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
When he has given thanks for (having been favoured with knowledge of) the track and has traversed the way, of necessity by means of that track he arrives at a goal.
چون که شکر گام کرد و ره برید ** لاجرم ز آن گام در کامی رسید
To go one stage (guided) by the scent of the musk-gland is better than a hundred stages of (following) the track and roaming about.
رفتن یک منزلی بر بوی ناف ** بهتر از صد منزل گام و طواف
The heart that is the rising-place of the moonbeams (of Divine light) is for the gnostic (the means of revelation indicated by the words) its doors shall be opened.165
آن دلی کاو مطلع مهتابهاست ** بهر عارف فتحت ابوابهاست
To you it is a wall, to them it is a door; to you a stone, to (those) venerated ones a pearl.
با تو دیوار است و با ایشان در است ** با تو سنگ و با عزیزان گوهر است
What you see plainly in the mirror—the Pír sees more than that in the brick.
آن چه تو در آینه بینی عیان ** پیر اندر خشت بیند بیش از آن
The Pírs are they whose spirits, before this world existed, were in the Sea of (Divine) bounty.
پیر ایشاناند کاین عالم نبود ** جان ایشان بود در دریای جود
Before (the creation of) this body they passed (many) lifetimes; before the sowing they took up (harvested) the fruit (produce).
پیش از این تن عمرها بگذاشتند ** پیشتر از کشت بر برداشتند
They have received the spirit before (the creation of) the form; they have bored the pearls before (the creation of) the sea.170
پیشتر از نقش جان پذرفتهاند ** پیشتر از بحر درها سفتهاند
(Whilst) consultation was going on as to bringing mankind into existence, their spirits were in the Sea of (Divine) Omnipotence up to the throat.
مشورت میرفت در ایجاد خلق ** جانشان در بحر قدرت تا به حلق
When the angels were opposing that (creation of man), they (the Pírs) were secretly clapping their hands (in derision) at the angels.
چون ملایک مانع آن میشدند ** بر ملایک خفیه خنبک میزدند
He (the Pír) was made acquainted with the (material) form of every existent being, before this Universal Soul became fettered (by materiality).
مطلع بر نقش هر که هست شد ** پیش از آن کاین نفس کل پا بست شد
Before the (creation of the) heavens they have seen Saturn, before the (existence of) seeds they have seen the bread.