Any one saw his own faults before (seeing those of others) —how should he be unconcerned with correcting himself?
هر کسی گر عیب خود دیدی ز پیش ** کی بدی فارغ خود از اصلاح خویش
These people (of the world) take no heed of themselves, O father: consequently they blame one another.
غافلند این خلق از خود ای پدر ** لاجرم گویند عیب همدگر
O idolater (dualist), (if) I do not behold my own face (reality), I behold thy face and thou beholdest mine.
من نبینم روی خود را ای شمن ** من ببینم روی تو تو روی من
He that beholds his own face (reality)—his light is greater than the light of the creatures (of God).
آن کسی که او ببیند روی خویش ** نور او از نور خلقان است بیش
Though he die, his sight is everlasting, because his sight is the sight of the Creator.885
گر بمیرد دید او باقی بود ** ز انکه دیدش دید خلاقی بود
That light by which he sensibly beholds his own face (reality) before him, is not the light of sense.
نور حسی نبود آن نوری که او ** روی خود محسوس بیند پیش رو
The King said, “Now tell his (your fellow-servant's) faults, just as he spoke of yours,
گفت اکنون عیبهای او بگو ** آن چنان که گفت او از عیب تو
That I may know whether you are solicitous for me and a (good) house-steward of my property and business.”
تا بدانم که تو غم خوار منی ** کدخدای ملکت و کار منی
He replied, “O King, I will tell his faults, though he is to me a pleasing fellow-servant.
گفت ای شه من بگویم عیبهاش ** گر چه هست او مر مرا خوش خواجهتاش
His faults are affection and loyalty and humanity; his faults are sincerity and keen wittedness and cordial comradeship.890
عیب او مهر و وفا و مردمی ** عیب او صدق و ذکا و هم دمی
His least fault is generosity and bounty—the generosity that even gives up life.”
کمترین عیبش جوانمردی و داد ** آن جوانمردی که جان را هم بداد
God has brought to view myriads of lives (in return for the life given up): what generosity would there be (in him) that saw not those?
صد هزاران جان خدا کرده پدید ** چه جوانمردی بود کان را ندید
And if he saw them, how should he grudge his life? How should he become so grieved for the sake of one life?
ور بدیدی کی به جان بخلش بدی ** بهر یک جان کی چنین غمگین شدی
On the river-bank, water is grudged by him (alone) that is blind to the stream of water.
بر لب جو بخل آب آن را بود ** کاو ز جوی آب نابینا بود
The Prophet said, “Whosoever knows for sure his recompense on the day of Resurrection—895
گفت پیغمبر که هر که از یقین ** داند او پاداش خود در یوم دین
That his compensation will be ten for one—at every moment a different (act of) munificence will issue from him.”
که یکی را ده عوض میآیدش ** هر زمان جودی دگرگون زایدش
All munificence is from seeing compensations; therefore seeing the compensation is opposed to fearing (and shrinking from the act of munificence).
جود جمله از عوضها دیدن است ** پس عوض دیدن ضد ترسیدن است
Miserliness consists in not seeing compensations: the prospect of pearls keeps the divers glad.
بخل نادیدن بود اعواض را ** شاد دارد دید در خواض را
Hence no one in the world is miserly, since no one hazards anything without (seeing) what is to be received in exchange.
پس به عالم هیچ کس نبود بخیل ** ز انکه کس چیزی نبازد بیبدیل
Generosity, then, comes from the eye, not from the hand: ’tis seeing that matters; none but the seer is saved.900
پس سخا از چشم آمد نه ز دست ** دید دارد کار جز بینا نرست
“Another fault (of his is) that he is not self-conceited; he is anxious to find fault with his self-existence.
عیب دیگر این که خود بین نیست او ** هست او در هستی خود عیب جو
He has (always) been one who speaks in blame of himself and seeks to blame himself; he has (always) been good (kind) to all and bad (unkind) to himself.”
عیب گوی و عیب جوی خود بده ست ** با همه نیکو و با خود بد بده ست
The King said, “Do not show (such) eagerness in praising your friend, do not introduce praise of yourself in the mask of (your) praise of him;
گفت شه جلدی مکن در مدح یار ** مدح خود در ضمن مدح او میار
Because I will bring him to the test, and shame will befall you in the upshot.”
ز انکه من در امتحان آرم و را ** شرمساری آیدت در ما ورا
How the slave, from the purity of his thought, swore to the truth and loyalty of his friend.
قسم غلام در صدق و وفای یار خود از طهارت ظن خود
He said, “Nay, by Allah, and by the great God, the possessor of kingdom, and by the Merciful and Compassionate One;905
گفت نه و الله و بالله العظیم ** مالک الملک و به رحمان و رحیم