Rumi's Masnavi - Write down what appertains to the Pír (Guide) who knows the Way:—Choose the Pír and regard him as the essence of the Way.

Write down what appertains to the Pír (Guide) who knows the Way:—Choose the Pír and regard him as the essence of the Way.

بر نویس احوال پیر راهدان ** پیر را بگزین و عین راه دان‌‌

The Pír is (like) summer, and (other) people are (like) the autumn month; (other) people are like night, and the Pír is the moon.

پیر تابستان و خلقان تیر ماه ** خلق مانند شب‌‌اند و پیر ماه‌‌

I have bestowed on (my) young Fortune (Husámu’ddín) the name of Pír (old), because he is (made) old by the Truth, not (made) old by Time. 2940

کرده‌‌ام بخت جوان را نام پیر ** کاو ز حق پیر است نز ایام پیر

So old is he that he hath no beginning: there is no rival to such a unique Pearl.

او چنان پیری است کش آغاز نیست ** با چنان در یتیم انباز نیست‌‌

Verily, old wine grows more potent, especially the wine that is the presence of God.

خود قوی‌‌تر می‌‌شود خمر کهن ** خاصه آن خمری که باشد من لدن‌‌

Choose a Pír, for without a Pír this journey is exceeding full of woe and affright and danger.

پیر را بگزین که بی‌‌پیر این سفر ** هست بس پر آفت و خوف و خطر

Without an escort you are bewildered (even) on a road you have travelled many times (before):

آن رهی که بارها تو رفته‌‌ای ** بی‌‌قلاووز اندر آن آشفته‌‌ای‌‌

Do not, then, travel alone on a Way that you have not seen at all, do not turn your head away from the Guide. 2945

پس رهی را که ندیده ستی تو هیچ ** هین مرو تنها ز رهبر سر مپیچ‌‌

Fool, if his shadow (protection) be not over you, then the cry of the ghoul will keep you (wandering about) with your head in a whirl.

گر نباشد سایه‌‌ی او بر تو گول ** پس ترا سر گشته دارد بانگ غول‌‌

The ghoul will (entice you) from the Way (and) cast you into destruction: there have been in this Way many craftier than you (who have perished miserably).

غولت از ره افکند اندر گزند ** از تو داهی‌‌تر در این ره بس بدند