عقل تو افزون شود بر دیگران ** لیک تو باشی ز حفظ آن گران
(By this means) your intelligence becomes superior to (that of) others; but through preserving (retaining in your mind) that (knowledge) you are heavily burdened.
لوح حافظ باشی اندر دور و گشت ** لوح محفوظ اوست کو زین در گذشت
You, (occupied) in wandering and going about (in search of knowledge), are a preserving (recording) tablet; the preserved tablet is he that has passed beyond this.
عقل دیگر بخشش یزدان بود ** چشمه‌ی آن در میان جان بود
The other intelligence is the gift of God: its fountain is in the midst of the soul.
چون ز سینه آب دانش جوش کرد ** نه شود گنده نه دیرینه نه زرد1965
When the water of (God-given) knowledge gushes from the breast, it does not become fetid or old or yellow (impure);
ور ره نبعش بود بسته چه غم ** کو همی‌جوشد ز خانه دم به دم
And if its way of issue (to outside) be stopped, what harm? for it gushes continually from the house (of the heart).
عقل تحصیلی مثال جویها ** کان رود در خانه‌ای از کویها
The acquired intelligence is like the conduits which run into a house from the streets:
راه آبش بسته شد شد بی‌نوا ** از درون خویشتن جو چشمه را
(If) its (the house’s) water-way is blocked, it is without any supply (of water) Seek the fountain from within yourself!
قصه‌ی آنک کسی به کسی مشورت می‌کرد گفتش مشورت با دیگری کن کی من عدوی توم
Story that some one was consulting another, who said, "Consult some one else, for I am your enemy."
مشورت می‌کرد شخصی با کسی ** کز تردد وا ردهد وز محبسی
A certain person was consulting some one, that he might be delivered from perplexity and from a quandary.
گفت ای خوش‌نام غیر من بجو ** ماجرای مشورت با او بگو1970
“O man of good name,” he replied, “seek another, not me, and explain to him the matter for consultation.
من عدوم مر ترا با من مپیچ ** نبود از رای عدو پیروز هیچ
I am an enemy to you: do not attach yourself to me; one is never successful (never wins success) from the counsel of an enemy.
رو کسی جو که ترا او هست دوست ** دوست بهر دوست لاشک خیرجوست
Go, seek one who is a friend to you: undoubtedly a friend seeks (what is) good for his friend.
من عدوم چاره نبود کز منی ** کژ روم با تو نمایم دشمنی
I am an enemy: it is inevitable that from egoism I should go crookedly (play false) and show enmity towards you.
حارسی از گرگ جستن شرط نیست ** جستن از غیر محل ناجستنیست
Tis not a (just) condition to demand of a wolf (that he should perform) the task of a watchman (shepherd): to demand (anything) from the wrong place is a negation of the demand.
من ترا بی‌هیچ شکی دشمنم ** من ترا کی ره نمایم ره زنم1975
Without any doubt I am an enemy to you: how should I show you the way? I am a highwayman.
هر که باشد همنشین دوستان ** هست در گلخن میان بوستان
Whoever is sitting with friends is amidst a flower-garden (though he be) in a bath-furnace.
هر که با دشمن نشیند در زمن ** هست او در بوستان در گولخن
Whoever in the world sits with an enemy, he is in a bath-furnace (though he be) in a flower-garden.
دوست را مازار از ما و منت ** تا نگردد دوست خصم و دشمنت
Vex not your friend by egoism, lest your friend become your adversary and enemy.
خیر کن با خلق بهر ایزدت ** یا برای راحت جان خودت
Do good unto the people for your God's sake or for the peace of your own soul,
تا هماره دوست بینی در نظر ** در دلت ناید ز کین ناخوش صور1980
That you may always see (them) friendly in your sight, and that ugly ideas arising from hatred may not come into your heart.
Since you have behaved with enmity (towards me), abstain (from consulting me): consult a friend who arouses (your) affection.”
گفت می‌دانم ترا ای بوالحسن ** که توی دیرینه دشمن‌دار من
He replied, “I know you, O Bu ’l-Hasan, to be one who has long deemed me an enemy;
لیک مرد عاقلی و معنوی ** عقل تو نگذاردت که کژ روی
But you are a reasonable and spiritual man: your reason will not allow you to go crookedly (play false).”
طبع خواهد تا کشد از خصم کین ** عقل بر نفس است بند آهنین
The (carnal) nature desires to take revenge on its adversary: the reason is an iron chain upon the flesh.
آید و منعش کند وا داردش ** عقل چون شحنه‌ست در نیک و بدش1985
It comes and prevents it (the flesh) and restrains it: the reason is like a police-inspector for it in its good and evil (actions).
عقل ایمانی چو شحنه‌ی عادلست ** پاسبان و حاکم شهر دلست
The reason that is allied to Faith is like a just police-inspector: it is the guardian and magistrate of the city of the heart.
هم‌چو گربه باشد او بیدارهوش ** دزد در سوراخ ماند هم‌چو موش
It is mentally alert like a cat: the thief remains in the hole, like a mouse.
