Direct your course towards silence: when you seek the marks (of the Way), do not make yourself a mark (for attention).
رختها را سوی خاموشی کشان ** چون نشان جویی مکن خود را نشان
The Prophet said, ‘Know that amidst the sea of cares (my) Companions are (as) stars in respect of guidance.’1595
گفت پیغامبر که در بحر هموم ** در دلالت دان تو یاران را نجوم
Fix your eye on the stars, seek the Way; speech is a cause of confusion to the sight: do not speak.
چشم در استارگان نه ره بجو ** نطق تشویش نظر باشد مگو
If you utter two true words, O such-and-such, the dark (false) speech will begin to flow in their train.
گر دو حرف صدق گویی ای فلان ** گفت تیره در تبع گردد روان
Haven’t you read that (your) talk concerning (your) griefs, O frenzied (lover) is drawn along by the draw (ride) of talk?
این نخواندی کالکلام ای مستهام ** فی شجون حره جر الکلام
Beware, do not begin (to speak) those right words, for words quickly draw (other) words (after them).
هین مشو شارع در آن حرف رشد ** که سخن زو مر سخن را میکشد
When you have (once) opened your mouth, they are not in your control: the dark(falsehood) flows on the heels of the pure (truth).1600
نیست در ضبطت چو بگشادی دهان ** از پی صافی شود تیره روان
He (alone) may open (his mouth) who is preserved (from error) in the way of (Divine) inspiration; ‘tis permissible, since he is entirely pure;
آنک معصوم ره وحی خداست ** چون همه صافست بگشاید رواست
For a prophet does not speak from self-will: how should self-will proceed from him who is preserved by God?
زانک ما ینطق رسول بالهوی ** کی هوا زاید ز معصوم خدا
Make yourself one that speaks eloquently from ecstatic feeling, lest you become a slave to argumentation like me.”
خویشتن را ساز منطیقی ز حال ** تا نگردی همچو من سخرهی مقال
How the Súfi questioned the Cadi.
سال کردن آن صوفی قاضی را
The Súfi said, “Since (all) the gold is from a single Mine, why is this beneficial and that other harmful?
گفت صوفی چون ز یک کانست زر ** این چرا نفعست و آن دیگر ضرر
Since the whole (Creation) has come from a single Hand, why has this one come sober and that one intoxicated?1605
چونک جمله از یکی دست آمدست ** این چرا هوشیار و آن مست آمدست
Since (all) these rivers flow from a single Sea, why is this one honey and that one poison in the mouth?
چون ز یک دریاست این جوها روان ** این چرا نوش است و آن زهر دهان
Since all lights are (derived) from the everlasting Sun, wherefore did the true dawn and the false dawn rise?
چون همه انوار از شمس بقاست ** صبح صادق صبح کاذب از چه خاست
Since the blackness of every seeing person’s eye is (derived) from a single Collyrium, wherefore did true sight and strabism come (into being)?
چون ز یک سرمهست ناظر را کحل ** از چه آمد راستبینی و حول
Since God is the Governor of the Mint, how is it that (both) good and spurious coins are struck?
چونک دار الضرب را سلطان خداست ** نقد را چون ضرب خوب و نارواست
Since God has called the Way ‘My Way,’ wherefore is this one a trusty escort and that one a brigand?1610
چون خدا فرمود ره را راه من ** این خفیر از چیست و آن یک راهزن
How can (both) the (noble) freeman and the (base) fool come from a single womb, since it is certain that the son is (the expression of) his father’s inmost nature?
از یک اشکم چون رسد حر و سفیه ** چون یقین شد الولد سر ابیه
Who (ever) saw a Unity with so many thousand (numbers), (or) a hundred thousand motions (proceeding) from the essence of Rest?”
وحدتی که دید با چندین هزار ** صد هزاران جنبش از عین قرار
The Cadi’s reply to the Súfi.
جواب گفتن آن قاضی صوفی را
The Cadi said, “O Súfí, do not be perplexed: hearken to a parable in explanation of this (mystery).
گفت قاضی صوفیا خیره مشو ** یک مثالی در بیان این شنو
(‘Tis) just as the disquiet of lovers is the result of the tranquillity of the one who captivates their hearts.
همچنانک بیقراری عاشقان ** حاصل آمد از قرار دلستان
He stands immovable, like a mountain, in his disdain, while his lovers are quivering like leaves.1615
او چو که در ناز ثابت آمده ** عاشقان چون برگها لرزان شده
His laughter stirs (them to) tears, his glory causes their glories to fade.
خندهی او گریهها انگیخته ** آب رویش آب روها ریخته
All this conditionality is tossing like foam on the surface of the unconditioned Sea.
این همه چون و چگونه چون زبد ** بر سر دریای بیچون میطپد
In its (the Sea’s) essence and action there is neither opposite nor like: by it (alone) are (all) existences clothed in robes (of existence).
ضد و ندش نیست در ذات و عمل ** زان بپوشیدند هستیها حلل