How oft did he become beside himself and how oft return to himself! How oft did he fly from eternity to everlastingness!
چند بیخود گشت و چند آمد به خود ** چند پرید از ازل سوی ابد
If I should unfold (his tale) after this, ’tis foolishness (in me), because the explanation of this is beyond (our) understanding;1775
بعد از این گر شرح گویم ابلهی است ** ز انکه شرح این ورای آگهی است
And if I should speak (thereof), ’twould root up (men's) minds; and if I should write (thereof), ’twould shatter many pens.
ور بگویم عقلها را بر کند ** ور نویسم بس قلمها بشکند
When Moses heard these reproaches from God, he ran into the desert in quest of the shepherd.
چون که موسی این عتاب از حق شنید ** در بیابان در پی چوپان دوید
He pushed on over the footprints of the bewildered man, he scattered dust from the skirt of the desert.
بر نشان پای آن سر گشته راند ** گرد از پردهی بیابان بر فشاند
The footstep of a man distraught is, in truth, distinct from the footsteps of others:
گام پای مردم شوریده خود ** هم ز گام دیگران پیدا بود
(At) one step, (he moves) like the rook (straight) from top to bottom (of the chessboard); (at) one step he goes crossways, like the bishop;1780
یک قدم چون رخ ز بالا تا نشیب ** یک قدم چون پیل رفته بر وریب
Now lifting his crest like a wave; now going on his belly like a fish;
گاه چون موجی بر افرازان علم ** گاه چون ماهی روانه بر شکم
Now writing (a description of) his state on some dust, like a geomancer who takes an omen by drawing lines (on earth or sand).
گاه بر خاکی نبشته حال خود ** همچو رمالی که رملی بر زند
At last he (Moses) overtook and beheld him; the giver of glad news said, “Permission has come (from God).
عاقبت دریافت او را و بدید ** گفت مژده ده که دستوری رسید
Do not seek any rules or method (of worship); say whatsoever your distressful heart desires.
هیچ آدابی و ترتیبی مجو ** هر چه میخواهد دل تنگت بگو
Your blasphemy is (the true) religion, and your religion is the light of the spirit: you are saved, and through you a (whole) world is in salvation.1785
کفر تو دین است و دینت نور جان ** ایمنی و ز تو جهانی در امان
O you who are made secure by God doeth whatso He willeth, go, loose your tongue without regard (for what you say).”
ای معاف یفعل الله ما یشاء ** بیمحابا رو زبان را بر گشا
He said, “O Moses, I have passed beyond that: I am now bathed in (my) heart's blood.
گفت ای موسی از آن بگذشتهام ** من کنون در خون دل آغشتهام
I have passed beyond the Lote-tree of the farthest bourn, I have gone a hundred thousand years' journey on the other side.
من ز سدرهی منتهی بگذشتهام ** صد هزاران ساله ز آن سو رفتهام
Thou didst ply the lash, and my horse shied, made a bound, and passed beyond the sky.
تازیانه بر زدی اسبم بگشت ** گنبدی کرد و ز گردون بر گذشت
May the Divine Nature be intimate with my human nature— blessings be on thy hand and on thine arm!1790
محرم ناسوت ما لاهوت باد ** آفرین بر دست و بر بازوت باد
Now my state is beyond telling: this which I am telling is not my (real) state.”
حال من اکنون برون از گفتن است ** این چه میگویم نه احوال من است
You behold the image which is in a mirror: it is your (own) image, it is not the image of the mirror.
نقش میبینی که در آیینهای است ** نقش تست آن نقش آن آیینه نیست
The breath which the flute-player puts into the flute—does it belong to the flute? No, it belongs to the man (the flute-player).
دم که مرد نایی اندر نای کرد ** در خور نای است نه در خورد مرد
Take good heed! Whether you speak praise (of God) or thanksgiving, know that it is even as the unseemly (words) of that shepherd.
هان و هان گر حمد گویی گر سپاس ** همچو نافرجام آن چوپان شناس
Though your praise is better in comparison with that, yet in relation to God it too is maimed (feeble).1795
حمد تو نسبت بدان گر بهتر است ** لیک آن نسبت به حق هم ابتر است
How often will you say, when the lid has been raised, “This was not what they were thinking (it was)!”
چند گویی چون غطا برداشتند ** کاین نبوده ست آن که میپنداشتند
This acceptance (by God) of your praise is from (His) mercy: it is an indulgence (which He grants), like (the indulgence granted in the case of) the prayers of a woman suffering from menorrhagia.
این قبول ذکر تو از رحمت است ** چون نماز مستحاضه رخصت است
Her prayers are stained with blood; your praise is stained with assimilation and qualification.
با نماز او بیالوده ست خون ** ذکر تو آلودهی تشبیه و چون