اندرون گاو تن شه‌زاده‌ای ** گنج در ویرانه‌ای بنهاده‌ای
Within the cow-like body there is a prince, a treasure deposited in a ruin,
تا خری پیری گریزد زان نفیس ** گاو بیند شاه نی یعنی بلیس
To the end that an old ass, Iblís to wit, may flee from that precious (treasure) and may see (only) the cow and not (see) the king.
حکایت آن پادشاه و وصیت کردن او سه پسر خویش را کی درین سفر در ممالک من فلان جا چنین ترتیب نهید و فلان جا چنین نواب نصب کنید اما الله الله به فلان قلعه مروید و گرد آن مگردید
Story of the King who enjoined his three sons, saying, “In this journey through my empire establish certain arrangements in such-and-such a place and appoint certain viceroys in such-and-such a place, but for God's sake, for God's sake, do not go to such-and-such a fortress and do not roam around it.”
بود شاهی شاه را بد سه پسر ** هر سه صاحب‌فطنت و صاحب‌نظر
There was a King, and the King had three sons: all three (were) endowed with sagacity and discernment.
هر یکی از دیگری استوده‌تر ** در سخا و در وغا و کر و فر
Each one (was) more praiseworthy than another in generosity and in battle and in exercising royal sway.
پیش شه شه‌زادگان استاده جمع ** قرة العینان شه هم‌چون سه شمع 3585
The princes, (who were) the delight of the King's eye, stood together, like three candles, before the King,
از ره پنهان ز عینین پسر ** می‌کشید آبی نخیل آن پدر
And the father's palm-tree was drawing water by a hidden channel from the two fountains (eyes) of the son.
تا ز فرزند آب این چشمه شتاب ** می‌رود سوی ریاض مام و باب
So long as the water of this fountain is running swiftly from the son towards the gardens of his mother and father,
تازه می‌باشد ریاض والدین ** گشته جاری عینشان زین هر دو عین
His parents' gardens will always be fresh: their fountain is made to flow by (the water from) both these fountains.
چون شود چشمه ز بیماری علیل ** خشک گردد برگ و شاخ آن نخیل
(But) when from sickness the (son's) fountain fails, the leaves and boughs of the (father's) palm-tree become withered.
The withering of his palm-tree tells plainly that the tree was drawing moisture from the son.
ای بسا کاریز پنهان هم‌چنین ** متصل با جانتان یا غافلین
How many a hidden conduit is connected in like fashion with your souls, O ye heedless ones!
ای کشیده ز آسمان و از زمین ** مایه‌ها تا گشته جسم تو سمین
O thou who hast drawn stocks (of nourishment) from heaven and earth, so that thy body has grown fat,
عاریه‌ست این کم همی‌باید فشارد ** کانچ بگرفتی همی‌باید گزارد
(All) this is a loan: thou need’st not stuff (thy body) so much, for thou must needs pay back what thou hast taken—
جز نفخت کان ز وهاب آمدست ** روح را باش آن دگرها بیهدست
(All) except (that of which God said) “I breathed,” for that hath come from the Munificent. Cleave to the spirit! The other things are vain.
بیهده نسبت به جان می‌گویمش ** نی بنسبت با صنیع محکمش 3595
I call them vain in relation to the spirit, not in relation to His (their Maker's) consummate making.
بیان استمداد عارف از سرچشمه‌ی حیات ابدی و مستغنی شدن او از استمداد و اجتذاب از چشمه‌های آبهای بی‌وفا کی علامة ذالک التجافی عن دار الغرور کی آدمی چون بر مددهای آن چشمه‌ها اعتماد کند در طلب چشمه‌ی باقی دایم سست شود کاری ز درون جان تو می‌باید کز عاریه‌ها ترا دری نگشاید یک چشمه‌ی آب از درون خانه به زان جویی که آن ز بیرون آید
Explaining that the gnostic seeks replenishment from the Fountainhead of everlasting life and that he is relieved of any need to seek replenishment and draw (supplies) from the fountains of inconstant water; and the sign thereof is his holding aloof from the abode of delusion; for when a man relies on the replenishments drawn from those fountains, he slackens in his search for the Fountain everlasting and permanent. “A work done from within thy soul is necessary, for no door will be opened to thee by things given on loan. A water-spring inside the house is better than an aqueduct that comes from outside.”
