‘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
The intellect is luminous and a seeker of good: how (then) does the dark fleshly soul prevail over it?
عقل نورانی و نیکو طالبست ** نفس ظلمانی برو چون غالبست
(It prevails) because it is at home, (while) your intellect is a stranger: the dog at his own door is (like) a terrible lion.
زانک او در خانه عقل تو غریب ** بر در خود سگ بود شیر مهیب
Wait till the lions go (back) to the jungle and these blind dogs’ will believe (in them) there.
باش تا شیران سوی بیشه روند ** وین سگان کور آنجا بگروند
The common folk of the city do not know the deceit of the fleshly soul and of the body: it (the fleshly soul) is not subdued save by (Divine) inspiration in the heart.2560
مکر نفس و تن نداند عام شهر ** او نگردد جز بوحی القلب قهر
Every one that is its congener becomes its friend, except, to be sure, the David who is your Shaykh;
هر که جنس اوست یار او شود ** جز مگر داود کان شیخت بود
For he has been transmuted, and whomsoever God hath seated in the abode of the heart, he( that person) is no more the body’s congener.
کو مبدل گشت و جنس تن نماند ** هر که را حق در مقام دل نشاند
All the (other) people are (rendered) infirm by (that which lies in) ambush (within them): ‘tis certain that infirmity associates with infirmity.
خلق جمله علتیاند از کمین ** یار علت میشود علت یقین
Every worthless fellow pretends to be (a) David; every one who lacks discernment lays hold of him (attaches himself to him):
هر خسی دعوی داودی کند ** هر که بی تمییز کف در وی زند
He hears the bird’s note from a fowler and, (like a) foolish bird, he keeps going in that direction.2565
از صیادی بشنود آواز طیر ** مرغ ابله میکند آن سوی سیر
‘He dos not distinguish fact from fiction: he is misguided. Come, flee from him, even if he is spiritual (in appearance).
نقد را از نقل نشناسد غویست ** هین ازو بگریز اگر چه معنویست
What has grown (genuinely) and what has been tied on (artificially) is (all) one to him: though he may claim (to possess) intuitive certainty, he is (really) in a (great) doubt.
رسته و بر بسته پیش او یکیست ** گر یقین دعوی کند او در شکیست
If such a one is absolutely keen-witted, (still), when he has not this (power of) discernment, he is a fool.
این چنین کس گر ذکی مطلقست ** چونش این تمییز نبود احمقست
Hark, flee from him as the deer from the lion: do not hasten boldly towards him, O wise man!
هین ازو بگریز چون آهو ز شیر ** سوی او مشتاق ای دانا دلیر
How Jesus, on whom be peace, fled to the top of a mountain (to escape) from the fools.