He has suffered the pain but never seen the gain (that comes) from the Beloved: he has done (many) works (of devotion) but never seen the wages for his work.
رنج دیده گنج نادیده ز یار ** کارها کرده ندیده مزد کار
Either the essential thing was not in his work at all, or by (Divine) decree the hour for the reward has not yet arrived.
یا نبود آن کار او را خود گهر ** یا نیامد وقت پاداش از قدر
Either his labour has been like the labour of the Jews, or the recompense has been connected with (deferred till) the appointed season.
یا که بود آن سعی چون سعی جهود ** یا جزا وابسته‌ی میقات بود
For him ’tis sorrow and misfortune enough that he is without any one (to succour him) in this vale full of blood.
مر ورا درد و مصیبت این بس است ** که درین وادی پر خون بی‌کس است
His eyes are painful, and he sits in a corner, sour-faced and chop-fallen.3525
چشم پر درد و نشسته او به کنج ** رو ترش کرده فرو افکنده لنج
There is no oculist to sympathise with him, nor has he any intelligence that he should find the way to a collyrium.
نه یکی کحال کو را غم خورد ** نیش عقلی که به کحلی پی برد
He is making a (great) effort with (the help of) conjecture and opinion: the matter rests in ‘maybe’ till it turn out well.
اجتهادی می‌کند با حزر و ظن ** کار در بوکست تا نیکو شدن
Far is the road he must travel ere he sees the Beloved, because he does not seek the head; his desire is headship.
زان رهش دورست تا دیدار دوست ** کو نجوید سر رئیسیش آرزوست
At one time he is (engaged) in reproach, saying (to God), ‘The portion allotted to me from this calculation (of mine) is (nothing but) pain.’
ساعتی او با خدا اندر عتاب ** که نصیبم رنج آمد زین حساب
At another time he is (engaged) in a quarrel with his own luck, saying, ‘All (the others) are flying, and we have our wings cut off.’”3530
ساعتی با بخت خود اندر جدال ** که همه پران و ما ببریده بال
Whoever is imprisoned in scent and colour, his spirit is oppressed, (even) though he is (occupied) in (the practice of) asceticism.
هر که محبوس است اندر بو و رنگ ** گرچه در زهدست باشد خوش تنگ
Until he come forth from this narrow resting-place, how should his spirit be happy and his breast expanded (with joy)?
تا برون ناید ازین ننگین مناخ ** کی شود خویش خوش و صدرش فراخ
One should never give a knife or razor to ascetics (living) in solitude before (they have gained the spiritual) revelation,
زاهدان را در خلا پیش از گشاد ** کارد و استره نشاید هیچ داد
Since the anguish of disappointments and the grief (which they feel) would cause them to rip their bellies asunder from (uncontrollable) agitation of mind.
کز ضجر خود را بدراند شکم ** غصه‌ی آن بی‌مرادیها و غم
How Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, (was about to) cast himself down from Mount Hirá because of his distress at the long delay of Gabriel, on whom be peace, in appearing; and how Gabriel, on whom be peace, showed himself to him, saying, “Do not cast (thyself down), for (great) fortunes are in front of thee.”
قصد انداختن مصطفی علیه‌السلام خود را از کوه حری از وحشت دیر نمودن جبرئیل علیه‌السلام خود را به وی و پیدا شدن جبرئیل به وی کی مینداز کی ترا دولتها در پیش است
Whenever (the sense of) separation (from God) overpowered Mustafá, he would be on the point of casting himself down from the mountain,3535
مصطفی را هجر چون بفراختی ** خویش را از کوه می‌انداختی
Until Gabriel would say to him, “Hark, do it not, for great fortune is (coming) to thee from the Command, Be!”
تا بگفتی جبرئیلش هین مکن ** که ترا بس دولتست از امر کن
(Then) Mustafá would desist from casting (himself down), (till) separation again made an attack (upon him).
مصطفی ساکن شدی ز انداختن ** باز هجران آوریدی تاختن
(Then) again, from grief and sorrow, he would be on the point of throwing himself headlong from the mountain,
باز خود را سرنگون از کوه او ** می‌فکندی از غم و اندوه او
And once more Gabriel would appear in person, saying, “Do it not, O thou peerless (spiritual) king!”
باز خود پیدا شدی آن جبرئیل ** که مکن این ای تو شاه بی‌بدیل
Even thus he would continue until the veil was lifted, so that he gained the pearl (of his desire) from the bosom (of his inmost consciousness).3540
هم‌چنین می‌بود تا کشف حجاب ** تا بیابید آن گهر را او ز جیب
Since people kill themselves on account of any affliction, this (separation from God) is the root of (all) afflictions: how should they endure it?
بهر هر محنت چو خود را می‌کشند ** اصل محنتهاست این چونش کشند
Men are amazed at the Fidá’í, (but) every one of us is a Fidá’í in his behaviour.
از فدایی مردمان را حیرتیست ** هر یکی از ما فدای سیرتیست
Oh, blest is he that has sacrificed his body for the sake of that for which it is worth while to sacrifice one's self.
ای خنک آنک فدا کردست تن ** بهر آن کارزد فدای آن شدن
Inasmuch as every one is devoted to some calling wherein he spends his life and is killed—
هر یکی چونک فدایی فنیست ** کاندر آن ره صرف عمر و کشتنیست
Is killed somewhere (either) in the West or in the East, at which time neither the desiring subject nor the desired object remains (in existence)—3545
کشتنی اندر غروبی یا شروق ** که نه شایق ماند آنگه نه مشوق