If this world's prison had no refuge, neither would there be any feeling of aversion nor would the heart seek release.
گر نبودی حبس دنیا را مناص ** نه بدی وحشت نه دل جستی خلاص
Thy aversion is dragging thee along, like a custodian, saying, “O man astray, seek the path of righteousness.”
وحشتت همچون موکل میکشد ** که بجو ای ضال منهاج رشد
The path is there, but it is hidden in a secret place: its discovery is in pawn to (involves) seeking in vain (before it can be found).2040
هست منهاج و نهان در مکمنست ** یافتش رهن گزافه جستنست
Separation is secretly in quest of union: in this seeker do thou discern the face of the sought.
تفرقهجویان جمع اندر کمین ** تو درین طالب رخ مطلوب بین
The dead (trees and plants) of the orchard spring up from the root, saying, “Perceive the Giver of life!”
مردگان باغ برجسته ز بن ** کان دهندهی زندگی را فهم کن
How should the eyes of these prisoners (of the world) be always (fixed) on (what lies) beyond, if there were no bringer of the good news (of deliverance)?
چشم این زندانیان هر دم به در ** کی بدی گر نیستی کس مژدهور
How should there be a hundred thousand befouled ones seeking water, if there were no water in the river?
صد هزار آلودگان آبجو ** کی بدندی گر نبودی آب جو
(If) there is no rest for thy side upon the earth, (yet) know that there is a coverlet and mattress at home.2045
بر زمین پهلوت را آرام نیست ** دان که در خانه لحاف و بستریست
Without (there being) a resting-place there would not be the restless (seeker); without (there being) that which takes away the headache of intoxication, there would not be this headache.
بیمقرگاهی نباشد بیقرار ** بیخمار اشکن نباشد این خمار
He (the objector) said, “Nay, nay, O Messenger of God, do not appoint any but an old Shaykh to be chief of the army.
گفت نه نه یا رسول الله مکن ** سرور لشکر مگر شیخ کهن
O Messenger of God, (even) if the youth is lion-born (heroic), may none but an old man be head of the army!
یا رسول الله جوان ار شیرزاد ** غیر مرد پیر سر لشکر مباد
Thou too hast said, and thy word is (a true) witness, ‘The leader must be old, must be old.’
هم تو گفتستی و گفت تو گوا ** پیر باید پیر باید پیشوا
O Messenger of God, look on this army, (in which) there are so many elders and (persons) superior to him.”2050
یا رسولالله درین لشکر نگر ** هست چندین پیر و از وی پیشتر
Do not regard the yellow leaves of this tree, (but) pick its ripe apples.
زین درخت آن برگ زردش را مبین ** سیبهای پختهی او را بچین
How, in sooth, are its yellow leaves void (of worth)? This is the sign of maturity and perfection.
برگهای زرد او خود کی تهیست ** این نشان پختگی و کاملیست
The yellow leaf of the (elder's) beard and his white hair bring tidings of joy on account of his mature intelligence.
برگ زرد ریش و آن موی سپید ** بهر عقل پخته میآرد نوید
The newly-arrived green-coloured leaves signify that this fruit is unripe.
برگهای نو رسیدهی سبزفام ** شد نشان آنک آن میوهست خام
The provision of leaflessness (spiritual poverty) is the sign of being a gnostic; the yellowness of gold is the (cause of the) money-changer's ruddiness of face (cheerful countenance).2055
برگ بیبرگی نشان عارفیست ** زردی زر سرخ رویی صارفیست
If he that (still) is rosy-cheeked has fresh down (on his face), (yet) he has just begun to learn writing in the school of knowledge.
آنک او گل عارضست ار نو خطست ** او به مکتب گاه مخبر نوخطست
The letters of his handwriting are very crooked (misshapen): he is a cripple in respect of intelligence, though his body moves with agility.
حرفهای خط او کژمژ بود ** مزمن عقلست اگر تن میدود
Although an old man's feet are deprived of rapid movement, his intelligence has gotten two wings and has sped to the zenith.
پای پیر از سرعت ار چه باز ماند ** یافت عقل او دو پر بر اوج راند
If you wish for an example (of this), look at Ja‘far: God gave him wings instead of hands and feet.
گر مثل خواهی به جعفر در نگر ** داد حق بر جای دست و پاش پر
Cease from (speaking of) gold (pallor), for this topic is recondite: this heart of mine has become agitated like quicksilver.2060
بگذر از زر کین سخت شد محتجب ** همچو سیماب این دلم شد مضطرب
From within me a hundred sweet-breathing silent ones put their hands on their lips, signifying, “It is enough.”
ز اندرونم صدخموش خوشنفس ** دست بر لب میزند یعنی که بس
Silence is the sea, and speech is like the river. The sea is seeking thee: do not seek the river.
خامشی بحرست و گفتن همچو جو ** بحر میجوید ترا جو را مجو