In such and such a forest there is a green tree, very tall and broad, and every branch of it is big.”
در فلان بیشه درختی هست سبز ** بس بلند و پهن و هر شاخیش گبز
The king's envoy, who had braced his belt for the quest, was hearing a different kind of report from every one;
قاصد شه بسته در جستن کمر ** میشنید از هر کسی نوعی خبر
There for years he travelled much, (whilst) the king kept sending money to him.
بس سیاحت کرد آن جا سالها ** میفرستادش شهنشه مالها
After he had suffered much fatigue in that foreign land, at last he became too exhausted to seek (any longer).3655
چون بسی دید اندر آن غربت تعب ** عاجز آمد آخر الامر از طلب
No trace of the object of pursuit was discovered: of what he wanted nothing appeared but the report.
هیچ از مقصود اثر پیدا نشد ** ز آن غرض غیر خبر پیدا نشد
The thread of his hope snapped, the thing he had sought became unsought in the end.
رشتهی امید او بگسسته شد ** جستهی او عاقبت ناجسته شد
He resolved to return to the king, (and set out) shedding tears and traversing the way.
کرد عزم باز گشتن سوی شاه ** اشک میبارید و میبرید راه
How the Shaykh explained the hidden meaning of the tree to the seeker who was in the bondage of formalism.
شرح کردن شیخ سر آن درخت را با آن طالب مقلد
There was a wise Shaykh, a noble Qutb, at the halting-place where the king's intimate fell into despair.
بود شیخی عالمی قطبی کریم ** اندر آن منزل که آیس شد ندیم
He (the envoy) said, “Being without hope, I will go to him, and set out on the road (again) from his threshold,3660
گفت من نومید پیش او روم ** ز آستان او به راه اندر شوم
In order that his prayer (blessing) may accompany me, since I have no hope of (winning) my heart's desire.”
تا دعای او بود همراه من ** چون که نومیدم من از دل خواه من
With tearful eyes he went to the Shaykh: he was raining tears, like a cloud.
رفت پیش شیخ با چشم پر آب ** اشک میبارید مانند سحاب
“O Shaykh,” he cried, “it is the time for mercy and pity; I am in despair: now is the time for kindness.”
گفت شیخا وقت رحم و رقت است ** ناامیدم وقت لطف این ساعت است
He (the Shaykh) said, “Say plainly what is the cause of thy despair: what is thy object? what hast thou in view?”
گفت وا گو کز چه نومیدیستت ** چیست مطلوب تو رو با چیستت
He answered, “The Emperor chose me out to seek a certain branching tree,3665
گفت شاهنشاه کردم اختیار ** از برای جستن یک شاخسار
For there is a tree, unique in (all) the quarters (of the world): its fruit is (of) the substance of the Water of Life.
که درختی هست نادر در جهات ** میوهی او مایهی آب حیات
I have sought (it) for years and seen no sign (of it) except the gibes and ridicule of these merry men.”
سالها جستم ندیدم یک نشان ** جز که طنز و تسخر این سر خوشان
The Shaykh laughed and said to him, “O simpleton, this is the tree of knowledge in the sage—
شیخ خندید و بگفتش ای سلیم ** این درخت علم باشد در علیم
Very high and very grand and very far-spreading: (it is) a Water of Life from the all-encompassing Sea (of God).
بس بلند و بس شگرف و بس بسیط ** آب حیوانی ز دریای محیط
Thou hast gone after the form, O ignorant man: hence thou art without fruit and produce from the bough of reality.3670
تو به صورت رفتهای ای بیخبر ** ز آن ز شاخ معنیی بیبار و بر
Sometimes it is named ‘tree,’ sometimes ‘sun’; sometimes it is named ‘sea,’ sometimes ‘cloud.’
گه درختش نام شد گه آفتاب ** گاه بحرش نام گشت و گه سحاب
(It is) that one (thing) from which a hundred thousand effects arise: its least effects are everlasting life.
آن یکی کش صد هزار آثار خاست ** کمترین آثار او عمر بقاست
Although (in essence) it is single, it hath a thousand effects: innumerable names befit (may be properly applied to) that one (thing).
گر چه فرد است او اثر دارد هزار ** این یکی را نام شاید بیشمار
One person may be father in relation to thee; in regard to another individual he may be son.
آن یکی شخص ترا باشد پدر ** در حق شخصی دگر باشد پسر
In regard to another he may be wrath and a foe; in regard to another he may be graciousness and a friend.3675
در حق دیگر بود قهر و عدو ** در حق دیگر بود لطف و نکو
(He hath) hundreds of thousands of names, (but) he is one man: the owner of every quality belonging to him is blind to (incapable of) giving any (true) description (of him).
صد هزاران نام و او یک آدمی ** صاحب هر وصفش از وصفی عمی