- My soul was desiring of Him (God) in prayer that I might find him and take the snake from him.
- در دعا میخواستی جانم از او ** کش بیابم مار بستانم از او
- Thanks to God that that prayer was rejected: I thought ’twas loss, but it has turned out to be gain.”
- شکر حق را کان دعا مردود شد ** من زیان پنداشتم آن سود شد
- Many are the prayers which are loss and destruction, and from kindness the Holy God is not hearing them. 140
- بس دعاها کان زیان است و هلاک ** وز کرم مینشنود یزدان پاک
- How the companion of Jesus, on whom be peace, entreated Jesus, on whom be peace, to give life to the bones.
- التماس کردن همراه عیسی علیه السلام زنده کردن استخوانها را از او
- A certain foolish person accompanied Jesus (on his way). He espied some bones in a deep-dug hole.
- گشت با عیسی یکی ابله رفیق ** استخوانها دید در حفرهی عمیق
- He said, “O companion, (teach me) that exalted Name by which thou makest the dead to live;
- گفت ای همراه آن نام سنی ** که بدان تو مرده را زنده کنی
- Teach (it) me, that I may do good and by means of it endow the bones with life.”
- مر مرا آموز تا احسان کنم ** استخوانها را بدان با جان کنم
- Jesus said, “Be silent, for that is not thy work: ’tis not meet for thy breath and speech,
- گفت خامش کن که آن کار تو نیست ** لایق انفاس و گفتار تو نیست
- For it wants breath purer than rain and more piercing in action than the angels. 145
- کان نفس خواهد ز باران پاکتر ** وز فرشته در روش دراکتر
- (Many) lifetimes were needed that the breath might be purified, so that he (its owner) was entrusted with the treasury of the Heavens.
- عمرها بایست تا دم پاک شد ** تا امین مخزن افلاک شد
- (Suppose that) thou hast grasped this rod firmly in thy hand: whence will accrue to thy hand the cunning of Moses?”
- خود گرفتی این عصا در دست راست ** دست را دستان موسی از کجاست
- He said, “If I am not one to pronounce (such sacred) mysteries, do thou pronounce the Name over the bones.”
- گفت اگر من نیستم اسرار خوان ** هم تو بر خوان نام را بر استخوان
- Jesus cried, “O Lord, what are these hidden purposes (of Thine)? What is (the meaning of) this fool's inclination (to engage) in this fruitless work?
- گفت عیسی یا رب این اسرار چیست ** میل این ابله در این بیگار چیست
- How has this sick man no care for himself? How has this corpse no care for (spiritual) life? 150
- چون غم خود نیست این بیمار را ** چون غم جان نیست این مردار را
- He has left (uncared for) his own dead (soul) and seeks to mend (revive) the dead (bones) of a stranger.”
- مردهی خود را رها کرده ست او ** مردهی بیگانه را جوید رفو
- God (answered and) said, “The backslider seeks backsliding: the thistle that has grown (in him) is the retribution for (consequence of) his sowing.”
- گفت حق ادبارگر ادبار جوست ** خار روییده جزای کشت اوست
- He that sows the seed of thistles in the world, be warned not to look for him in the rose-garden.
- آن که تخم خار کارد در جهان ** هان و هان او را مجو در گلستان
- If he take a rose in his hand, it becomes a thistle; and if he go to a friend, he (the friend) becomes a snake.
- گر گلی گیرد به کف خاری شود ** ور سوی یاری رود ماری شود
- The damned wretch is an elixir which transmutes into poison and snakes; (his elixir is) contrary to the elixir of the God-fearing man. 155
- کیمیای زهر و مار است آن شقی ** بر خلاف کیمیای متقی
- How the Súfí enjoined the servant to take care of his beast and how the servant said, “Lá hawl.”
- اندرز کردن صوفی خادم را در تیمار داشت بهیمه و لاحول گفتن خادم
- A Súfí was wandering round the world till one night he became a guest at a monastery (for Súfís).
- صوفیی میگشت در دور افق ** تا شبی در خانقاهی شد قنق
- He had a beast (ass): he tied it in the stable, (while) he (himself) sat at the top of the dais with his friends.
- یک بهیمه داشت در آخر ببست ** او به صدر صفه با یاران نشست
- Then he engaged with his friends in (mystical) meditation: the presence of a friend (of God) is (like) a book (which is open) before (one).
- پس مراقب گشت با یاران خویش ** دفتری باشد حضور یار بیش
- The Súfí's book is not (composed of) ink of letters (letters written with ink): it is naught but a heart white as snow.
- دفتر صوفی سواد حرف نیست ** جز دل اسپید همچون برف نیست
- The scholar's provision is (consists of) pen-marks (written letters and words). What is the Súfí's provision? Footmarks. 160
- زاد دانشمند آثار قلم ** زاد صوفی چیست آثار قدم
- He (the Súfí) stalks the game, like a hunter: he sees the musk-deer's track and follows the footprints.
- همچو صیادی سوی اشکار شد ** گام آهو دید بر آثار شد
- For some while the track of the deer is (the) proper (clue) for him, (but) afterwards ’tis the navel (musk-gland) of the deer that is his guide.
- چند گاهش گام آهو در خور است ** بعد از آن خود ناف آهو رهبر است