حبذا کاریز اصل چیزها ** فارغت آرد ازین کاریزها
How goodly is the Conduit which is the source of (all) things! It makes you independent of these (other) conduits.
تو ز صد ینبوع شربت می‌کشی ** هرچه زان صد کم شود کاهد خوشی
You are quaffing drink from a hundred fountains: whenever any of those hundred yields less, your pleasure is diminished;
چون بجوشید از درون چشمه‌ی سنی ** ز استراق چشمه‌ها گردی غنی
(But) when the sublime Fountain gushes from within (you), no longer need you steal from the (other) fountains.
قرةالعینت چو ز آب و گل بود ** راتبه‌ی این قره درد دل بود
Since your eye is rejoiced by water and earth, heart's sorrow is the payment for this joy.
قلعه را چون آب آید از برون ** در زمان امن باشد بر فزون 3600
When (the supply of) water comes to a fortress from outside, it is more than enough in times of peace;
چونک دشمن گرد آن حلقه کند ** تا که اندر خونشان غرقه کند
(But) when the enemy forms a ring round that (fortress), in order that he may drown them (the garrison) in blood,
آب بیرون را ببرند آن سپاه ** تا نباشد قلعه را زانها پناه
The (hostile) troops cut off the outside water, that (the defenders of) the fortress may have no refuge from them.
آن زمان یک چاه شوری از درون ** به ز صد جیحون شیرین از برون
At that time a briny well inside (the walls) is better than a hundred sweet rivers outside.
قاطع الاسباب و لشکرهای مرگ ** هم‌چو دی آید به قطع شاخ و برگ
The Cutter of cords (Death) and the armies of Death come, like December, to cut the boughs and leaves (of the body),
در جهان نبود مددشان از بهار ** جز مگر در جان بهار روی یار 3605
(And then) there is no succour for them in the world from Spring, except perchance the Spring of the Beloved's face in the soul.
زان لقب شد خاک را دار الغرور ** کو کشد پا را سپس یوم العبور
The Earth is entitled “the Abode of delusion” because she draws back her foot (and deserts you) on the day of passage.
پیش از آن بر راست و بر چپ می‌دوید ** که بچینم درد تو چیزی نچید
Before that (time) she was running right and left, saying, “I will take away thy sorrow”; but she never took anything away.
او بگفتی مر ترا وقت غمان ** دور از تو رنج و ده که در میان
In the hour of anxieties she would say to you, “May pain be far from thee, and (may) ten mountains (stand) between (pain and thee)!”
چون سپاه رنج آمد بست دم ** خود نمی‌گوید ترا من دیده‌ام
When the army of Pain arrives, she holds her breath: she will not even say, “I have seen (and been acquainted with) thee.”
حق پی شیطان بدین سان زد مثل ** که ترا در رزم آرد با حیل 3610
God made a parable concerning the Devil on this wise: “He leads you into battle by his cunning tricks,
که ترا یاری دهم من با توم ** در خطرها پیش تو من می‌دوم
Saying, ‘I will give thee help, I am beside thee, I will run before thee in the perils (of war);
اسپرت باشم گه تیر خدنگ ** مخلص تو باشم اندر وقت تنگ
I will be thy shield amidst the arrows of khadang wood, I will be thy refuge in the hour of distress;
جان فدای تو کنم در انتعاش ** رستمی شیری هلا مردانه باش
I will sacrifice my life for thee in raising thee to thy feet. Thou art a Rustam, a lion: come on, be manful!’”
