The patient says, “O my friends, what is this sword over my head?”115
گوید آن رنجور ای یاران من ** چیست این شمشیر بر ساران من
(They reply), “We do not see it; this must be fancy.” What fancy is this? (Nay), for it is (the hour of) departure (to the other world).
ما نمی‌بینیم باشد این خیال ** چه خیالست این که این هست ارتحال
What fancy is this, from terror of which this inverted sphere (the sky) has now become (as insubstantial as) a phantom?
چه خیالست این که این چرخ نگون ** از نهیب این خیالی شد کنون
To the sick man the maces and swords became perceptible (visible), and his head dropped down.
گرزها و تیغها محسوس شد ** پیش بیمار و سرش منکوس شد
He sees that that (vision) is for his sake: the eye of foe and friend (alike) is barred from it.
او همی‌بیند که آن از بهر اوست ** چشم دشمن بسته زان و چشم دوست
Worldly greed vanished, his eye became keen: his eye became illumined at the moment of bloodshed (death).120
حرص دنیا رفت و چشمش تیز شد ** چشم او روشن گه خون‌ریز شد
That eye of his, from the result of his pride and his anger, became (like) the cock that crows unseasonably.
مرغ بی‌هنگام شد آن چشم او ** از نتیجه‌ی کبر او و خشم او
It is necessary to cut off the head of the bird that rings the bell (crows) at the wrong time.
سر بریدن واجب آید مرغ را ** کو بغیر وقت جنباند درا
At every moment thy particular spirit is struggling with death: in thy spirit's death-struggle look to thy faith!
هر زمان نزعیست جزو جانت را ** بنگر اندر نزع جان ایمانت را
Thy life is like a purse of gold: day and night are like him who counts the gold coins (the money-changer).
عمر تو مانند همیان زرست ** روز و شب مانند دینار اشمرست
He (Time) counts and gives the gold without stopping, until it (the purse) is emptied and there comes the eclipse (death).125
می‌شمارد می‌دهد زر بی وقوف ** تا که خالی گردد و آید خسوف
If you take away from a mountain and do not put (anything) in the place (of what you have taken), the mountain will be demolished by that giving.
گر ز که بستانی و ننهی بجای ** اندر آید کوه زان دادن ز پای
Therefore, for every breath (that you give out), put an equivalent in its place, so that by (acting in accordance with the text) and fall to worship and draw nigh you may gain your object.
پس بنه بر جای هر دم را عوض ** تا ز واسجد واقترب یابی غرض
Do not strive so much to complete (your worldly) affairs: do not strive in any affair that is not religious.
در تمامی کارها چندین مکوش ** جز به کاری که بود در دین مکوش
(Otherwise) at the end you will depart incomplete, your (spiritual) affairs marred and your bread unbaked.
عاقبت تو رفت خواهی ناتمام ** کارهاات ابتر و نان تو خام
And the beautifying of your grave and sepulchre is not (done) by means of stone and wood and plaster;130
وان عمارت کردن گور و لحد ** نه به سنگست و به چوب و نه لبد
Nay, but by digging for yourself a grave in (spiritual) purity and burying (your) egoism in His egoism,
بلک خود را در صفا گوری کنی ** در منی او کنی دفن منی
And by becoming His dust and buried in love of Him, so that your breath may gain replenishments from His breath.
خاک او گردی و مدفون غمش ** تا دمت یابد مددها از دمش
A tomb with domes and turrets—that is not good (approved) on the part of the followers of Reality.
گورخانه و قبه‌ها و کنگره ** نبود از اصحاب معنی آن سره
Look now at a living person attired in satin: does the satin help his understanding at all?
بنگر اکنون زنده اطلس‌پوش را ** هیچ اطلس دست گیرد هوش را
His soul is in hateful torment, the scorpion of grief is in his grief-laden heart.135
در عذاب منکرست آن جان او ** گزدم غم دل دل غمدان او
Outside, on his exterior, broideries and decorations; but within he is sorely lamenting from (bitter) thoughts,
از برون بر ظاهرش نقش و نگار ** وز درون ز اندیشه‌ها او زار زار
While you may see another in an old patched frock, his thoughts (sweet) as the sugar-cane and his words (like) sugar.
و آن یکی بینی در آن دلق کهن ** چون نبات اندیشه و شکر سخن
Returning to the Story of the elephant.
بازگشتن به حکایت پیل
Said the sincere adviser, “Hearken to this counsel of mine, so that your hearts and souls may not be afflicted.
گفت ناصح بشنوید این پند من ** تا دل و جانتان نگردد ممتحن
Be content with herbage and leaves, do not go in chase of the young elephants.
با گیاه و برگها قانع شوید ** در شکار پیل‌بچگان کم روید