Whilst the reed is knotted, it is not a sharer of secrets: it is not the companion of the (flute-player's) lip and voice.
تا گره با نی بود هم راز نیست ** همنشین آن لب و آواز نیست
When thou art (engaged) in going about (seeking God) thou art indeed wrapped in (thy) going about: when thou hast come home, thou art still with thyself (self-conscious).
چون به طوفی خود به طوفی مرتدی ** چون به خانه آمدی هم با خودی
O thou whose knowledge is without knowledge of the Giver of knowledge, thy repentance is worse than thy sin.2205
ای خبرهات از خبر ده بیخبر ** توبهی تو از گناه تو بتر
O thou that seekest to repent of a state that is past, say, when wilt thou repent of this repentance?
ای تو از حال گذشته توبه جو ** کی کنی توبه از این توبه بگو
At one time thou turnest to the (low) sound of the treble, at another thou dost kiss (art in love with) weeping and wailing.”
گاه بانگ زیر را قبله کنی ** گاه گریهی زار را قبله زنی
When Fárúq (‘Umar) became a reflector of mysteries, the old man's heart was awakened from within.
چون که فاروق آینهی اسرار شد ** جان پیر از اندرون بیدار شد
He became without weeping or laughter, like the soul: his (animal) soul departed and the other soul came to life.
همچو جان بیگریه و بیخنده شد ** جانش رفت و جان دیگر زنده شد
In that hour such a bewilderment arose within him that he went forth from earth and heaven—2210
حیرتی آمد درونش آن زمان ** که برون شد از زمین و آسمان
A seeking and searching beyond (all) seeking and search: I know not (how to describe it); (if) you know, tell!
جستجویی از ورای جستجو ** من نمیدانم تو میدانی بگو
Feelings and words beyond (all) feelings and words—he had become drowned in the beauty of the Lord of majesty,
حال و قالی از ورای حال و قال ** غرقه گشته در جمال ذو الجلال
Drowned, not in such wise that there should be for him any deliverance, or that any one should know him except the (Divine) Ocean.
غرقهای نه که خلاصی باشدش ** یا بجز دریا کسی بشناسدش
Partial reason would not be telling of (the mysteries of) the Universal (Reason), if there were not demand after demand (perpetual Divine impulses necessitating the manifestation of these mysteries).
عقل جزو از کل گویا نیستی ** گر تقاضا بر تقاضا نیستی
Since demand after demand is arriving, the waves of that Sea (Universal Reason) reach this place (the world of partial reason).2215
چون تقاضا بر تقاضا میرسد ** موج آن دریا بدین جا میرسد
Now that the story of the old man's (spiritual) experiences has come to this point, the old man and his experiences have withdrawn behind the veil.
چون که قصهی حال پیر اینجا رسید ** پیر و حالش روی در پرده کشید
The old man has shaken his skirt free from talk and speech: half of the tale has remained in our mouth (has not been told).
پیر دامن را ز گفتوگو فشاند ** نیم گفته در دهان ما بماند
It behoves (us), for the sake of procuring (such) delight and enjoyment, to gamble away (sacrifice) hundreds of thousands of souls (lives).
از پی این عیش و عشرت ساختن ** صد هزاران جان بشاید باختن
In chase of the spiritual forest be (as) a falcon, be one who gambles his soul (life) away, like the sun of this world.
در شکار بیشهی جان باز باش ** همچو خورشید جهان جانباز باش
The lofty sun is life-diffusing: every moment it becomes empty and is filled.2220
جان فشان افتاد خورشید بلند ** هر دمی تی میشود پر میکنند
O Sun of Reality, diffuse spiritual life, show forth newness to this old world!
جان فشان ای آفتاب معنوی ** مر جهان کهنه را بنما نوی
Soul and spirit are coming from the Unseen into human existence, like running water.
در وجود آدمی جان و روان ** میرسد از غیب چون آب روان
Commentary on the prayer of the two angels who daily make proclamation in every market, saying, “O God, bestow on every prodigal some boon in exchange! O God, bestow on every niggard some bane (in return)”; and an explanation that the prodigal is he that strives earnestly in the Way of God, not he that squanders his wealth in the way of sensuality.
تفسیر دعای آن دو فرشته که هر روز بر سر هر بازاری منادی میکنند که اللهم أعط کل منفق خلفا اللهم أعط کل ممسک تلفا و بیان کردن که آن منفق مجاهد راه حق است نه مسرف راه هوا
The Prophet said, “For admonishment's sake two goodly angels are always making proclamation,
گفت پیغمبر که دایم بهر پند ** دو فرشتهی خوش منادی میکنند
Saying, ‘O God, keep the prodigals fully satisfied, give hundred-thousandfold recompense for every dirhem that they spend.
کای خدایا منفقان را سیر دار ** هر درمشان را عوض ده صد هزار
O God, do not give the niggards in this world anything but loss upon loss!’”2225
ای خدایا ممسکان را در جهان ** تو مده الا زیان اندر زیان
Oh, (there is) many an act of niggardliness that is better than prodigality: do not bestow what belongs to God except by the command of God,
ای بسا امساک کز انفاق به ** مال حق را جز به امر حق مده
That thou mayst gain infinite treasure in return, and that thou mayst not be numbered among the infidels
تا عوض یابی تو گنج بیکران ** تا نباشی از عداد کافران