Rumi's Masnavi - The points (involved in it) are sharp as a sword of steel; if you have not the shield (of capacity to understand), turn back and flee!

The points (involved in it) are sharp as a sword of steel; if you have not the shield (of capacity to understand), turn back and flee!

نکته‌‌ها چون تیغ پولاد است تیز ** گر نداری تو سپر واپس گریز

Do not come without shield against this adamant (keen blade), for the sword is not ashamed of cutting.

پیش این الماس بی‌‌اسپر میا ** کز بریدن تیغ را نبود حیا

For this cause I have put the sword in sheath, that none who misreads may read contrariwise (in a sense contrary to the true meaning of my words).

زین سبب من تیغ کردم در غلاف ** تا که کج خوانی نخواند بر خلاف‌‌

We come (now) to complete the tale and (speak) of the loyalty of the multitude of the righteous,

آمدیم اندر تمامی داستان ** وز وفاداری جمع راستان‌‌

Who rose up after (the death of) this leader, demanding a vicar in his place. 695

کز پس این پیشوا برخاستند ** بر مقامش نایبی می‌‌خواستند

The quarrel of the amírs concerning the succession.

منازعت امرا در ولیعهدی

One of those amírs advanced and went before that loyal-minded people.

یک امیری ز آن امیران پیش رفت ** پیش آن قوم وفا اندیش رفت‌‌

“Behold,” said he, “I am that man's vicar: I am the vicar of Jesus at the present time.

گفت اینک نایب آن مرد من ** نایب عیسی منم اندر زمن‌‌

Look, this scroll is my proof that after him the vicarate belongs to me.”

اینک این طومار برهان من است ** کاین نیابت بعد از او آن من است‌‌

Another amír came forth from ambush: his pretension regarding the vicegerency was the same;

آن امیر دیگر آمد از کمین ** دعوی او در خلافت بد همین‌‌

He too produced a scroll from under his arm, so that in both (amírs) there arose the Jewish anger. 700

از بغل او نیز طوماری نمود ** تا بر آمد هر دو را خشم جهود

The rest of the amírs, one after another, drawing swords of keen mettle,

آن امیران دگر یک یک قطار ** بر کشیده تیغهای آب دار

Each with a sword and a scroll in his hand, fell to combat like raging elephants.

هر یکی را تیغ و طوماری به دست ** درهم‌‌افتادند چون پیلان مست‌‌

Hundreds of thousands of Christians were slain, so that there were mounds of severed heads;

صد هزاران مرد ترسا کشته شد ** تا ز سرهای بریده پشته شد

Blood flowed, on left and right, like a torrent; mountains of this dust (of battle) rose in the air.

خون روان شد همچو سیل از چپ و راست ** کوه کوه اندر هوا زین گرد خاست‌‌

The seeds of dissension which he (the vizier) had sown had become a calamity (cause of destruction) to their heads. 705

تخمهای فتنه‌‌ها کاو کشته بود ** آفت سرهای ایشان گشته بود

The walnuts (bodies) were broken, and those which had the kernel had, after being slain, a spirit pure and fair.

جوزها بشکست و آن کان مغز داشت ** بعد کشتن روح پاک نغز داشت‌‌

Slaughter and death which befalls the bodily frame is like breaking pomegranates and apples:

کشتن و مردن که بر نقش تن است ** چون انار و سیب را بشکستن است‌‌

That which is sweet becomes pomegranate-syrup, and that which is rotten is naught but noise:

آن چه شیرین است او شد ناردانگ ** و آن که پوسیده ست نبود غیر بانگ‌‌

That which has reality is made manifest (after death), and that which is rotten is put to shame.

آن چه با معنی است خود پیدا شود ** و آن چه پوسیده ست او رسوا شود

Go, strive after reality, O worshipper of form, inasmuch as reality is the wing on form's body. 710

رو به معنی کوش ای صورت پرست ** ز آن که معنی بر تن صورت پر است‌‌

Consort with the followers of reality, that you may both win the gift and be generous (in giving yourself up to God).

همنشین اهل معنی باش تا ** هم عطا یابی و هم باشی فتا

Beyond dispute, in this body the spirit devoid of reality is even as a wooden sword in the sheath:

جان بی‌‌معنی در این تن بی‌‌خلاف ** هست همچون تیغ چوبین در غلاف‌‌

Whilst it remains in the sheath, it is (apparently) valuable, (but) when it has come forth it is an implement (only fit) for burning.

تا غلاف اندر بود با قیمت است ** چون برون شد سوختن را آلت است‌‌

Do not take a wooden sword into the battle! First see (whether your sword is a real one), in order that your plight may not be wretched.

تیغ چوبین را مبر در کارزار ** بنگر اول تا نگردد کار زار

If it is made of wood, go, seek another; and if it is adamant, march forward joyously. 715

گر بود چوبین برو دیگر طلب ** ور بود الماس پیش آ با طرب‌‌