And if (men's) understandings could loose her knot, how should God have sent the prophets?
ور گشادی عقد او را عقلها ** انبیا را کی فرستادی خدا
Hark, seek one whose breath is pure, a looser of knots, one who knows the mystery of God doeth whatso He willeth.
هین طلب کن خوشدمی عقدهگشا ** رازدان یفعل الله ما یشا
She (the World) hath imprisoned thee, like a fish, in her net: the prince remained (there) one year, and thou sixty.
همچو ماهی بسته است او به شست ** شاه زاده ماند سالی و تو شصت
From (being enmeshed in) her net thou art in tribulation sixty years: neither art thou happy nor (dost thou walk) in the way of the Sunna.3200
شصت سال از شست او در محنتی ** نه خوشی نه بر طریق سنتی
Thou art a miserable unrighteous man: neither is thy worldly life good (happy) nor art thou delivered from guilt and sins.
فاسقی بدبخت نه دنیات خوب ** نه رهیده از وبال و از ذنوب
Her (the World's) breathing hath made these knots tight: seek, then, the breathing of the unique Creator,
نفخ او این عقدهها را سخت کرد ** پس طلب کن نفخهی خلاق فرد
In order that “I breathed of My spirit into him” may deliver thee from this (sorcery) and say (to thee), “Come higher!”
تا نفخت فیه من روحی ترا ** وا رهاند زین و گوید برتر آ
The breathing of sorcery is not consumed save by the breathing of God: this (the former) is the breathing of (Divine) wrath, (while) that (the latter) exhalation is the breathing of (Divine) love.
جز به نفخ حق نسوزد نفخ سحر ** نفخ قهرست این و آن دم نفح مهر
His mercy is prior to His wrath: (if) thou desirest priority (in spiritual rank), go, seek that (attribute) which is prior,3205
رحمت او سابقست از قهر او ** سابقی خواهی برو سابق بجو
That thou mayst attain unto the souls that are wedded; for lo, this, O ensorcelled prince, is thy way of escape.
تا رسی اندر نفوس زوجت ** کای شه مسحور اینک مخرجت
With the existence of the old woman, there can be no undoing (of the knots), (whilst thou art) in the net and in the arms of that (paramour) full of blandishments.
با وجود زال ناید انحلال ** در شبیکه و در بر آن پر دلال
Hath not the Lamp of the peoples called this world and that world the two fellow-wives (who are always quarrelling with each other)?
نه بگفتست آن سراج امتان ** این جهان و آن جهان را ضرتان
Therefore union with this (world) is separation from that (world): the health of this body is the sickness of the spirit.
پس وصال این فراق آن بود ** صحت این تن سقام جان بود
Hard is the separation from this transitory abode: know, then, that the separation from that permanent abode is harder3210
سخت میآید فراق این ممر ** پس فراق آن مقر دان سختتر
Since it is hard for thee to be separated from the form, how hard must it be to be parted from its Maker!
چون فراق نقش سخت آید ترا ** تا چه سخت آید ز نقاشش جدا
O thou that hast not the patience to do without the vile world, how, O friend, how hast thou the patience to do without God?
ای که صبرت نیست از دنیای دون ** چونت صبرست از خدا ای دوست چون
Since thou hast not the patience to do without this black water, how hast thou the patience to do without God's (pure) fountain?
چونک صبرت نیست زین آب سیاه ** چون صبوری داری از چشمهی اله
Since thou art restless without this (worldly) drink, how art thou (remaining patiently) apart from the righteous and from they shall drink (of the wine of Paradise)?
چونک بی این شرب کم داری سکون ** چون ز ابراری جدا وز یشربون
If for one moment thou behold the beauty of the Loving One and cast thy soul and existence into the fire (of love),3215
گر ببینی یک نفس حسن ودود ** اندر آتش افکنی جان و وجود
After that thou wilt regard this (worldly) drink as a carcase, when thou beholdest the glory and splendour of nighness (unto Him).
جیفه بینی بعد از آن این شرب را ** چون ببینی کر و فر قرب را
Like the prince, thou wilt attain unto thy Beloved; then thou wilt draw out from thy foot the thorn of self.
همچو شهزاده رسی در یار خویش ** پس برون آری ز پا تو خار خویش
Strive for selflessness, find thy (true) self as soon as possible— and God best knoweth the right course.
جهد کن در بیخودی خود را بیاب ** زودتر والله اعلم بالصواب
Take heed, never be wedded to self: do not, like an ass, be always falling into water and mud.
هر زمانی هین مشو با خویش جفت ** هر زمان چون خر در آب و گل میفت
That stumbling arises from shortsightedness; for like a blind man, he (such a one) does not see the ups and downs.3220
از قصور چشم باشد آن عثار ** که نبیند شیب و بالا کور وار
Make the scent of Joseph's shirt thy stay, because his scent makes the eye clear.