Hasten every moment to seek the shadow (protection) of (those) kings, that by means of that shadow you may become superior to the sun.
سایه شاهان طلب هر دم شتاب ** تا شوی ز آن سایه بهتر ز آفتاب
If you have a journey (to make), go with this intention; and if it be (that you stay) at home, neglect not this.
گر سفر داری بدین نیت برو ** ور حضر باشد از این غافل مشو
How a certain Shaykh said to Báyazíd, “I am the Ka‘ba: perform a circumambulation round me.”
گفتن شیخی بایزید را که کعبه منم گرد من طوافی میکن
Báyazíd, the Shaykh of the community, was hurrying to Mecca for the greater pilgrimage (hajj) and the lesser (‘umra).
سوی مکه شیخ امت بایزید ** از برای حج و عمره میدوید
In every city to which he went he would at first make search after the venerable (saints).
او به هر شهری که رفتی از نخست ** مر عزیزان را بکردی باز جست
He would roam about, asking, “Who is there in the city that is relying on (spiritual) insight?”2220
گرد میگشتی که اندر شهر کیست ** کاو بر ارکان بصیرت متکیاست
God has said, “Whithersoever thou goest in thy travels, thou must first seek after a (holy) man.”
گفت حق اندر سفر هر جا روی ** باید اول طالب مردی شوی
Go in quest of a treasure, for (worldly) profit and loss come second: regard them as the branch (not as the root).
قصد گنجی کن که این سود و زیان ** در تبع آید تو آن را فرع دان
Whoever sows is in quest of wheat; the chaff comes to him indeed, (but only) secondarily.
هر که کارد قصد گندم باشدش ** کاه خود اندر تبع میآیدش
If you sow chaff, no wheat will come up: seek a man, seek a man, a man!
که بکاری بر نیاید گندمی ** مردمی جو مردمی جو مردمی
When it is the season of pilgrimage, go in quest of the Ka‘ba; when you have gone (with that purpose), Mecca also will be seen.2225
قصد کعبه کن چو وقت حج بود ** چون که رفتی مکه هم دیده شود
In the Mi‘ráj (Ascension of the Prophet) the quest was (for) vision of the Beloved; ’twas but secondarily that the empyrean and the angels were also shown.
قصد در معراج دید دوست بود ** در تبع عرش و ملایک هم نمود
Story.
حکایت
A novice one day built a new house; the Pír came (and) saw his house.
خانهی نو ساخت روزی نو مرید ** پیر آمد خانهی او را بدید
The Shaykh said to his new disciple—he put to the test him that had good thoughts—
گفت شیخ آن نو مرید خویش را ** امتحان کرد آن نکو اندیش را
“Wherefore hast thou made a window, O comrade?” Said he, “In order that light may come in by this way.”
روزن از بهر چه کردی ای رفیق ** گفت تا نور اندر آید زین طریق
He (the Shaykh) said, “That is (only) the branch (secondary object); (thy) want (desire) must be this, (namely) that through this channel thou mayst hear the call to prayer.”2230
گفت آن فرع است این باید نیاز ** تا از این ره بشنوی بانگ نماز
Báyazíd, on his journey (to the Ka‘ba), sought much to find some one that was the Khizr of his time.
بایزید اندر سفر جستی بسی ** تا بیابد خضر وقت خود کسی
He espied an old man with a stature (bent) like the new moon; he saw in him the majesty and (lofty) speech of (holy) men;
دید پیری با قدی همچون هلال ** دید در وی فر و گفتار رجال
His eyes sightless, and his heart (illumined) as the sun: like an elephant dreaming of Hindustán.
دیده نابینا و دل چون آفتاب ** همچو پیلی دیده هندستان به خواب
With closed eyes, asleep, he beholds a hundred delights; when he opens (his eyes), he sees not those (delights)—oh, (’tis) wonderful!
چشم بسته خفته بیند صد طرب ** چون گشاید آن نبیند ای عجب
Many a wonder is made manifest in sleep: in sleep the heart becomes a window.2235