The spirit that has been distributed over the contents of the (mundane) sphere is shared amongst sixty passions;
جان قسمت گشته بر حشو فلک ** در میان شصت سودا مشترک
Therefore silence is best: it gives peace to it ( to that spirit); therefore ( I ought to follow the adage) “Silence is the answer to fools.”
پس خموشی به دهد او را ثبوت ** پس جواب احمقان آمد سکوت
This I know, but intoxication of the body is opening my mouth without volition on my part,
این همیدانم ولی مستی تن ** میگشاید بیمراد من دهن
Just as in sneezing and yawning this mouth becomes open without your willing it.
آنچنان که از عطسه و از خامیاز ** این دهان گردد بناخواه تو باز
Commentary on the Tradition, "Verily, I ask pardon of God seventy times every day."
تفسیر این حدیث کی ائنی لاستغفر الله فی کل یوم سبعین مرة
Like the Prophet, I repent seventy times daily of speaking and giving out (mysteries);3300
همچو پیغامبر ز گفتن وز نثار ** توبه آرم روز من هفتاد بار
But that intoxication becomes a breaker of (vows of) penitence: this intoxication of the body causes oblivion and tears the robe (of penitence).
لیک آن مستی شود توبهشکن ** منسی است این مستی تن جامه کن
The (Divine) purpose of making manifest the (things of) long ago (the eternal things) cast an intoxication upon the knower of the mystery,
حکمت اظهار تاریخ دراز ** مستیی انداخت در دانای راز
(So that) with such drum and banner (conspicuousness) the hidden mystery has become water gushing from (the fountain of) “the Pen is dry.”
راز پنهان با چنین طبل و علم ** آب جوشان گشته از جف القلم
The infinite Mercy is flowing continually: ye are asleep to the perception thereof, O men!
رحمت بیحد روانه هر زمان ** خفتهاید از درک آن ای مردمان
The sleeper's garment drinks water from the river, (while) the sleeper is seeking the mirage in his dream.3305
جامهی خفته خورد از جوی آب ** خفته اندر خواب جویای سراب
He keeps running (to and fro), saying, “Yonder there is hope of water”: by this (false) thought he has barred the way against himself.
میرود که آنجای بوی آب هست ** زین تفکر راه را بر خویش بست
Because he said “yonder” he became far from here (from the place where the water is): (through resting) in a vain imagination he was banished from a reality.
زانک آنجا گفت زینجا دور شد ** بر خیالی از حقی مهجور شد
They (the worldly) are far-seeing (for their selfish ends) and very fast asleep spiritually: take some mercy upon them, O travellers on the Way!
دوربینانند و بس خفتهروان ** رحمتی آریدشان ای رهروان
I never saw thirst (eager desire) induce sleep: (only) the thirst of the unintelligent induces sleep.
من ندیدم تشنگی خواب آورد ** خواب آرد تشنگی بیخرد
The (true) intelligence, indeed, is that which was fed by God, not the intelligence that was bestowed by (the planet) Mercury.3310
خود خرد آنست کو از حق چرید ** نه خرد کان را عطارد آورید
Explaining that the particular (discursive) intellect does not see beyond the grave and, as regards all the rest, is subject to the authority of the saints and prophets.
بیان آنک عقل جزوی تا بگور بیش نبیند در باقی مقلد اولیا و انبیاست
The foresight of this intellect extends (only) to the grave, while that of the spiritual man is till the blast of the trumpet (of Resurrection).
پیشبینی این خرد تا گور بود ** وآن صاحب دل به نفخ صور بود
This intellect does not pass beyond a grave and sepulchre, and this (intellectual) foot does not tread the arena of marvels.
این خرد از گور و خاکی نگذرد ** وین قدم عرصهی عجایب نسپرد
Go, become quit of this foot and this intellect: seek the eye appertaining to the invisible (the inward eye) and enjoy (contemplation).
زین قدم وین عقل رو بیزار شو ** چشم غیبی جوی و برخوردار شو
How should one subservient to a preceptor and in pupilage to a book find, like Moses, light from (his own) bosom?
همچو موسی نور کی یابد ز جیب ** سخرهی استاد و شاگردان کتاب
From this (scholastic) study and this intellect comes naught but vertigo; therefore leave this study and adopt (in its stead) expectation.3315
زین نظر وین عقل ناید جز دوار ** پس نظر بگذار و بگزین انتظار
Do not seek (spiritual) eminence from disputation: for him who is expectant (of Divine inspiration) listening is better than speaking.
از سخنگویی مجویید ارتفاع ** منتظر را به ز گفتن استماع
The office of teaching is a sort of sensual desire: every sensual fancy is an idol (source of polytheism) in the Way.
منصب تعلیم نوع شهوتست ** هر خیال شهوتی در ره بتست
If every busybody had found the track (had attained) to His grace, how should God have sent so many prophets?
گر بفضلش پی ببردی هر فضول ** کی فرستادی خدا چندین رسول
The particular intellect is like the lightning and the flash: how is it possible to go to Wakhsh in a flash?
عقل جزوی همچو برقست و درخش ** در درخشی کی توان شد سوی وخش
The light of the lightning is not for guidance on the way; nay, it is a command to the cloud to weep.3320
نیست نور برق بهر رهبری ** بلک امریست ابر را که میگری