To be His slave is better than being a sovereign, for “I am better” is the word of Satan.
بندگی او به از سلطانیست ** که انا خیر دم شیطانیست
Do thou see the distinction and pick out (choose by preference), O prisoner, the slavery of Adam from the pride of Iblís.
فرق بین و برگزین تو ای حبیس ** بندگی آدم از کبر بلیس
He who is the Sun of the Way uttered the saying, “Good (túbá) betide every one whose carnal soul is abased!”
گفت آنک هست خورشید ره او ** حرف طوبی هر که ذلت نفسه
Behold the shade of Túbá (the tree in Paradise) and sleep well; lay thy head in the shade and sleep without lifting thy head (haughtily).3345
سایه‌ی طوبی ببین وخوش بخسپ ** سر بنه در سایه بی‌سرکش بخسپ
The shade of (one) “whose carnal soul is abased” is a pleasant place for reclining: it is a (good) sleeping-place for him that is predisposed to that (spiritual) purity.
ظل ذلت نفسه خوش مضجعیست ** مستعد آن صفا و مهجعیست
If thou go from this shade towards egoism, thou wilt soon become disobedient (to God) and lose the way.
گر ازین سایه روی سوی منی ** زود طاغی گردی و ره گم کنی
Explaining (the Verse), "O ye that believe, do not put (yourselves) forward in the presence of God and His Apostle." Since thou art not the Prophet, be one of the religious community; since thou art not the sovereign, be a subject.
بیان آنک یا ایها الذین آمنوا لا تقدموا بین یدی الله و رسوله چون نبی نیستی ز امت باش چونک سلطان نه‌ای رعیت باش پس رو خاموش باش از خود زحمتی و رایی متراش
Go therefore, be silent in submission beneath the shade of the command of the Shaykh and Master;
پس برو خاموش باش از انقیاد ** زیر ظل امر شیخ و اوستاد
Otherwise, though thou art predisposed and capable, thou wilt become deformed through boasting of (thy) perfection.
ورنه گر چه مستعد و قابلی ** مسخ گردی تو ز لاف کاملی
Thou wilt be deprived even of (thy good) predisposition, if thou rebel against the Master of the mystery who is endowed with knowledge.3350
هم ز استعداد وا مانی اگر ** سر کشی ز استاد راز و با خبر
Do thou still have patience in cobbling; for if thou be impatient, thou wilt become a rag-stitcher.
صبر کن در موزه دوزی تو هنوز ** ور بوی بی‌صبر گردی پاره‌دوز