But to me my beauteous feathers are an enemy, since I cannot restrain myself from making a display.
لیک بر من پر زیبا دشمنیست ** چونک از جلوه‌گری صبریم نیست
If self-restraint and safeguarding had been my guide, my (spiritual) conquest would have been increased by (the exercise of) free-will;655
گر بدی صبر و حفاظم راه‌بر ** بر فزودی ز اختیارم کر و فر
(But) in (the case of) temptations I am like a child or a drunken man: the sword is unsuitable (out of place) in my hand.
هم‌چو طفلم یا چو مست اندر فتن ** نیست لایق تیغ اندر دست من
Had I possessed an intellect and conscience (to restrain me), the sword in my hand would have been (a means of gaining) victory.
گر مرا عقلی بدی و منزجر ** تیغ اندر دست من بودی ظفر
An intellect giving light like the sun is needed to wield the sword that never misses the right direction.
عقل باید نورده چون آفتاب ** تا زند تیغی که نبود جز صواب
Since I do not possess a resplendent intellect and righteousness (in religion), why, then, should not I throw my weapons into the well?
چون ندارم عقل تابان و صلاح ** پس چرا در چاه نندازم سلاح
I now throw my sword and shield into the well; for (otherwise) they will become the weapons of my adversary.660
در چه اندازم کنون تیغ و مجن ** کین سلاح خصم من خواهد شدن
Since I do not possess strength and aid and support, he (the adversary) will seize my sword and smite me with it.
چون ندارم زور و یاری و سند ** تیغم او بستاند و بر من زند
In despite of this fleshly soul and evil-natured one who does not veil her face, I will rend my face,
رغم این نفس وقیحه‌خوی را ** که نپوشد رو خراشم روی را
That this beauty and perfection (of mine) may be impaired. When my face (beauty) remains no more, I shall not fall into woe.
تا شود کم این جمال و این کمال ** چون نماند رو کم افتم در وبال
When I rend (my face) with this intention, ’tis no sin, for this face ought to be covered with wounds.
چون بدین نیت خراشم بزه نیست ** که به زخم این روی را پوشیدنیست
If my heart had a modest disposition, my handsome face would produce naught but purity (goodness).665
گر دلم خوی ستیری داشتی ** روی خوبم جز صفا نفراشتی
Since I did not see (in myself) strength and wisdom and righteousness, I saw the adversary and at once broke my weapons,
چون ندیدم زور و فرهنگ و صلاح ** خصم دیدم زود بشکستم سلاح
Lest my sword should become useful to him; lest my dagger should become hurtful to me.
تا نگردد تیغ من او را کمال ** تا نگردد خنجرم بر من وبال
I will continue to flee as long as my veins are running, (but) how should it be easy to escape from one's self?
می‌گریزم تا رگم جنبان بود ** کی فرار از خویشتن آسان بود
He who is in flight from another obtains rest when he has been separated from him (the pursuer).
آنک از غیری بود او را فرار ** چون ازو ببرید گیرد او قرار
I, who am the adversary (of myself), ’tis I that am in flight (from myself): rising and departing is my occupation for ever.670
من که خصمم هم منم اندر گریز ** تا ابد کار من آمد خیزخیز
He whose adversary is his own shadow is not safe either in India or Khutan.
نه به هندست آمن و نه در ختن ** آنک خصم اوست سایه‌ی خویشتن
Description of the selfless ones who have become safe from their own vices and virtues; for they are naughted in the everlastingness of God, like stars which are naughted (vanish) in the Sun during the daytime; and he who is naughted hath no fear of bane and (is free from) danger.
در صفت آن بی‌خودان کی از شر خود و هنر خود آمن شده‌اند کی فانی‌اند در بقای حق هم‌چون ستارگان کی فانی‌اند روز در آفتاب و فانی را خوف آفت و خطر نباشد
When, through (spiritual) poverty, faná (self-naughting) graces him (such a one), he becomes shadowless like Mohammed.
چون فناش از فقر پیرایه شود ** او محمدوار بی‌سایه شود
Faná graced (the Prophet who said) ‘Poverty is my pride’: he became shadowless like the flame of a candle.
فقر فخری را فنا پیرایه شد ** چون زبانه‌ی شمع او بی‌سایه شد
(When) the candle has become entirely flame from head to foot, the shadow hath no passage (way of approach) around it.
شمع جمله شد زبانه پا و سر ** سایه را نبود بگرد او گذر
The wax (candle) fled from itself and from the shadow into the radiance for the sake of Him who moulded the candle.675
موم از خویش و ز سایه در گریخت ** در شعاع از بهر او کی شمع ریخت
He said, ‘I moulded thee for the sake of faná (self-naughting).’ It replied, ‘I accordingly took refuge in faná.’
گفت او بهر فنایت ریختم ** گفت من هم در فنا بگریختم
This is the necessary everlasting radiance, not the radiance of the perishable accidental candle.
این شعاع باقی آمد مفترض ** نه شعاع شمع فانی عرض
When the candle is wholly naughted in the fire (of Divine illumination), you will not see any trace of the candle or rays (of its light).
شمع چون در نار شد کلی فنا ** نه اثر بینی ز شمع و نه ضیا