سوی کفرش آورد زین عشوه‌ها ** آن جوال خدعه و مکر و دها
By means of these wiles that bag of deceit and cunning and craft leads him (whom he makes his dupe) to infidelity.
چون قدم بنهاد در خندق فتاد ** او به قاهاقاه خنده لب گشاد 3615
As soon as he sets foot (therein) and falls into the moat (of fire), he (the Devil) opens his lips with a loud ha, ha.
هی بیا من طمعها دارم ز تو ** گویدش رو رو که بیزارم ز تو
(The dupe cries), “Hey, come! I have hopes of thee.” He (the Devil) says, “Begone, begone, for I am quit of thee.
تو نترسیدی ز عدل کردگار ** من همی‌ترسم دو دست از من بدار
Thou didst not fear the justice of the Creator, (but) I fear (it): keep thy hands off me!”
گفت حق خود او جدا شد از بهی ** تو بدین تزویرها هم کی رهی
(Then) God says (to the Devil), “He (thy dupe), indeed, is parted from felicity, and how shouldst thou be saved by these hypocrisies?”
فاعل و مفعول در روز شمار ** روسیاهند و حریف سنگسار
On the Day of Reckoning et faciens et pathicus infames sunt lapidationisque consortes. [On the Day of Reckoning (both) the active and passive (homosexuals) will be shamed-faced and partners in (being punished by) stoning.]
ره‌زده و ره‌زن یقین در حکم و داد ** در چه بعدند و در بس المهاد 3620
Assuredly, by the decree and just dispensation (of God), (both) the waylaid and the waylayer are in the pit of farness (from God) and in an evil resting-place.
گول را و غول را کو را فریفت ** از خلاص و فوز می‌باید شکیفت
(Both) the fool and the ghoul who deceived him must ever endure to be deprived of salvation and felicity.
هم خر و خرگیر اینجا در گلند ** غافلند اینجا و آن‌جا آفلند
Both the ass and he that caught the ass are (stuck) in the mud here: here (in this world) they are forgetful of (God) and there (in the next world) they are sunk (in woe)—
جز کسانی را که وا گردند از آن ** در بهار فضل آیند از خزان
(All) except those who turn back from that (deception) and come (forth) from the autumn (of sensuality) into the springtide of (Divine) grace,
توبه آرند و خدا توبه‌پذیر ** امر او گیرند و او نعم الامیر
And who repent, for God is ready to accept repentance, and cleave to His command, for a goodly Commander is He!
چون بر آرند از پشیمانی حنین ** عرش لرزد از انین المذنبین 3625
When, (moved) by sorrow, they raise a piteous cry, the highest Heaven trembles at the moaning of the sinners.
آن‌چنان لرزد که مادر بر ولد ** دستشان گیرد به بالا می‌کشد
It trembles even as a mother for her child: it takes them by the hand and draws them upward,
کای خداتان وا خریده از غرور ** نک ریاض فضل و نک رب غفور
Saying, “O ye whom God hath redeemed from delusion, behold the gardens of (Divine) grace and behold the forgiving Lord!
بعد ازینتان برگ و رزق جاودان ** از هوای حق بود نه از ناودان
Henceforth ye have everlasting provision and sustenance from God's air, not from the gutter (on the roof).”
چونک دریا بر وسایط رشک کرد ** تشنه چون ماهی به ترک مشک کرد
Inasmuch as the Sea is jealous of intermediaries, he that is thirsty as a fish takes leave of the water-skin.
روان شدن شه‌زادگان در ممالک پدر بعد از وداع کردن ایشان شاه را و اعادت کردن شاه وقت وداع وصیت را الی آخره
How the princes, having bidden the King farewell, set out on a journey through their father's empire, and how the King repeated his injunctions at the moment of farewell.
عزم ره کردند آن هر سه پسر ** سوی املاک پدر رسم سفر 3630
The (King's) three sons set out, in the fashion of (men equipped for) travel, to (visit) their father's (distant) possessions,