The corporeal belly leads to the straw-barn; the spiritual belly leads to the sweet basil.
معدهی تن سوی کهدان میکشد ** معدهی دل سوی ریحان میکشد
Whoever feeds on straw and barley becomes a sacrifice (qurbán); whoever feeds on the Light of God becomes the Qur’án.
هر که کاه و جو خورد قربان شود ** هر که نور حق خورد قرآن شود
Beware! Half of you is musk and half is dung. Beware! Do not increase the dung, increase the Chinese musk.
نیم تو مشکست و نیمی پشک هین ** هین میفزا پشک افزا مشک چین
The imitator brings on to his tongue a hundred proofs and explanations, but he has no soul.2480
آن مقلد صد دلیل و صد بیان ** در زبان آرد ندارد هیچ جان
When the speaker has no soul and (spiritual) glory, how should his speech have leaves and fruit?
چونک گوینده ندارد جان و فر ** گفت او را کی بود برگ و ثمر
He boldly directs people in the Way (to salvation), (though) he is more tremulous (infirm) in soul than a blade of straw.
میکند گستاخ مردم را به راه ** او بجان لرزانترست از برگ کاه
Therefore, though his discourse may be splendid, tremor (infirmity) is also latent in his discourse.
پس حدیثش گرچه بس با فر بود ** در حدیثش لرزه هم مضمر بود
The difference between the call of the perfect Shaykh who is united with God and the words of imperfect men whose (spiritual) virtues are acquired and artificial.
فرق میان دعوت شیخ کامل واصل و میان سخن ناقصان فاضل فضل تحصیلی بر بسته
The illumined Shaykh makes (his disciples) cognisant of the Way; moreover, he causes the light (of faith) to accompany his words.
شیخ نورانی ز ره آگه کند ** با سخن هم نور را همره کند
Strive to become intoxicated and illumined, in order that his light may be (like) the rhyme-letter to your discourse.2485
جهد کن تا مست و نورانی شوی ** تا حدیثت را شود نورش روی
Whatever (fruit or vegetable) is boiled in grape-juice, the flavour of grape-juice will be (tasted) in its syrup.
هر چه در دوشاب جوشیده شود ** در عقیده طعم دوشابش بود