Hearken to the words of the Sage (Hakím) who lived in seclusion, “Lay thy head in the same place where thou hast drunk the wine.”
بشنو الفاظ حکیم پردهای ** سر همانجا نه که باده خوردهای
When the drunken man has gone astray from a tavern, he becomes the children's laughing-stock and plaything.
چون که از میخانه مستی ضال شد ** تسخر و بازیچهی اطفال شد
Whatever way he goes, he is falling in the mud, (now) on this side and (now) on that side, and every fool is laughing at him.
میفتد او سو به سو بر هر رهی ** در گل و میخنددش هر ابلهی
He (goes on) like this, while the children at his heels are without knowledge of his intoxication and the taste of his wine.
او چنین و کودکان اندر پیاش ** بیخبر از مستی و ذوق میاش
All mankind are children except him that is intoxicated with God; none is grownup except him that is freed from sensual desire.3430
خلق اطفالاند جز مست خدا ** نیست بالغ جز رهیده از هوا
He (God) said, “This world is a play and pastime, and ye are children”; and God speaks truth.
گفت دنیا لعب و لهو است و شما ** کودکید و راست فرماید خدا
If you have not gone forth from (taken leave of) play, you are a child: without purity of spirit how should he (any one) be fully intelligent?
از لعب بیرون نرفتی کودکی ** بیذکات روح کی باشد ذکی
Know, O youth, that the lust in which men are indulging here (in this world) is like the sexual intercourse of children.
چون جماع طفل دان این شهوتی ** که همیرانند اینجا ای فتی
What is the child's sexual intercourse? An idle play, compared with the sexual intercourse of a Rustam and a brave champion of Islam.
آن جماع طفل چه بود بازیی ** با جماع رستمی و غازیی
The wars of mankind are like children's fights—all meaningless, pithless, and contemptible.3435
جنگ خلقان همچو جنگ کودکان ** جمله بیمعنی و بیمغز و مهان
All their fights are (fought) with wooden swords, all their purposes are (centred) in futility;
جمله با شمشیر چوبین جنگشان ** جمله در لاینفعی آهنگشان
They all are riding on a reed-cane (hobby-horse), saying, “This is our Buráq or mule that goes like Duldul.”
جملهشان گشته سواره بر نیی ** کاین براق ماست یا دلدل پیی
They are (really) carrying (their hobby-horses), but in their folly they have raised themselves on high: they have fancied themselves to be riders and carried along the road.
حاملاند و خود ز جهل افراشته ** راکب و محمول ره پنداشته
Wait till the day when those who are borne aloft by God shall pass, galloping, beyond the nine tiers (of Heaven)!
باش تا روزی که محمولان حق ** اسب تازان بگذرند از نه طبق
“The spirit and the angels shall ascend to Him”: at the ascension of the spirit Heaven shall tremble.3440
تعرج الروح إلیه و الملک ** من عروج الروح یهتز الفلک
Like children, ye all are riding on your skirts: ye have taken hold of the corner of your skirt (to serve) as a horse.
From God came (the text), “Verily, opinion doth not enable (you) to dispense (with the Truth)”: when did the steed of opinion run (mount) to the Heavens?
از حق إن الظن لا يغنی رسید ** مرکب ظن بر فلکها کی دوید
While preferring (in case of doubt) the stronger of the two (alternative) opinions, do not doubt whether you see the sun when it is shining!
اغلب الظنین فی ترجیح ذا ** لا تماری الشمس فی توضیحها
At that time (when the spirit returns to God) behold your steeds! Ye have made a steed of your own foot.
آن گهی بینید مرکبهای خویش ** مرکبی سازیدهاید از پای خویش
Come, recognise that your imagination and reflection and sense-perception and apprehension are like the reed-cane on which children ride.3445
وهم و فکر و حس و ادراک شما ** همچو نی دان مرکب کودک هلا
The sciences of the mystics bear them (aloft); the sciences of sensual men are burdens to them.
علمهای اهل دل حمالشان ** علمهای اهل تن احمالشان
When knowledge strikes on the heart (is acquired through mystical experience), it becomes a helper (yárí); when knowledge strikes on the body (is acquired through the senses), it becomes a burden (bárí).
علم چون بر دل زند یاری شود ** علم چون بر تن زند باری شود
God hath said, “(Like an ass) laden with his books”: burdensome is the knowledge that is not from Himself.
گفت ایزد یحمل اسفاره ** بار باشد علم کان نبود ز هو
The knowledge that is not immediately from Himself does not endure, (it is) like the tire woman's paint.
علم کان نبود ز هو بیواسطه ** آن نپاید همچو رنگ ماشطه
But when you carry this burden well, the burden will be removed and you will be given (spiritual) joy.3450
لیک چون این بار را نیکو کشی ** بار بر گیرند و بخشندت خوشی