?
مارگیر آن اژدها را بر گرفت ** سوی بغداد آمد از بهر شگفت
The snake-catcher took up that snake and came to Baghdád for the sake of (exciting) astonishment.
اژدهایی چون ستون خانه‌ای ** می‌کشیدش از پی دانگانه‌ای
In quest of a paltry fee he carried along a dragon like the pillar of a house,
کاژدهای مرده‌ای آورده‌ام ** در شکارش من جگرها خورده‌ام1005
Saying, “I have brought a dead dragon: I have suffered agonies in hunting it.”
او همی مرده گمان بردش ولیک ** زنده بود و او ندیدش نیک نیک
He thought it was dead, but it was living, and he did not see it very well.
او ز سرماها و برف افسرده بود ** زنده بود و شکل مرده می‌نمود
It was frozen by frosts and snow: it was alive, but it presented the appearance of the dead.
عالم افسردست و نام او جماد ** جامد افسرده بود ای اوستاد
The world is frozen: its name is jamád (inanimate): jámid is (means) “frozen,” O master.
باش تا خورشید حشر آید عیان ** تا ببینی جنبش جسم جهان
Wait till the sun of the Resurrection shall become manifest, that thou mayst see the movement of the world's body.
چون عصای موسی اینجا مار شد ** عقل را از ساکنان اخبار شد1010
When here (in this world) the rod of Moses became a snake, information was given to the intellect concerning motionless (inanimate) beings.
پاره‌ی خاک ترا چون مرد ساخت ** خاکها را جملگی شاید شناخت
Since He (God) made thy piece of earth a man, thou shouldst recognise (the real nature of) the entire sum of the particles of earth:
مرده زین سو اند و زان سو زنده‌اند ** خامش اینجا و آن طرف گوینده‌اند
(That) from this standpoint they are dead and from that standpoint they are living; (that they are) silent here and speaking yonder.
چون از آن سوشان فرستد سوی ما ** آن عصا گردد سوی ما اژدها
When He sends them from that quarter towards us, the rod becomes a dragon in relation to us.
کوهها هم لحن داودی کند ** جوهر آهن بکف مومی بود
The mountains too make a song like that of David, and the substance of iron is (as) wax in the hand.
باد حمال سلیمانی شود ** بحر با موسی سخن‌دانی شود1015
The wind becomes a bearer for Solomon, the sea becomes capable of understanding words in regard to Moses.
ماه با احمد اشارت‌بین شود ** نار ابراهیم را نسرین شود
The moon becomes able to see the sign in obedience to Ahmad (Mohammed), the fire becomes wild-roses for Abraham.
خاک قارون را چو ماری در کشد ** استن حنانه آید در رشد
The earth swallows Qárún (Korah) like a snake; the Moaning Pillar comes into (the way of) righteousness.
سنگ بر احمد سلامی می‌کند ** کوه یحیی را پیامی می‌کند
The stone salaams to Ahmad (Mohammed); the mountain sends a message to Yahyá (John the Baptist).
ما سمعیعیم و بصیریم و خوشیم ** با شما نامحرمان ما خامشیم
(They all say), “We have hearing and sight and are happy, (although) with you, the uninitiated, we are mute.”
چون شما سوی جمادی می‌روید ** محرم جان جمادان چون شوید1020
Forasmuch as ye are going towards (are inclined to) inanimateness (worldliness), how shall ye become familiar with the spiritual life of inanimate beings?
از جمادی عالم جانها روید ** غلغل اجزای عالم بشنوید
Go (forth) from inanimateness into the world of spirits, hearken to the loud noise of the particles of the world.
فاش تسبیح جمادات آیدت ** وسوسه‌ی تاویلها نربایدت
The glorification of God by inanimate beings will become evident to thee; the doubts suggested by (false) interpretations will not carry thee away (from the truth).
چون ندارد جان تو قندیلها ** بهر بینش کرده‌ای تاویلها
Since thy soul hath not the lamps (the lights necessary) for seeing, thou hast made interpretations,
که غرض تسبیح ظاهر کی بود ** دعوی دیدن خیال غی بود
Saying, “How should visible glorification (of God) be the meaning intended? The claim to see (that glorification) is an erroneous fancy.
بلک مر بیننده را دیدار آن ** وقت عبرت می‌کند تسبیح‌خوان1025
Nay, the sight of that (inanimate object) causes him that sees it to glorify God at the time when he regards its significance.