Oh, many is the knowledge (talent) that runs in the head (and urges) that he (the owner) should become eminent—in truth, through that (knowledge) his head goes (he loses his life).
ای بسا دانش که اندر سر دود ** تا شود سرور بدان خود سر رود
If you wish not your head to be lost, be (lowly as) a foot: be under the protection of the Qutb who is possessed of discernment.
سر نخواهی که رود تو پای باش ** در پناه قطب صاحب رای باش
Though you be a king, deem not yourself above him: though you be honey, gather naught but his sugar-cane. 1985
گر چه شاهی خویش فوق او مبین ** گر چه شهدی جز نبات او مچین
Your thought is the outward form, and his thought is the soul: your coin is false, and his coin is (pure as) the mine.
فکر تو نقش است و فکر اوست جان ** نقد تو قلب است و نقد اوست کان
You are (really) he: seek yourself in his “he” (personality). Say coo, coo: become a dove (flying) towards him.
او تویی خود را بجو در اوی او ** کو و کو گو فاخته شو سوی او
And if you are unwilling to serve the (holy) men of (human) kind, you are in the dragon's mouth, like the bear.
ور نخواهی خدمت ابنای جنس ** در دهان اژدهایی همچو خرس
It may be that a Master will deliver you and pull you out of danger.
بو که استادی رهاند مر ترا ** و ز خطر بیرون کشاند مر ترا
As you have no strength, keep making a lamentation; since you are blind, take care, do not turn your head away from him that sees the road. 1990
زاریی میکن چو زورت نیست هین ** چون که کوری سر مکش از راه بین
You are less (worse) than the bear, (for) you are not wailing at the pain. The bear was freed from pain when it made an outcry.
تو کم از خرسی نمینالی ز درد ** خرس رست از درد چون فریاد کرد
O God, make this stony heart (soft as) wax; make our wailing sweet (to Thee) and an object of (Thy) mercy!
ای خدا این سنگ دل را موم کن ** نالهی ما را خوش و مرحوم کن
How a sightless beggar said, “I have two blindnesses.”
گفتن نابینای سائل که دو کوری دارم
There was a blind man who used to say, “Pity! I have two blindnesses, O people of the time.
بود کوری کاو همیگفت الامان ** من دو کوری دارم ای اهل زمان
Therefore, hark ye, show unto me twice as much compassion, since I have two blindnesses, and I (live) between (them.)”
پس دو باره رحمتم آرید هان ** چون دو کوری دارم و من در میان
(Somebody) said, “We see one blindness of yours: what may the other blindness be? Explain.” 1995
گفت یک کوریت میبینیم ما ** آن دگر کوری چه باشد وانما
He answered, “I have an ugly voice and unpleasing tones: ugliness of voice and blindness are double (blindness).
گفت زشت آوازم و ناخوش نوا ** زشت آوازی و کوری شد دوتا
My ugly cry becomes the source of annoyance: the people's love is lessened by my cry.
بانگ زشتم مایهی غم میشود ** مهر خلق از بانگ من کم میشود
Whithersoever my ugly voice goes, it becomes the source of anger and annoyance and hatred.
زشت آوازم به هر جا که رود ** مایهی خشم و غم و کین میشود
Double your compassion for (these) two blindnesses: make room (in your hearts) for one who gets so little room.”
بر دو کوری رحم را دوتا کنید ** این چنین ناگنج را گنجا کنید
The ugliness of (his) voice was diminished by this plaint: the people became of one mind in (showing) compassion for him. 2000
زشتی آواز کم شد زین گله ** خلق شد بر وی به رحمت یک دله
When he had told the secret (and explained his meaning), his voice was made beautiful by the graciousness of the voice of his heart;
کرد نیکو چون بگفت او راز را ** لطف آواز دلش آواز را
But that one whose heart's voice also is bad—(for him) those three blindnesses are banishment everlasting (from the favour of God);
و انکه آواز دلش هم بد بود ** آن سه کوری دوری سرمد بود
Yet it may be that the bounteous (saints), who give without cause, will lay a hand (of blessing) upon his ugly head.
لیک وهابان که بیعلت دهند ** بو که دستی بر سر زشتش نهند
Since his (the blind beggar's) voice became sweet and pitiable, the hearts of the stony-hearted were made (soft) as wax thereby.
چون که آوازش خوش و مظلوم شد ** زو دل سنگین دلان چون موم شد
Inasmuch as the infidel's lament is ugly and (like) braying, for that (reason) it meets with no (favourable) response. 2005
نالهی کافر چو زشت است و شهیق ** ز آن نمیگردد اجابت را رفیق
“Be silent” has come down (has been revealed in the Qur’án) against the ugly-voiced (infidel), for he was drunken with the people's blood, like a dog.
اخسؤا بر زشت آواز آمده ست ** کاو ز خون خلق چون سگ بود مست
Inasmuch as the lament of the bear attracts compassion, (while) your lament is not like this, (but) is unpleasing,
چون که نالهی خرس رحمت کش بود ** نالهات نبود چنین ناخوش بود