It never comes out from the earth but for theft, to the end that the Creator may purge it of that thievishness.
جز به دزدی او برون ناید ز خاک ** تا کند خالق از آن دزدیش پاک
After that (purification), it will get wings and become a bird, like the angels, it will go towards heaven.
بعد از آن پر یابد و مرغی شود ** چون ملایک جانب گردون رود
Every moment, in the rose-garden of thanksgiving to God, it will produce a hundred (sweet) notes, like the nightingale,
هر زمان در گلشن شکر خدا ** او بر آرد همچو بلبل صد نوا
Singing, “O Thou that deliverest me from evil qualities! O Thou that makest a hell Paradise!
کای رهاننده مرا از وصف زشت ** ای کننده دوزخی را تو بهشت
Thou puttest light in a piece of fat; Thou, O Self-sufficing One, givest (the sense of) hearing to a bone.”3290
در یکی پیهی نهی تو روشنی ** استخوانی را دهی سمع ای غنی
What connexion have those concepts (e.g. sight and hearing) with the body? What connexion has the apprehension of things with (their) names?
چه تعلق آن معانی را به جسم ** چه تعلق فهم اشیا را به اسم
The word is like the nest, and the meaning is the bird: the body is the riverbed, and the spirit is the rolling water.
لفظ چون وکرست و معنی طایر است ** جسم جوی و روح آب سایر است
It is moving, and you say it is standing: it is running, and you say it is keeping still.
او روان است و تو گویی واقف است ** او دوان است و تو گویی عاکف است
If you see not the movement of the water through the fissures (channels) of earth—(yet it is moving): what are the sticks and straws (ever appearing) anew on it?
گر نبینی سیر آب از خاکها ** چیست بر وی نو به نو خاشاکها
Your sticks and straws are the forms (ideas) of thought: (these) virgin forms are always coming on anew.3295
هست خاشاک تو صورتهای فکر ** نو به نو در میرسد اشکال بکر
The surface of the water and stream of thought, as it rolls, is not without sticks and straws, (some) pleasing and (some) unsightly.
روی آب جوی فکر اندر روش ** نیست بیخاشاک محبوب و وحش
The husks on the surface of this rolling water have sped along from the fruits of the Invisible Garden.
قشرها بر روی این آب روان ** از ثمار باغ غیبی شد دوان
Seek the kernels of the husks (not on the water, but) in the Garden, because the water comes from the Garden into the river-bed.
قشرها را مغز اندر باغ جو ** ز انکه آب از باغ میآید به جو
If you see not the flow of the Water of Life, look at the stream and at this movement of the weeds (in it).
گر نبینی رفتن آب حیات ** بنگر اندر جوی و این سیر نبات
When the water begins to pass by in fuller volume, the husks, (which are) the ideas, pass along it more quickly.3300
آب چون انبهتر آید در گذر ** زو کند قشر صور زوتر گذر
When this stream has become extremely rapid in its flow, no care lingers in the minds of the gnostics.
چون به غایت تیز شد این جو روان ** غم نپاید در ضمیر عارفان
Since it is (then) exceedingly full and swift, on that account there is no room in it for anything but the water.
چون به غایت ممتلی بود و شتاب ** پس نگنجید اندر او الا که آب
How a stranger reviled the Shaykh and how the Shaykh's disciple answered him.
طعنه زدن بیگانه ای در شیخ و جواب گفتن مرید شیخ او را
A certain man brought charges against a Shaykh, saying, “He is wicked and not on the path of righteousness;
آن یکی یک شیخ را تهمت نهاد ** کاو بد است و نیست بر راه رشاد
He is a wine-drinker and a hypocrite and a scoundrel: how should he be one to succour his disciples?”
شارب خمر است و سالوس و خبیث ** مر مریدان را کجا باشد مغیث
One (of the disciples) said to him, “Observe respect: ’tis no light matter to think so ill of the great.3305
آن یکی گفتش ادب را هوش دار ** خرد نبود این چنین ظن بر کبار
Far is it from him and far from those (saintly) qualities of his that his clear (spirit) should be darkened by a flood (of sin).
دور از او و دور از آن اوصاف او ** که ز سیلی تیره گردد صاف او
Do not put such slander on the people of God! This is (mere) fancy on your part. Turn over (a new) leaf.
این چنین بهتان منه بر اهل حق ** این خیال تست بر گردان ورق
This (which you say) is not (true); and (even) if it should be, O land-fowl, what harm (comes) to the Red Sea from a carcase?
این نباشد ور بود ای مرغ خاک ** بحر قلزم را ز مرداری چه باک
He (the Shaykh) is not less than the (statutory) two jugfuls or the small tank, so that a single drop (of impurity) should be able to disqualify him (for religious purposes).
نیست دون القلتین و حوض خرد ** کی تواند قطرهایش از کار برد
The fire is no damage to Abraham, (but) let any one who is a Nimrod beware of it!”3310
آتش ابراهیم را نبود زیان ** هر که نمرودی است گو میترس از آن