رو به تو کردند اکنون اه‌کنان ** ای که لطفت مجرمان را ره‌کنان
Now they turn their faces towards thee, uttering cries of lamentation. O thou whose clemency is making way for sinners,
راه ده آلودگان را العجل ** در فرات عفو و عین مغتسل
Speedily grant the defiled ones admission into the Euphrates of (thy) pardon and the fountain (which is) a (cool) washing-place,
تا که غسل آرند زان جرم دراز ** در صف پاکان روند اندر نماز
That they may wash themselves clean of that prolonged sin and join in prayer among the ranks of the purified—
اندر آن صفها ز اندازه برون ** غرقگان نور نحن الصافون
Among those innumerable ranks plunged in the light of ‘We are they that stand in line.’”
چون سخن در وصف این حالت رسید ** هم قلم بشکست و هم کاغذ درید 4195
When the discourse reached the description of this (exalted) state, at once the pen broke and the paper tore.
بحر را پیمود هیچ اسکره‌ای ** شیر را برداشت هرگز بره‌ای
Did any saucer measure the sea? Did a lamb ever carry off a lion?
گر حجابستت برون رو ز احتجاب ** تا ببینی پادشاهی عجاب
If you are veiled, go forth from enveilment, that you may behold the marvellous sovereignty (of God).
گرچه بشکستند حامت قوم مست ** آنک مست از تو بود عذریش هست
Although the drunken fellows broke Thy cup, (yet) there is an excuse for him that is intoxicated by Thee.
مستی ایشان به اقبال و به مال ** نه ز باده‌ی تست ای شیرین فعال
Is not their intoxication with fortune and riches (the result) of Thy wine, O Thou whose actions are sweet?
ای شهنشه مست تخصیص توند ** عفو کن از مست خود ای عفومند 4200
O Emperor, they are intoxicated with Thy election (of them): pardon him that is intoxicated with Thee, O Pardoner!
لذت تخصیص تو وقت خطاب ** آن کند که ناید از صد خم شراب
The delight of being elected (singled out) by Thee at the moment of Thy addressing them has an effect that is not produced by a hundred jars of wine.
چونک مستم کرده‌ای حدم مزن ** شرع مستان را نبیند حد زدن
Since Thou hast intoxicated me, do not inflict a penalty: the Law does not see fit to inflict a penalty on the intoxicated.
چون شوم هشیار آنگاهم بزن ** که نخواهم گشت خود هشیار من
Inflict it (only) at the time when I become sober; for indeed I shall never become sober (again).
هرکه از جام تو خورد ای ذوالمنن ** تا ابد رست از هش و از حد زدن
Whoso has drunk of Thy cup, O Gracious One, is for ever delivered from self consciousness and from the infliction of penalties.
خالدین فی فناء سکرهم ** من تفانی فی هواکم لم یقم 4205
Their intoxication consists in a state of unconsciousness of self (faná), (in which they are) abiding for ever: he that passes away from self in love for Thee will not arise.
فضل تو گوید دل ما را که رو ** ای شده در دوغ عشق ما گرو
Thy grace saith to our heart, “Go, O thou who hast become in pawn to the buttermilk of My love.
چون مگس در دوغ ما افتاده‌ای ** تو نه‌ای مست ای مگس تو باده‌ای
Thou hast fallen, like a gnat, into My buttermilk: O gnat, thou art not intoxicated, thou art the wine (itself).
کرگسان مست از تو گردند ای مگس ** چونک بر بحر عسل رانی فرس
O gnat, the vultures become intoxicated by thee, when thou ridest on the ocean of honey.
کوهها چون ذره‌ها سرمست تو ** نقطه و پرگار و خط در دست تو
The mountains are tipsy with thee (and dance) like motes; the point and the compass and the line are in thy hand (control).
فتنه که لرزند ازو لرزان تست ** هر گران‌قیمت گهر ارزان تست 4210
The torment at which they tremble is trembling at thee: every costly pearl is cheap to thee.”
گر خدا دادی مرا پانصد دهان ** گفتمی شرح تو ای جان و جهان
If God gave me five hundred mouths, I would sing in description (praise) of thee, O (my) soul and world;
یک دهان دارم من آن هم منکسر ** در خجالت از تو ای دانای سر
(But) I have (only) one mouth, and even that one is crushed with shame before thee, O knower of the mystery.
منکسرتر خود نباشم از عدم ** کز دهانش آمدستند این امم
In sooth I am not more crushed than non-existence, from the mouth of which (all) these peoples have come (forth).
صد هزار آثار غیبی منتظر ** کز عدم بیرون جهد با لطف و بر
A hundred thousand impressions of the Unseen World are waiting to spring forth graciously and kindly from non-existence.
