Rejoice (but) moderately on account of what He causeth to come to you: everything that comes and is a source of preoccupation diverts you (from Him).
افرحوا هونا بما آتاکم ** کل آت مشغل الهاکم
Rejoice in Him, do not rejoice in aught except Him: He is (as) the spring, and (all) other things (as) the month of December.
شاد از وی شو مشو از غیر وی ** او بهارست و دگرها ماه دی
Everything other than He is the (means of) leading you gradually to perdition, (even) though it is your throne and kingdom and your crown.
هر چه غیر اوست استدراج تست ** گرچه تخت و ملکتست و تاج تست
Rejoice in sorrow, for sorrow is the snare of (means of attaining to) union (with God): in this Way the ascent is downwards.
شاد از غم شو که غم دام لقاست ** اندرین ره سوی پستی ارتقاست
Sorrow is a treasure, and your pain is as the mine, but how should this (saying) catch hold of (make an impression on) children?510
غم یکی گنجیست و رنج تو چو کان ** لیک کی در گیرد این در کودکان
When children hear the name of “play,” they all run (after it) with the speed of a wild ass.
کودکان چون نام بازی بشنوند ** جمله با خر گور هم تگ میدوند
O blind asses, in this direction there are snares; in this direction there are bloodsheds (concealed) in ambush.
ای خران کور این سو دامهاست ** در کمین این سوی خونآشامهاست
The arrows are flying, (but) the bow is hidden: from the Unseen World come upon youth a hundred arrows of hoary eld.
تیرها پران کمان پنهان ز غیب ** بر جوانی میرسد صد تیر شیب
You must set foot on the plain of the heart (spirit), because in the plain of (the body’s) clay there is no opening ( for spiritual progress).
گام در صحرای دل باید نهاد ** زانک در صحرای گل نبود گشاد
The heart is the abode of security, O friends; (it has) fountains and rose-gardens within rose-gardens.515
ایمن آبادست دل ای دوستان ** چشمهها و گلستان در گلستان
Turn towards the heart and journey on, O night-travellers: therein are trees and (many) a flowing spring.
عج الی القلب و سر یا ساریه ** فیه اشجار و عین جاریه
Do not go to the country: the country makes a fool of a man, it makes the intellect void of light and splendour.
ده مرو ده مرد را احمق کند ** عقل را بی نور و بی رونق کند
O chosen one, hear the Prophet’s saying: “To dwell in the country is the grave of the intellect.”
قول پیغامبر شنو ای مجتبی ** گور عقل آمد وطن در روستا
If any one stay in the country a single day and evening, his intellect will not be fully restored for a month.
هر که را در رستا بود روزی و شام ** تا بماهی عقل او نبود تمام
For a (whole) month foolishness will abide with him: what but these things should he reap from the parched herbage of the country?520
تا بماهی احمقی با او بود ** از حشیش ده جز اینها چه درود
And he that stays a month in the country, ignorance and blindness will be his (lot) for a long time.
وانک ماهی باشد اندر روستا ** روزگاری باشدش جهل و عمی
What is “the country”? The Shaykh that has not been united (with god), but has become addicted to conventionality and argument.
ده چه باشد شیخ واصل ناشده ** دست در تقلید و حجت در زده
Compared with the town, (which is) Universal Reason, these senses (of ours) are like asses (going round and round) in an ass-mill with their eyes bandaged.
پیش شهر عقل کلی این حواس ** چون خران چشمبسته در خراس
Leave this (inner meaning) and take the outward form of the tale: let the pearlseed alone and take the cornseed.
این رها کن صورت افسانه گیر ** هل تو دردانه تو گندمدانه گیر
If there is no way to the pearl, come, take the wheat; if there is no way for you in that (direction), push on in this direction.525
گر بدر ره نیست هین بر میستان ** گر بدان ره نیستت این سو بران
Take its outward (form)! Though the outward (form) fly crookedly (not straight), the outward (form) at last will lead (you) to the inward (meaning).
ظاهرش گیر ار چه ظاهر کژ پرد ** عاقبت ظاهر سوی باطن برد
In sooth, the first (stage) of every human being is the form; after that (comes) the spirit, which is beauty of disposition.
اول هر آدمی خود صورتست ** بعد از آن جان کو جمال سیرتست
How is the first (stage) of every fruit anything but the form? After that (comes) the delicious taste which is its real meaning.
اول هر میوه جز صورت کیست ** بعد از آن لذت که معنی ویست
First they make or buy a tent; afterwards they bring the Turcoman (their beloved) as a guest.
اولا خرگاه سازند و خرند ** ترک را زان پس به مهمان آورند
Deem your form to be the tent, your real essence the Turcoman, regard your essence as the sailor, your form as the ship.530
صورتت خرگاه دان معنیت ترک ** معنیت ملاح دان صورت چو فلک