Accordingly it makes itself heedless of this (happening) and binds its soul fast in the shackle thereof.
خویش را زین هم مغفل میکند ** در عقالش جان معقل میکند
If that exalted one (the prophet or saint) is checkmated (worsted) in this (matter), ’tis not (really) checkmate, ’tis tribulation.
گر شود مات اندرین آن بوالعلا ** آن نباشد مات باشد ابتلا
A single tribulation redeems him from a hundred tribulations, a single fall takes him (high) up on the ladders (of spiritual ascent).2765
یک بلا از صد بلااش وا خرد ** یک هبوطش بر معارجها برد
The half-baked saucy fellow, whom the wine (of Love) has relieved from the surfeit of intoxication with a hundred thousand wicked half-baked (persons like himself),
خام شوخی که رهانیدش مدام ** از خمار صد هزاران زشت خام
Finally becomes mature and adept: he escapes from enslavement to this world and is made free.
عاقبت او پخته و استاد شد ** جست از رق جهان و آزاد شد
He is made drunken with the everlasting wine, he becomes (spiritually) discerning, and is delivered from created beings,
از شراب لایزالی گشت مست ** شد ممیز از خلایق باز رست
From their weak conventional faith and from the illusions of their unseeing eyes.
ز اعتقاد سست پر تقلیدشان ** وز خیال دیدهی بیدیدشان
Oh, what device can their mental perception employ, I wonder, against the ebb and flow of the trackless Sea?2770
ای عجب چه فن زند ادراکشان ** پیش جزر و مد بحر بینشان
From that Desert came (all) these signs of cultivation and prosperity; (thence) came (all) empires and kingships and vizierates.
زان بیابان این عمارتها رسید ** ملک و شاهی و وزارتها رسید
Yearning with desire they (phenomenal ideas) come in troops from the Desert of Non-existence into the visible (material) world.
Caravan on caravan, they arrive from this Desert every evening and morning.
کاروان بر کاروان زین بادیه ** میرسد در هر مسا و غادیه
They come and seize our houses in distraint, (each one) saying, “I have arrived, ’tis my turn, do thou begone!”
آید و گیرد وثاق ما گرو ** که رسیدم نوبت ما شد تو رو
When the son has opened the eye of reason (attained to years of discretion), the father at once puts his (own) baggage in the cart.2775
چون پسر چشم خرد را بر گشاد ** زود بابا رخت بر گردون نهاد
’Tis (like) the King's highway—(travellers) departing and arriving, one going in this direction, another in that direction.
جادهی شاهست آن زین سو روان ** وآن از آن سو صادران و واردان
Consider well! We, (though apparently) sitting still, are (really) marching: don't you see that we are bound for a new place (of abode)?
نیک بنگر ما نشسته میرویم ** مینبینی قاصد جای نویم
You do not get (and spend) your capital for any present need; nay, but (you keep it) for your ultimate purposes.
بهر حالی مینگیری راس مال ** بلک از بهر غرضها در مل
The traveller, then, O devotee of the Way, is he whose march and face are towards the future,
پس مسافر این بود ای رهپرست ** که مسیر و روش در مستقبلست
Even as the troops of Phantasy are at every moment arriving (and passing) unweariedly through the curtains of the heart.2780
همچنانک از پردهی دل بیکلال ** دم به دم در میرسد خیل خیال
If (these) ideas are not (sprung) from one (and the same) Plantation, how are they coming to the heart on each other's heels?
گر نه تصویرات از یک مغرساند ** در پی هم سوی دل چون میرسند
Company after company, the army of our ideas, (impelled) by thirst, is speeding towards the fountain of the heart.
جوق جوق اسپاه تصویرات ما ** سوی چشمهی دل شتابان از ظما
They fill their jars and go: they are continually appearing and vanishing.
جرهها پر میکنند و میروند ** دایما پیدا و پنهان میشوند
Regard (your) thoughts as stars of the sky (which are) revolving in the sphere of another heaven.
فکرها را اختران چرخ دان ** دایر اندر چرخ دیگر آسمان
(If) you have experienced good fortune (spiritual thoughts), give thanks (to God) and do works of charity; (if) you have experienced bad fortune (sensual thoughts), give alms and ask pardon (of God).2785
سعد دیدی شکر کن ایثار کن ** نحس دیدی صدقه و استغفار کن
Who am I in relation to this? Come, O my King, make my ruling star auspicious and wheel once (towards me).
ما کییم این را بیا ای شاه من ** طالعم مقبل کن و چرخی بزن
Illumine my spirit with moonbeams, for my soul is blackened (eclipsed) by contact with the (Dragon's) Tail.
روح را تابان کن از انوار ماه ** که ز آسیب ذنب جان شد سیاه