از تقاضای تو می‌گردد سرم ** ای ببرده من به پیش آن کرم 4215
Because of thy urgency my head is reeling: oh, I am dead in the presence of that bounty.
رغبت ما از تقاضای توست ** جذبه‌ی حقست هر جا ره‌روست
Our desire (for thee) arises from thy urgency: wherever there is a wayfarer, ’tis the pull of God (that draws him on).
خاک بی‌بادی به بالا بر جهد ** کشتی بی‌بحر پا در ره نهد
Does the dust leap upward without a wind? Does a ship voyage without the sea?
پیش آب زندگانی کس نمرد ** پیش آبت آب حیوانست درد
None (ever) died in the presence of the Water of Life: compared with thy water the Water of Life is (mere) dregs.
آب حیوان قبله‌ی جان دوستان ** ز آب باشد سبز و خندان بوستان
The Water of Life is the goal of those to whom life is dear: by water the garden is (made) verdant and smiling.
مرگ آشامان ز عشقش زنده‌اند ** دل ز جان و آب جان بر کنده‌اند 4220
(But) those who quaff the cup of death are living through His love: they have torn their hearts away from life and the Water of Life.
آب عشق تو چو ما را دست داد ** آب حیوان شد به پیش ما کساد
When the water of Thy love gave us its hand (was gained by us), the Water of Life became worthless in our sight.
ز آب حیوان هست هر جان را نوی ** لیک آب آب حیوانی توی
Every soul derives freshness from the Water of Life, but Thou art the Water (Source) of the Water of Life.
هر دمی مرگی و حشری دادیم ** تا بدیدم دست برد آن کرم
Thou didst bestow on me a (spiritual) death and a resurrection continually, that I might experience the conquering power of that bounty (of Thine).
هم‌چو خفتن گشت این مردن مرا ** ز اعتماد بعث کردن ای خدا
This (bodily) dying became (as unformidable) to me as sleeping, from my confidence that Thou, O God, wouldst raise me from the dead.
هفت دریا هر دم ار گردد سراب ** گوش گیری آوریش ای آب آب 4225
If the Seven Seas become a mirage at every moment, Thou wilt take it (the water) by the ear and bring it (back), O Water (Source) of the water.
عقل لرزان از اجل وان عشق شوخ ** سنگ کی ترسد ز باران چون کلوخ
Reason is trembling with fear of death, but Love is bold: how should the stone be afraid of rain as the clod (is)?
از صحاف مثنوی این پنجمست ** بر بروج چرخ جان چون انجمست
This is the Fifth of the Scrolls (Books) of the Mathnawí: it is like the stars in the zodiacal signs of the spiritual sky.
ره نیابد از ستاره هر حواس ** جز که کشتیبان استاره‌شناس
Not every sense can find its way by the star: (none can do so) except the mariner acquainted with the star.
جز نظاره نیست قسم دیگران ** از سعودش غافلند و از قران
The lot of the others is naught but looking (at it): they are ignorant of its auspiciousness and (fortunate) conjunction.
آشنایی گیر شبها تا به روز ** با چنین استارهای دیوسوز 4230
During the nights till daybreak make thyself familiar with devil-burning stars like these,
هر یکی در دفع دیو بدگمان ** هست نفط‌انداز قلعه‌ی آسمان
Every one (of which) is hurling naphtha from the fortress of Heaven to drive away the evil-thinking devil.
اختر ار با دیو هم‌چون عقربست ** مشتری را او ولی الاقربست
To the devil the stars are (noxious) as a scorpion, (but) to the buyer (of Truth) it (the star) is the next of kin (the nearest and dearest).
قوس اگر از تیر دوزد دیو را ** دلو پر آبست زرع و میو را
If the Bow (Sagittarius) pierce the devil with an arrow, (yet) the Bucket (Aquarius) is full of water for the crops and fruit.
حوت اگرچه کشتی غی بشکند ** دوست را چون ثور کشتی می‌کند
Though the Fish (Pisces) wreck the ship of error, (yet) for the friend (of Truth) it is (ploughing and) sowing like the bull.
شمس اگر شب را بدرد چون اسد ** لعل را زو خلعت اطلس رسد 4235
If the Sun rend Night to pieces, like a lion, (yet) there comes from it a satin robe of honour for the ruby.
هر وجودی کز عدم بنمود سر ** بر یکی زهرست و بر دیگر شکر
Every existence that emerged from non-existence is poison to one and sugar to another.
دوست شو وز خوی ناخوش شو بری ** تا ز خمره‌ی زهر هم شکر خوری
Be a friend (of Truth) and become quit of unsweet qualities, so that you may eat sugar even from a jar of poison.
زان نشد فاروق را زهری گزند ** که بد آن تریاق فاروقیش قند
A (deadly) poison did no harm to Fárúq (‘Umar) because to him the antidote, discrimination (fárúqí), was (sweet as) candy.