We are loving and true and with wounded (bleeding) hearts: in the two worlds we have fixed our hearts on thee (alone).”
ما محب و صادق و دل خستهایم ** در دو عالم دل به تو در بستهایم
He began (to use) foul words and bad names recklessly: he spoke gibberish like madmen.1455
فحش آغازید و دشنام از گزاف ** گفت او دیوانگانه زی و قاف
He jumped up and let fly stones and sticks; the whole party fled for fear of blows.
بر جهید و سنگ پران کرد و چوب ** جملگی بگریختند از بیم کوب
He laughed loudly and tossed his head (in scorn). “Look,” said he, “at the vain bluster of these friends!
قهقهه خندید و جنبانید سر ** گفت باد ریش این یاران نگر
See the friends! Where is the sign of (true) friends? To (true) friends pain is as (dear as) life.”
دوستان بین، کو نشان دوستان ** دوستان را رنج باشد همچو جان
How should a friend turn aside from the pain inflicted by his friend? Pain is the kernel, and friendship is (only) as the husk to it.
کی کران گیرد ز رنج دوست دوست ** رنج مغز و دوستی آن را چو پوست
Has not joy in tribulation and calamity and suffering become the sign of (true) friendship?1460
نه نشان دوستی شد سر خوشی ** در بلا و آفت و محنت کشی
A friend is like gold, tribulation is like the fire: the pure gold is glad in the heart of the fire.
دوست همچون زر بلا چون آتش است ** زر خالص در دل آتش خوش است
How Luqmán's master tested his sagacity.
امتحان کردن خواجهی لقمان زیرکی لقمان را
(Was it) not (the case) that (this happened) to Luqmán, who was a pure (unselfish) slave, and day and night was brisk in service?
نه که لقمان را که بندهی پاک بود ** روز و شب در بندگی چالاک بود
His master used to prefer him (to all others) in the work (of service) and deem him better than his own sons,
خواجهاش میداشتی در کار پیش ** بهترش دیدی ز فرزندان خویش
Because Luqmán, though he was slave-born, was the master (of himself) and was free from sensual desire.
ز انکه لقمان گر چه بنده زاد بود ** خواجه بود و از هوا آزاد بود
A certain king said to the Shaykh (spiritual Director) in conversation, “Ask me to bestow some bounty upon thee.”1465
گفت شاهی شیخ را اندر سخن ** چیزی از بخشش ز من درخواست کن
He answered, “O King, are not you ashamed to say such a thing to me? Come higher!
گفت ای شه شرم ناید مر ترا ** که چنین گویی مرا زین برتر آ
I have two slaves, and they are vile, and those two are rulers and lords over you.”
من دو بنده دارم و ایشان حقیر ** و آن دو بر تو حاکمانند و امیر
Said the King, “What are those two? This is a mistake.” He replied, “The one is anger and the other is lust.”
گفت شه آن دو چهاند این زلت است ** گفت آن یک خشم و دیگر شهوت است
Regard as a king him that is unconcerned with kingship, him whose light shines forth without moon or sun.
شاه آن دان کاو ز شاهی فارغ است ** بیمه و خورشید نورش بازغ است
(Only) that one whose essence is the treasury (of spiritual truths) possesses the treasury: (only) he that is an enemy to (his own) existence possesses (real) existence.1470
مخزن آن دارد که مخزن ذات اوست ** هستی او دارد که با هستی عدوست
Luqmán's master (was) like a master outwardly; in reality he was a slave, and Luqmán was his master.
خواجهی لقمان به ظاهر خواجهوش ** در حقیقت بنده، لقمان خواجهاش
In the topsy-turvy world there is many a one of this (kind): a pearl is less than a straw in their sight.
در جهان باژگونه زین بسی است ** در نظرشان گوهری کم از خسی است
Every desert has been named mafáza (place of safety): a name and specious form has ensnared their understanding.
مر بیابان را مفازه نام شد ** نام و رنگی عقلشان را دام شد
In the case of one class of people, the dress makes (a man) known: (if he is dressed) in a qabá, they say that he belongs to the vulgar.
یک گره را خود معرف جامه است ** در قبا گویند کاو از عامه است
In the case of one class of people (the distinguishing mark is) the hypocritical appearance of asceticism; (but) light is needed, that (any one) may be a spy on asceticism (and detect its true character).1475
یک گره را ظاهر سالوس زهد ** نور باید تا بود جاسوس زهد
Light is needed, (a light) purged of cant and noxiousness, that he may know a man without (the evidence of) deed or word,
نور باید پاک از تقلید و غول ** تا شناسد مرد را بیفعل و قول
And enter into his heart by way of the intellect, and behold his real state and not be confined to tradition.
در رود در قلب او از راه عقل ** نقد او بیند نباشد بند نقل
The chosen servants of (God) the Knower of things unseen are, in the spiritual world, the spies on hearts.
بندگان خاص علام الغیوب ** در جهان جان جواسیس القلوب