- 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
- 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
- What pearl? Nay, you will become an ocean, you will become a sun traversing the sky.
- گوهر چه بلکه دریایی شوی ** آفتاب چرخ پیمایی شوی
- The Worker is hidden in the workshop: go you and in the workshop see Him plain.
- کار کن در کارگه باشد نهان ** تو برو در کارگه بینش عیان
- Inasmuch as the work has woven a veil over the Worker, you cannot see Him outside of that work. 760
- کار چون بر کار کن پرده تنید ** خارج آن کار نتوانیش دید
- Since the workshop is the dwelling-place of the Worker, he that is outside is unaware of Him.
- کارگه چون جای باش عامل است ** آن که بیرون است از وی غافل است