In order that his body might not die cheaply at one blow and that he might receive twenty blows in the battle.
تا نمیرد تن به یک زخم از گزاف ** تا خورد او بیست زخم اندر مصاف
To him it was anguish that he should give up his soul at one blow and that his soul should escape lightly from the hand of his fortitude.
حیفش آمد که به زخمی جان دهد ** جان ز دست صدق او آسان رهد
Story of the (spiritual) warrior who every day used to take one dirhem separately from a purse containing (pieces of) silver and throw it into a ditch (full of water) for the purpose of thwarting the greed and cupidity of his fleshly soul; and how his soul tempted him, saying, “Since you are going to throw (this money) into the ditch, at least throw it away all at once, so that I may gain deliverance, for despair is one of the two (possible) reliefs”; and how he replied, “I will not give thee this relief either.”
حکایت آن مجاهد کی از همیان سیم هر روز یک درم در خندق انداختی به تفاریق از بهر ستیزه‌ی حرص و آرزوی نفس و وسوسه‌ی نفس کی چون می‌اندازی به خندق باری به یک‌بار بینداز تا خلاص یابم کی الیاس احدی الراحتین او گفته کی این راحت نیز ندهم
A certain man had forty dirhems in his hand: every night he would throw one (of them) into the sea-water,3815
آن یکی بودش به کف در چل درم ** هر شب افکندی یکی در آب یم
In order that the long agony suffered in (the process of) deliberation might become grievous to the illusory soul.
تا که گردد سخت بر نفس مجاز ** در تانی درد جان کندن دراز
He (the valiant Súfí) advanced with the Moslems to attack (the infidels), (but) in the hour of retreat he did not fall back in haste before the enemy.
با مسلمانان بکر او پیش رفت ** وقت فر او وا نگشت از خصم تفت
He was wounded again, (but) he bound up those (wounds) too: twenty times were the spears and arrows (of the enemy) broken by him.
زخم دیگر خورد آن را هم ببست ** بیست کرت رمح و تیر از وی شکست
After that no strength remained (in him): his fell forward (and expired in) the seat of truth because his love was true.
بعد از آن قوت نماند افتاد پیش ** مقعد صدق او ز صدق عشق خویش
Truth consists in giving up the soul (to God). Hark, try to outstrip (the others) in the race! Recite from the Qur’án (the words) men who have been true.3820
صدق جان دادن بود هین سابقوا ** از نبی برخوان رجال صدقوا
All this dying is not the death of the (physical) form: this body is (only) like an instrument for the spirit.
این همه مردن نه مرگ صورتست ** این بدن مر روح را چون آلتست
Oh, there is many a raw (imperfect) one whose blood was shed externally, but whose living fleshly soul escaped to yonder side.
ای بسا خامی که ظاهر خونش ریخت ** لیک نفس زنده آن جانب گریخت