One day that sultan of piety was passing with his disciples (on the way) towards the open country and the plain.
روزی آن سلطان تقوی می‌گذشت ** با مریدان جانب صحرا و دشت
Suddenly there came to him, in the district of Rayy, a sweet scent from the direction of Kháraqán.
بوی خوش آمد مر او را ناگهان ** در سواد ری ز سوی خارقان
On the spot he uttered the lamentable cry of one who is yearning, and sniffed the scent from the breeze.1805
هم بدانجا ناله‌ی مشتاق کرد ** بوی را از باد استنشاق کرد
He was inhaling the sweet scent lovingly: his soul was tasting wine from the breeze.
بوی خوش را عاشقانه می‌کشید ** جان او از باد باده می‌چشید
When “sweat” appears on the outside of a pot that is full of icy water,
کوزه‌ای کو از یخابه پر بود ** چون عرق بر ظاهرش پیدا شود
It has been turned into water by the coldness of the air: the moisture has not escaped from the inside of the pot.
آن ز سردی هوا آبی شدست ** از درون کوزه نم بیرون نجست
The scent-bearing breeze became water for him; for him too the water became pure wine.
باد بوی‌آور مر او را آب گشت ** آب هم او را شراب ناب گشت
When the marks of intoxication appeared in him, a disciple questioned him concerning that breath (Divine afflatus);1810
چون درو آثار مستی شد پدید ** یک مرید او را از آن دم بر رسید
Then he asked him, “(What are) these sweet ecstasies which are beyond the pale of the five (senses) and the six (directions)?
پس بپرسیدش که این احوال خوش ** که برونست از حجاب پنج و شش
Thy face is becoming now red and now yellow and now white: what is the (good) hap and the glad tidings?
گاه سرخ و گاه زرد و گه سپید ** می‌شود رویت چه حالست و نوید
Thou art inhaling scent, and no flowers are visible: doubtless it is from the Unseen and from the garden of the Universal.
می‌کشی بوی و به ظاهر نیست گل ** بی‌شک از غیبست و از گلزار کل
O thou who art the desire of every one who (wilfully) follows his own desire (for God), thou to whom there is (coming) at every moment a message and letter from the Unseen,
ای تو کام جان هر خودکامه‌ای ** هر دم از غیبت پیام و نامه‌ای
Thou to whose (spiritual) organ of smell there is coming at every moment, as to Jacob, balm from a Joseph,1815
هر دمی یعقوب‌وار از یوسفی ** می‌رسد اندر مشام تو شفا
Spill upon us one drop from that pitcher, give us one word that smells of that garden.
قطره‌ای بر ریز بر ما زان سبو ** شمه‌ای زان گلستان با ما بگو
We are not accustomed, O (thou who art the) beauty of (spiritual) majesty, that thou shouldst drink alone while our lips are dry.
خو نداریم ای جمال مهتری ** که لب ما خشک و تو تنها خوری
O nimble, nimbly-rising traverser of Heaven, spill upon us one draught of that which thou hast drunk.
ای فلک‌پیمای چست چست‌خیز ** زانچ خوردی جرعه‌ای بر ما بریز
There is no other Master of the Revels in the world except thee: O king, look (with favour) on the boon-companions!
میر مجلس نیست در دوران دگر ** جز تو ای شه در حریفان در نگر
How is it possible to quaff this wine underhand (in secret)? Certainly wine is the exposer of man.1820
کی توان نوشید این می زیردست ** می یقین مر مرد را رسواگرست
He may disguise and conceal the scent, (but) how will he hide his intoxicated eye?
بوی را پوشیده و مکنون کند ** چشم مست خویشتن را چون کند
In sooth this is not a scent that thousands of veils will keep hidden in the world.
خود نه آن بویست این که اندر جهان ** صد هزاران پرده‌اش دارد نهان
The desert and plain are filled with its pungency. What (of the) plain? for it hath passed even beyond the nine spheres (of Heaven).
پر شد از تیزی او صحرا و دشت ** دشت چه کز نه فلک هم در گذشت
Do not daub the head of the jar with mortar, for indeed this naked one does not admit of covering.
این سر خم را به کهگل در مگیر ** کین برهنه نیست خود پوشش‌پذیر
Show kindness: O thou who knowest and canst tell the mystery, declare that which thy falcon (thy spirit) has made its prey.”1825
لطف کن ای رازدان رازگو ** آنچ بازت صید کردش بازگو
He said, “A marvellous scent is come to me, even as (a scent came) for the Prophet's sake from Yemen;
گفت بوی بوالعجب آمد به من ** هم‌چنانک مر نبی را از یمن
For Mohammed said, ‘The scent of God is coming to me from Yemen, (wafted) on the hand of the zephyr.’”