A Voice came (to his ear), “Go from the desert to the city”— a wondrous Voice transcending the occult and the manifest.
بانگ آمد رو ز صحرا سوی شهر ** بانگ طرفه از ورای سر و جهر
He cried, “O Thou that knowest my secret, hair by hair, tell me, what service am I to do in the city?”
گفت ای دانای رازم مو به مو ** چه کنم در شهر از خدمت بگو
It (the Voice) said, “The service is this, that for the purpose of self abasement thou shouldst make thyself (like) ‘Abbás (the seller) of date-syrup.2680
گفت خدمت آنک بهر ذل نفس ** خویش را سازی تو چون عباس دبس
For a while take money from the rich and then deliver it to the lowly poor.
مدتی از اغنیا زر میستان ** پس به درویشان مسکین میرسان
This is the service thou must do for some time.” He replied, “To hear is to obey, O Thou who art my soul's refuge.”
خدمتت اینست تا یک چند گاه ** گفت سمعا طاعة ای جانپناه
Many questions and answers and much conversation passed between the ascetic and the Lord of mankind,
بس سال و بس جواب و ماجرا ** بد میان زاهد و رب الوری
Whereby earth and heaven were filled with (spiritual) light: all that is recorded in the Maqálát;
که زمین و آسمان پر نور شد ** در مقالات آن همه مذکور شد
But I will cut short that dialogue, in order that every worthless person may not hear (such) mysteries.2685
لیک کوته کردم آن گفتار را ** تا ننوشد هر خسی اسرار را
How after many years the Shaykh came from the desert to the city of Ghazna and carried round the basket (as a beggar) in obedience to the behest from the Unseen and distributed amongst the poor all (the money and food) that was collected. “When any one possesses the spirit of the glory of Labbayka (devoted service), letter on letter and messenger after messenger are (sent to him),” as (when) the window of a house is open, sunbeams and moonbeams and rain and letters and so forth never cease (from coming in).
آمدن شیخ بعد از چندین سال از بیابان به شهر غزنین و زنبیل گردانیدن به اشارت غیبی و تفرقه کردن آنچ جمع آید بر فقرا هر که را جان عز لبیکست نامه بر نامه پیک بر پیکست چنانک روزن خانه باز باشد آفتاب و ماهتاب و باران و نامه و غیره منقطع نباشد
That (Shaykh who was) obedient to the (Divine) command turned his face towards the city; the city of Ghazna became illumined by his face.
رو به شهر آورد آن فرمانپذیر ** شهر غزنین گشت از رویش منیر
A (great) multitude joyfully went out to meet him, (but) he entered (the city) in haste and furtively.
از فرح خلقی به استقبال رفت ** او در آمد از ره دزدیده تفت
All the notables and grandees rose up and made their palaces ready to receive him,
جمله اعیان و مهان بر خاستند ** قصرها از بهر او آراستند
(But) he said, “I do not come from (motives of) self-advertisement: I come not save in humility and beggary.
گفت من از خودنمایی نامدم ** جز به خواری و گدایی نامدم
I have no intention of talking and discoursing: I will go about from door to door with a basket in my hand.2690
نیستم در عزم قال و قیل من ** در به در گردم به کف زنبیل من
I am devoted to the (Divine) edict, for ’tis commanded by God that I should be a beggar, a beggar, a beggar.
بنده فرمانم که امرست از خدا ** که گدا باشم گدا باشم گدا
I will not use choice expressions in begging: I will tread the way of none but the vile beggars,
در گدایی لفظ نادر ناورم ** جز طریق خس گدایان نسپرم
That I may be completely overwhelmed with abasement, and that I may hear abusive words from high and low.
تا شوم غرقهی مذلت من تمام ** تا سقطها بشنوم از خاص و عام
God's command is my (very) soul, and I am its follower: He has commanded me to be covetous, (for) ‘base is he that covets.’
امر حق جانست و من آن را تبع ** او طمع فرمود ذل من طمع
Since the Sultan of the Judgement desires covetousness from me, dust on the head of contentment henceforth!2695
چون طمع خواهد ز من سلطان دین ** خاک بر فرق قناعت بعد ازین
He has desired covetousness: how should I be ambitious of glory? He has desired beggary: how should I exercise sovereignty?
او مذلت خواست کی عزت تنم ** او گدایی خواست کی میری کنم
Henceforth beggary and abasement are my (very) soul: in my wallet are twenty (consummate beggars like) ‘Abbás.”
بعد ازین کد و مذلت جان من ** بیست عباساند در انبان من
The Shaykh would go about, with a basket in his hand, (saying, “Give) something, Sir, for God's sake, if He prompt you (to be generous).”
شیخ بر میگشت زنبیلی به دست ** شیء لله خواجه توفیقیت هست
His inward experiences were higher than the Footstool and the Throne (of God); his (external) business was (to cry), “Something for God's sake, something for God's sake!”
برتر از کرسی و عرش اسرار او ** شیء لله شیء لله کار او
The prophets, every one, ply this same trade: the people (to whom they are sent) are (really) destitute, (yet) they (the prophets) practise beggary,2700
انبیا هر یک همین فن میزنند ** خلق مفلس کدیه ایشان میکنند
Crying, “Lend to God, lend to God,” and persevering contrariously in (the exhortation) “Help God!”
اقرضوا الله اقرضوا الله میزنند ** بازگون بر انصروا الله میتنند
This Shaykh is going as a suppliant from door to door, (while) in Heaven a hundred doors are opened for the Shaykh,
در به در این شیخ میآرد نیاز ** بر فلک صد در برای شیخ باز