(Do not say to yourself), “So-and-so suddenly found a treasure; I would like the same: neither work nor shop (for me)!”
کان فلانی یافت گنجی ناگهان ** من همان خواهم نه کار و نه دکان
That (discovery of treasure) is Fortune's doing (a piece of luck), and moreover it is rare: one must earn a living so long as the body is able.
کار بخت است آن و آن هم نادر است ** کسب باید کرد تا تن قادر است
How does earning a livelihood prevent the (discovery of) treasure? Do not retire from work: that (treasure), indeed, is (following) behind (the work).735
کسب کردن گنج را مانع کی است ** پا مکش از کار آن خود در پی است
See that you are not made captive by “if,” saying, “If I had done this or the other (thing),”
تا نگردی تو گرفتار اگر ** که اگر این کردمی یا آن دگر
For the sincere Prophet forbade (people) to say “if,” and said, “That is from hypocrisy”;
کز اگر گفتن رسول با وفاق ** منع کرد و گفت آن هست از نفاق
For the hypocrite died in saying “if,” and from saying “if” he won nothing but remorse.
کان منافق در اگر گفتن بمرد ** وز اگر گفتن بجز حسرت نبرد
Parable.
مثل
A certain stranger was hastily seeking a house: a friend took him to a house in ruins.
آن غریبی خانه میجست از شتاب ** دوستی بردش سوی خانهی خراب
He said (to the stranger), “If this (house) had a roof, it would be a home for you beside me.740
گفت او این را اگر سقفی بدی ** پهلوی من مر ترا مسکن شدی
Your family too would be comfortable, if it had another room in it.”
هم عیال تو بیاسودی اگر ** در میانه داشتی حجرهی دگر
“Yes,” said he, “it is nice (to be) beside friends, but my dear soul, one cannot lodge in ‘if’.”
گفت آری پهلوی یاران خوش است ** لیک ای جان در اگر نتوان نشست
All the world are seekers of happiness, and on account of a false happiness they are in the fire.
این همه عالم طلبکار خوشند ** وز خوش تزویر اندر آتشند
Old and young have become gold-seekers, but the common eye does not distinguish alloy from gold.
طالب زر گشته جمله پیر و خام ** لیک قلب از زر نداند چشم عام
The pure (gold) shot a beam on the alloy: see that you choose not the gold on the ground of (mere) opinion, without a touchstone.745
پرتوی بر قلب زد خالص ببین ** بیمحک زر را مکن از ظن گزین
If you have a touchstone, choose; otherwise, go, devote yourself to him that knows (the difference).
گر محک داری گزین کن ور نه رو ** نزد دانا خویشتن را کن گرو
Either you must have a touchstone within your own soul, or if you know not the Way, do not go forward alone.
یا محک باید میان جان خویش ** ور ندانی ره مرو تنها تو پیش
The cry of the ghouls is the cry of an acquaintance—an acquaintance who would lure you to perdition.
بانگ غولان هست بانگ آشنا ** آشنایی که کشد سوی فنا
She (the ghoul) keeps on crying, “Hark, O caravan people! Come towards me, here is the track and the landmarks.”
بانگ میدارد که هان ای کاروان ** سوی من آیید نک راه و نشان
The ghoul mentions the name of each, saying “O so-and-so,” in order that she may make that personage one of those who sink.750
نام هر یک میبرد غول ای فلان ** تا کند آن خواجه را از آفلان
When he reaches the spot, he sees wolves and lions, his life lost, the road far off, and the day late.
چون رسد آن جا ببیند گرگ و شیر ** عمر ضایع راه دور و روز دیر
Prithee say, what is the ghoul's cry like? (It is) “I desire riches, I desire position and renown.”
چون بود آن بانگ غول آخر بگو ** مال خواهم جاه خواهم و آبرو
Prevent these voices from (entering) your heart, so that (spiritual) mysteries may be revealed.
از درون خویش این آوازها ** منع کن تا کشف گردد رازها
Repeat (in prayer) the name of God, drown the cry of the ghouls, close your narcissus eye to this vulture.
ذکر حق کن بانگ غولان را بسوز ** چشم نرگس را از این کرکس بدوز
Know the difference between the false dawn and the true, distinguish the colour of the wine from the colour of the cup,755
صبح کاذب را ز صادق واشناس ** رنگ می را باز دان از رنگ کاس
That, perchance, from the eyes which see the seven colours patience and waiting may produce a (spiritual) eye,
تا بود کز دیدهگان هفت رنگ ** دیدهای پیدا کند صبر و درنگ
(With which) you may behold colours other than these, and may behold pearls instead of stones.
رنگها بینی بجز این رنگها ** گوهران بینی به جای سنگها