This reciprocal destruction is inflicted by (every) contrary on its contrary: when there is no contrary, there is naught but everlastingness.
این تفانی از ضد آید ضد را ** چون نباشد ضد نبود جز بقا
He (God) who hath no like banished contraries from Paradise, saying, “Neither sun nor its contrary, intense cold, shall be there.”
نفی ضد کرد از بهشت آن بی‌نظیر ** که نباشد شمس و ضدش زمهریر
Colourlessness is the origin of colours, peaces are the origins of wars.
هست بی‌رنگی اصول رنگها ** صلحها باشد اصول جنگها
That world is the origin of this dolorous abode, union is the origin of every parting and separation.60
آن جهانست اصل این پرغم وثاق ** وصل باشد اصل هر هجر و فراق
Wherefore, sire, are we thus in opposition, and wherefore does unity give birth to these numbers?
این مخالف از چه‌ایم ای خواجه ما ** واز چه زاید وحدت این اعداد را
Because we are the branch and the four elements are the stock: in the branch the stock has brought its own nature into existence.
زانک ما فرعیم و چار اضداد اصل ** خوی خود در فرع کرد ایجاد اصل
(But) since the substance, (which is) the spirit, is beyond ramifications, its nature is not this (plurality); it is the nature of (the Divine) Majesty.
گوهر جان چون ورای فصلهاست ** خوی او این نیست خوی کبریاست
Perceive that wars which are the origins of peaces are like (the war of) the Prophet whose war is for God's sake.
جنگها بین کان اصول صلحهاست ** چون نبی که جنگ او بهر خداست
He is victorious and mighty in both worlds: the description of this victor is not contained in the mouth.65
غالبست و چیر در هر دو جهان ** شرح این غالب نگنجد در دهان
Still, if it is impossible to drain (drink) the Oxus, one cannot deny one's self as much (water) as will slake thirst.
آب جیحون را اگر نتوان کشید ** هم ز قدر تشنگی نتوان برید
If you are thirsting for the spiritual Ocean, make a breach in the island of the Mathnawí.
گر شدی عطشان بحر معنوی ** فرجه‌ای کن در جزیره‌ی مثنوی
Make such a great breach that at every moment you will see the Mathnawi to be only spiritual.
فرجه کن چندانک اندر هر نفس ** مثنوی را معنوی بینی و بس
When the wind sweeps away the straw from the (surface of) the river-water, the water displays its unicolouredness.
باد که را ز آب جو چون وا کند ** آب یک‌رنگی خود پیدا کند
Behold the fresh branches of coral, behold the fruits grown from the water of the spirit!70
شاخهای تازه‌ی مرجان ببین ** میوه‌های رسته ز آب جان ببین
When it (the Mathnawí) is made single (and denuded) of words and sounds and breaths, it leaves all that (behind) and becomes the (spiritual) Ocean.
چون ز حرف و صوت و دم یکتا شود ** آن همه بگذارد و دریا شود
The speaker of the word and the hearer of the word and the words (themselves)—all three become spirit in the end.
حرف‌گو و حرف‌نوش و حرفها ** هر سه جان گردند اندر انتها
The bread-giver and the bread-receiver and the wholesome bread become single (denuded) of their forms and are turned into earth,
نان‌دهنده و نان‌ستان و نان‌پاک ** ساده گردند از صور گردند خاک
But their reality, in the three (above-mentioned) categories, is both differentiated in (these) grades and permanent.
لیک معنیشان بود در سه مقام ** در مراتب هم ممیز هم مدام
In appearance they have become earth, in reality they have not; if any one say that they have, say to him, “No, they have not.”75
خاک شد صورت ولی معنی نشد ** هر که گوید شد تو گویش نه نشد
In the spiritual world all three are waiting (for the Divine command), sometimes fleeing from form and sometimes taking abode (in it).
در جهان روح هر سه منتظر ** گه ز صورت هارب و گه مستقر
(When) the (Divine) command comes—“Enter into forms”— they enter (into them); likewise at His command they become divested (of form).
امر آید در صور رو در رود ** باز هم از امرش مجرد می‌شود
Know, therefore, that (in the text) to Him belongs the creation and to Him the command “the creation” is the form and “the command” is the spirit riding upon it.
پس له الخلق و له الامرش بدان ** خلق صورت امر جان راکب بر آن
(Both) the rider and the ridden are under the authority of the King: the body is at the portal and the spirit in the audience-chamber.
راکب و مرکوب در فرمان شاه ** جسم بر درگاه وجان در بارگاه
When the King desires the water to come into the pitcher, He says to the spirit-army, “Ride!”80
چونک خواهد که آب آید در سبو ** شاه گوید جیش جان را که ارکبوا
Again, when He calls the spirit aloft, there comes from the overseers the cry, “Dismount!”
باز جانها را چو خواند در علو ** بانگ آید از نقیبان که انزلوا