در هر آنجا که برآرد موش دست ** نیست گربه یا که نقش گربه است
Wherever the mouse gets the upper hand, no cat is there, or (at least) there is (only) the (unreal) form of a cat.
گربه‌ی چه شیر شیرافکن بود ** عقل ایمانی که اندر تن بود
What cat (is to be compared with the reason)? The Faith-regarding reason which is in the body is the lion that overthrows the lions.
غره‌ی او حاکم درندگان ** نعره‌ی او مانع چرندگان1990
Its roar is the magistrate (controller) of the tearing (carnivorous) animals; its shout is the preventer of the browsing (herbivorous) animals.
شهر پر دزدست و پر جامه‌کنی ** خواه شحنه باش گو و خواه نی
(If) the city is full of thieves and clothes-robbers, let there be a police-inspector if you will, or let there be none.
امیر کردن رسول علیه‌السلام جوان هذیلی را بر سریه‌ای کی در آن پیران و جنگ آزمودگان بودند
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, appointed a youth of Hudhayl to be commander of an expeditionary force in which there were elders and veteran warriors.
یک سریه می‌فرستادش رسول ** به هر جنگ کافر و دفع فضول
The Prophet was sending a force to fight against the unbelievers and repel insolence.
یک جوانی را گزید او از هذیل ** میر لشکر کردش و سالار خیل
He chose a youth of Hudhayl and appointed him commander of the army and leader of the cavalry.
اصل لشکر بی‌گمان سرور بود ** قوم بی‌سرور تن بی‌سر بود
The foundation of an army is unquestionably the chief in command: a people without a chief are a body without a head.
این همه که مرده و پژمرده‌ای ** زان بود که ترک سرور کرده‌ای1995
That you are (spiritually) dead and decrepit—all this is because you have abandoned the chief.
از کسل وز بخل وز ما و منی ** می‌کشی سر خویش را سر می‌کنی
On account of laziness and avarice and egoism you are drawing your head back (behaving in a headstrong manner) and making yourself the head.
هم‌چو استوری که بگریزد ز بار ** او سر خود گیرد اندر کوهسار
(You are) like the beast that flees from the burden: it takes its head (goes its own way) into the mountains.
صاحبش در پی دوان کای خیره سر ** هر طرف گرگیست اندر قصد خر
Its master is running after it, crying, “O giddy-headed one, on every side there is a wolf in quest of an ass.
گر ز چشمم این زمان غایب شوی ** پیشت آید هر طرف گرگ قوی
If thou disappear now from mine eye, the mighty wolf will approach thee from every direction.
استخوانت را بخاید چون شکر ** که نبینی زندگانی را دگر2000
He will chew thy bones like sugar, so that thou wilt never see life again.
آن مگیر آخر بمانی از علف ** آتش از بی‌هیزمی گردد تلف
(Or) do not suppose that (immediate destruction); at any rate thou wilt be left without fodder: fire is (finally) extinguished by lack of faggots.
هین بمگریز از تصرف کردنم ** وز گرانی بار که جانت منم
Beware! Do not flee from my control and from the heaviness of the burden, for I am thy (rational) soul.”
تو ستوری هم که نفست غالبست ** حکم غالب را بود ای خودپرست
You also are a beast (of burden), for your carnal soul predominates: the predominant (quality) determines (a thing's nature), O worshipper of self.
خر نخواندت اسپ خواندت ذوالجلال ** اسپ تازی را عرب گوید تعال
The Almighty did not call you an ass, He called you a horse: the Arabs say to the Arab horse “ta‘ál” (“come”).
میر آخر بود حق را مصطفی ** بهر استوران نفس پر جفا2005
Mustafá (Mohammed) was God's stable-overseer for the beasts, (which are) the iniquitous carnal soul.
قل تعالوا گفت از جذب کرم ** تا ریاضتتان دهم من رایضم
Moved by lovingkindness, He (God) said, “Say, ‘ta‘álaw (come ye), to the end that I may train you: I am the trainer.’”
نفسها را تا مروض کرده‌ام ** زین ستوران بس لگدها خورده‌ام
(The Prophet said), “Since I have trained the carnal souls, I have suffered many kicks from these beasts.
هر کجا باشد ریاضت‌باره‌ای ** از لگدهااش نباشد چاره‌ای
Wherever there is one fond of training, he hath no means of avoiding kicks.
لاجرم اغلب بلا بر انبیاست ** که ریاضت دادن خامان بلاست
Of necessity the most affliction falls on the prophets, for ’tis an affliction to give training to the raw (ignorant).
سکسکانید از دمم یرغا روید ** تا یواش و مرکب سلطان شوید2010
Ye are stumbling along: at my word (in obedience to my command) go at a jog-trot, that ye may become gentle and be suitable for the king to ride.
قل تعالوا قل تعالو گفت رب ** ای ستوران رمیده از ادب
The Lord said, ‘Say, Come ye, say, Come ye, O beasts that have shied away from discipline.