There is a basket full of loaves on the crown of thy head, and thou art begging a crust of bread from door to door.
یک سپد پر نان ترا بیفرق سر ** تو همی خواهی لب نان در به در
Attend to thine own head, abandon giddy-headedness; go, knock at the door of thy heart: why art thou (knocking) at every door?
در سر خود پیچ هل خیرهسری ** رو در دل زن چرا بر هر دری
Whilst thou art up to the knee in the river-water, thou art heedless of thyself and art seeking water from this one and that one.1075
تا بزانویی میان آبجو ** غافل از خود زین و آن تو آب جو
Water in front; and behind, too, an unfailing supply of water; (but) before thine eyes is a barrier and behind them a barrier.
پیش آب و پس هم آب با مدد ** چشمها را پیش سد و خلف سد
The horse is under the (rider's) thigh, and the rider is seeking the horse. (When asked), “What is this?” he says, “A horse, but where is the horse?”
اسپ زیر ران و فارس اسپجو ** چیست این گفت اسپ لیکن اسپ کو
“Eh, is not this a horse under thee, plain to see?” “Yes,” says he, “but who ever saw a horse?”
هی نه اسپست این به زیر تو پدید ** گفت آری لیک خود اسپی که دید
He (such a one) is mad with thirst for the water, and it (the water) is before his face: he is in the water and unconscious of the running water.
مست آب و پیش روی اوست آن ** اندر آب و بیخبر ز آب روان
Like the pearl in the sea, he says, “Where is the sea?” and that shell-like phantasy is his wall.1080
چون گهر در بحر گوید بحر کو ** وآن خیال چون صدف دیوار او
His saying “Where?” becomes for him a screen: it becomes for him a cloud over the radiance of the sun.
گفتن آن کو حجابش میشود ** ابر تاب آفتابش میشود
His bad (sensual) eye is a bandage on his (inward) eye: his very (awareness of) removing the barrier has become a barrier for him.
بند چشم اوست هم چشم بدش ** عین رفع سد او گشته سدش
His (self-)consciousness has become the plug of his (inward) ear: keep thy consciousness (directed) towards God (alone), O thou who art bewildered in Him.
بند گوش او شده هم هوش او ** هوش با حق دار ای مدهوش او
Commentary on the saying of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, “Whosoever shall make his cares one care, God will relieve him of all his cares; and whosoever is distracted by his cares, God will not care in what valley He destroys him.”
در تفسیر قول مصطفی علیهالسلام من جعل الهموم هما واحدا کفاه الله سائر همومه و من تفرقت به الهموم لا یبالی الله فی ای واد اهلکه
Thou hast distributed thy consciousness in (all) directions: those vanities are not worth a cress.
هوش را توزیع کردی بر جهات ** مینیرزد ترهای آن ترهات
Every thorn-root draws the water of thy consciousness (towards itself): how should the water of thy consciousness reach the fruit?1085
آب هش را میکشد هر بیخ خار ** آب هوشت چون رسد سوی ثمار
Hark, smite that evil bough, lop it off: water this goodly bough, refresh it.
هین بزن آن شاخ بد را خو کنش ** آب ده این شاخ خوش را نو کنش
Both are green at this (present) time, (but) look to the end (and see) that this one will come to naught, (while) fruit will grow from that one.
هر دو سبزند این زمان آخر نگر ** کین شود باطل از آن روید ثمر
To this one the water in the orchard is lawful, to that one (it is) unlawful. In the end thou wilt see the difference, and (so) farewell.
آب باغ این را حلال آن را حرام ** فرق را آخر ببینی والسلام
What is justice? Giving water to trees. What is injustice? To give water to thorns.
عدل چه بود آب ده اشجار را ** ظلم چه بود آب دادن خار را
Justice is (consists in) bestowing a bounty in its proper place, not on every root that will absorb water.1090
عدل وضع نعمتی در موضعش ** نه بهر بیخی که باشد آبکش
What is injustice? To bestow (it) in an improper place that can only be a source of calamity.
ظلم چه بود وضع در ناموضعی ** که نباشد جز بلا را منبعی
Bestow the bounty of God on the spirit and reason, not on the (carnal) nature full of disease and complications.
نعمت حق را به جان و عقل ده ** نه به طبع پر زحیر پر گره
Load the conflict of (worldly) cares upon thy body: do not lay thy anxiety upon the heart and spirit.
بار کن بیگار غم را بر تنت ** بر دل و جان کم نه آن جان کندنت
The pack is laid upon the head of Jesus, (while) the ass is frisking in the meadow.
بر سر عیسی نهاده تنگ بار ** خر سکیزه میزند در مرغزار
’Tis not right to put collyrium in the ear: ’tis not right to demand from the body the work of the heart (spirit).1095
سرمه را در گوش کردن شرط نیست ** کار دل را جستن از تن شرط نیست
If thou art a (devotee of the) heart, go, scorn (the world), do not suffer contumely (from it); and if thou art a (devotee of the) body, do not eat sugar but taste poison.
گر دلی رو ناز کن خواری مکش ** ور تنی شکر منوش و زهر چش
Poison is beneficial to the body, and sugar noxious: ’tis better that the body should be deprived of supplies.
زهر تن را نافعست و قند بد ** تن همان بهتر که باشد بیمدد