It is free from blackness and whiteness: the light of its moon rises (and shines) upon heart and soul.
از سیاهی و سپیدی فارغست ** نور ماهش بر دل و جان بازغست
If this black and white’ has gotten (any) power (value), ‘tis from the Night of Power that shone forth like a star.
این سیاه و این سپید ار قدر یافت ** زان شب قدرست کاختروار تافت
The value of scrip and purse is (derived) from the gold: with out the gold, scrip and purse are docked
قیمت همیان و کیسه از زرست ** بی ز زر همیان و کیسه ابترست
Even as the worth of the body is (derived) from the soul, (so) the worth of the soul is (derived) from the radiance of the Soul of souls.2535
همچنانک قدر تن از جان بود ** قدر جان از پرتو جانان بود
If the soul were now alive without (that) radiance, would He (God) ever have called the infidels “dead”
گر بدی جان زنده بی پرتو کنون ** هیچ گفتی کافران را میتون
Come, speak (O my soul)! for the Logos is digging a channel to the end that some water may reach a generation after us.
هین بگو که ناطقه جو میکند ** تا به قرنی بعد ما آبی رسد
Although (in) every generation there is one who brings the word (of God), yet the sayings of them that have gone before are helpful
گرچه هر قرنی سخنآری بود ** لیک گفت سالفان یاری بود
Is it not (the case) that the Pentateuch and the Gospel and the Psalms have borne witness to the truth of theQur’an, O thankful one?
نه که هم توریت و انجیل و زبور ** شد گواه صدق قرآن ای شکور
Seek a (spiritual) livelihood (won) without toil and without reckoning, so that Gabriel may bring you apples from Paradise;2540
روزی بیرنج جو و بیحساب ** کز بهشتت آورد جبریل سیب
Nay, (that there may come to you) a livelihood from the Lord of Paradise, without headache (trouble) on the part of the gardener and without the toil of sowing.
بلک رزقی از خداوند بهشت ** بیصداع باغبان بی رنج کشت
Inasmuch as in that (spiritual) bread the benefit of (conferred by) the bread is His (God’s) gift, He gives you that benefit (directly), without making the husk a means (of imparting it to you).
زانک نفع نان در آن نان داد اوست ** بدهدت آن نفع بی توسیط پوست
The savour is hidden; the outward form of the bread is (visible) like a table-cloth: the bread that is without table-cloth is a portion (reserved) for the saint.
ذوق پنهان نقش نان چون سفرهایست ** نان بی سفره ولی را بهرهایست
How will you, notwithstanding (all your) endeavour and search, gain the spiritual livelihood except through ‘the justice of the Shaykh who is your David?
رزق جانی کی بری با سعی و جست ** جز به عدل شیخ کو داود تست
‘When the fleshly soul sees your steps (joined) with (those of) the Shaykh, willy-nilly it becomes submissive to you.2545
نفس چون با شیخ بیند کام تو ** از بن دندان شود او رام تو
Then (and then only) did the owner of the cow become sub missive, when he was made aware of the (inspired) words of David.
صاحب آن گاو رام آنگاه شد ** کز دم داود او آگاه شد
The intellect, in chase (of spiritual truth), prevails over your currish fleshly soul (only) at the time when the Shaykh is its helper.
عقل گاهی غالب آید در شکار ** برسگ نفست که باشد شیخ یار
The fleshly soul is a dragon with hundredfold strength and cunning: the face of the Shaykh is the emerald that plucks out its eye
نفس اژدرهاست با صد زور و فن ** روی شیخ او را زمرد دیده کن
If you wish the owner of the cows to be abased, goad him in that direction as (you would goad) asses, O contumacious man!
گر تو صاحب گاو را خواهی زبون ** چون خران سیخش کن آن سو ای حرون
When he approaches him (the saint) who is nigh unto God, his tongue, a hundred ells long, is shortened.2550
چون به نزدیک ولی الله شود ** آن زبان صد گزش کوته شود
(He hath) a hundred tongues, and each tongue of him (hath) a hundred languages: his fraud and guile come not into (the bounds of) description.
صد زبان و هر زبانش صد لغت ** زرق و دستانش نیاید در صفت
The claimant for the cow, the fleshly soul, is eloquent and brings forward hundreds of thousands of unsound pleas.
مدعی گاو نفس آمد فصیح ** صد هزاران حجت آرد ناصحیح
He deceives (all in) the city except the king: he cannot waylay the sagacious king.
شهر را بفریبد الا شاه را ** ره نتاند زد شه آگاه را
The fleshly soul hath glorification of God (on its tongue), and the Qur’án in its right hand; (but) in its sleeve (it hath) dagger and sword.
نفس را تسبیح و مصحف در یمین ** خنجر و شمشیر اندر آستین
Do not believe its Qur’án and hypocritical ostentation, do not make yourself its confidant and comrade;2555
مصحف و سالوس او باور مکن ** خویش با او همسر و همسر مکن
(For) it will take you to the tank to perform the ritual ablution, and will cast you to the bottom thereof.
سوی حوضت آورد بهر وضو ** واندر اندازد ترا در قعر او