Would that he (one like Kan‘án) had not learned to swim, so that he might have fixed his hope on Noah and the ark!
کاشکی او آشنا ناموختی ** تا طمع در نوح و کشتی دوختی
Would that, like a child, he had been ignorant of devices, so that, like children, he might have clung to his mother,1415
کاش چون طفل از حیل جاهل بدی ** تا چو طفلان چنگ در مادر زدی
Or that he had not been filled with traditional knowledge, (but) had carried away from a saint the knowledge divinely revealed to the heart!
یا به علم نقل کم بودی ملی ** علم وحی دل ربودی از ولی
When you bring forward a book (in rivalry) with such a light (of inspiration), your soul, that resembles inspiration (in its nature), reproaches (you).
با چنین نوری چو پیش آری کتاب ** جان وحی آسای تو آرد عتاب
Know that beside the breath (words) of the Qutb of the time traditional knowledge is like performing the ritual ablution with sand when there is water (available).
چون تیمم با وجود آب دان ** علم نقلی با دم قطب زمان
Make yourself foolish (simple) and follow behind (him): only by means of this foolishness will you gain deliverance.
خویش ابله کن تبع می‌رو سپس ** رستگی زین ابلهی یابی و بس
On this account, O father, the Sultan of mankind (Mohammed hath said, “Most of the people of Paradise are the foolish.”1420
اکثر اهل الجنه البله ای پسر ** بهر این گفتست سلطان البشر
Since, intelligence is the exciter of pride and vanity in you, become a fool in order that your heart may remain sound—
زیرکی چون کبر و باد انگیز تست ** ابلهی شو تا بماند دل درست
Not the fool that is bent double (abases himself) in buffoonery, (but) the fool that is distraught and bewildered (lost) in Him (God).
ابلهی نه کو به مسخرگی دوتوست ** ابلهی کو واله و حیران هوست
The foolish are (like) those women (of Egypt) who cut their hands—foolish in respect of their hands, (but) giving (wise) notice to beware of the face (beauty) of Joseph.
ابلهان‌اند آن زنان دست بر ** از کف ابله وز رخ یوسف نذر
Sacrifice your intellect in love for the Friend: anyhow, (all) intellects are from the quarter where He is.
عقل را قربان کن اندر عشق دوست ** عقلها باری از آن سویست کوست
The (spiritually) intelligent have sent their intellects to that quarter: (only) the dolt has remained in this quarter where the’ Beloved is not.1425
عقلها آن سو فرستاده عقول ** مانده این سو که نه معشوقست گول
If, from bewilderment, this intellect of yours go out of this head, every head (tip) of your hair will become (a new) head and intellect.
زین سر از حیرت گر این عقلت رود ** هر سو مویت سر و عقلی شود
In that quarter the trouble of thinking is. not (incumbent) on the brain, for (there) the brain and intellect (spontaneously) produce fields and orchards (of spiritual knowledge).
نیست آن سو رنج فکرت بر دماغ ** که دماغ و عقل روید دشت و باغ
(If you turn) towards the field, you will hear from the field a subtle discourse; (if) you come to the orchard, your palm- tree will become fresh and flourishing.
سوی دشت از دشت نکته بشنوی ** سوی باغ آیی شود نخلت روی
In this Way abandon ostentation: do not move unless your (spiritual) guide move.
اندرین ره ترک کن طاق و طرنب ** تا قلاوزت نجنبد تو مجنب
Any one who moves without the head (guide) is a (mere) tail (base and contemptible): his movement is like the movement of the scorpion.1430
هر که او بی سر بجنبد دم بود ** جنبشش چون جنبش کزدم بود
Going crookedly, night-blind and ugly and venomous—his trade is the wounding of the pure bodies (of the unworldly).
کژرو و شب کور و زشت و زهرناک ** پیشه‌ی او خستن اجسام پاک
Beat the head of him whose inmost spirit is (like) this, and whose permanent nature and disposition is (like) this.
سر بکوب آن را که سرش این بود ** خلق و خوی مستمرش این بود
In sooth ‘tis good for him to beat this head (of his), so that his puny-soul may be delivered from that ill-starred body.
خود صلاح اوست آن سر کوفتن ** تا رهد جان‌ریزه‌اش زان شوم‌تن
Take away the weapons from the madman’s hand, that Justice and Goodness may be satisfied with you.
واستان آن دست دیوانه سلاح ** تا ز تو راضی شود عدل و صلاح
Since he has weapons and has no understanding, shackle his hand; otherwise he will inflict a hundred injuries.1435
چون سلاحش هست و عقلش نه ببند ** دست او را ورنه آرد صد گزند
Explaining that the acquisition of knowledge and wealth and rank by men of evil nature is the (means of) exposing him (such a one) to shame and is like a sword that has fallen into the hand of a brigand.
بیان آنک حصول علم و مال و جاه بدگوهران را فضیحت اوست و چون شمشیریست کی افتادست به دست راه‌زن
To teach the evil-natured man knowledge and skill is to put a sword in the hand of a brigand.
بدگهر را علم و فن آموختن ** دادن تیغی به دست راه‌زن
It is better to put a sword in the hand of an intoxicated negro than that knowledge should come into the possession of a worthless person.
تیغ دادن در کف زنگی مست ** به که آید علم ناکس را به دست
Knowledge and wealth and office’ and rank and fortune are a mischief in the hands of the evil-natured.
علم و مال و منصب و جاه و قران ** فتنه آمد در کف بدگوهران