The water-bird (his soul) was plunged in a sea of honey— the fountain of Job, to drink and wash in,
مرغ آبی غرق دریای عسل ** عین ایوبی شراب و مغتسل
Whereby Job, from his feet to the crown of his head, was purged of afflictions (and made pure) like the light of the sunrise.
که بدو ایوب از پا تا به فرق ** پاک شد از رنجها چون نور شرق
If the Mathnawí were as the sky in magnitude, not half the portion of this (mystery) would find room in it,
مثنوی در حجم گر بودی چو چرخ ** درنگنجیدی در او زین نیم برخ
For the exceeding broad earth and sky (of the material world) caused my heart, from (their) narrowness (in comparison with the spiritual universe), to be rent in pieces;
کان زمین و آسمان بس فراخ ** کرد از تنگی دلم را شاخ شاخ
And this world that was revealed to me in this dream (of the minstrel) has spread wide my wings and pinions because of (its vast) expansion.2100
وین جهانی کاندر این خوابم نمود ** از گشایش پر و بالم را گشود
If this world and the way to it were manifest, no one would remain there (in the material world) for a single moment.
این جهان و راهش ار پیدا بدی ** کم کسی یک لحظه‌‌ای آن جا بدی
The (Divine) command was coming (to the minstrel)—“Nay, be not covetous: inasmuch as the thorn is out of thy foot, depart”—
امر می‌‌آمد که نی طامع مشو ** چون ز پایت خار بیرون شد برو
(Whilst) his soul was lingering there in the spacious demesne of His (God's) mercy and beneficence.
مول مولی می‌‌زد آن جا جان او ** در فضای رحمت و احسان او
How the heavenly voice spoke to ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, while he was asleep, saying, “Give a certain sum of gold from the public treasury to the man who is sleeping in the graveyard.”
در خواب گفتن هاتف مر عمر را رضی الله عنه که چندین زر از بیت المال به آن مرد ده که در گورستان خفته است
Then God sent such a drowsiness upon ‘Umar that he was unable to keep himself from slumber.
آن زمان حق بر عمر خوابی گماشت ** تا که خویش از خواب نتوانست داشت
He fell into amazement saying, “This is (a thing) unknown. This has fallen from the Unseen, ’tis not without purpose.”2105
در عجب افتاد کاین معهود نیست ** این ز غیب افتاد بی‌‌مقصود نیست
He laid his head down, and slumber overtook him. He dreamed that a voice came to him from God: his spirit heard
سر نهاد و خواب بردش خواب دید ** کامدش از حق ندا جانش شنید
That voice which is the origin of every cry and sound: that indeed is the (only) voice, and the rest are echoes.
آن ندایی کاصل هر بانگ و نواست ** خود ندا آن است و این باقی صداست
Turcoman and Kurd and Persian-speaking man and Arab have understood that voice without (help of) ear or lip.
ترک و کرد و پارسی گو و عرب ** فهم کرده آن ندا بی‌‌گوش و لب
Ay, (but) what of Turcomans, Persians, and Ethiopians? (Even) wood and stone have understood that voice.
خود چه جای ترک و تاجیک است و زنگ ** فهم کرده ست آن ندا را چوب و سنگ
Every moment there is coming from Him (the call), “Am not I (your Lord)?” and substance and accidents are becoming existent.2110
هر دمی از وی همی‌‌آید أ لست ** جوهر و اعراض می‌‌گردند هست
If (the answer) “Yea” is not coming from them, yet their coming from non-existence (into existence) is (equivalent to) “Yea.”
گر نمی‌‌آید بلی ز یشان ولی ** آمدنشان از عدم باشد بلی
Listen to a goodly tale in explanation of what I have said concerning the (spiritual) apprehension of (possessed by) stone and wood.
ز آن چه گفتم من ز فهم سنگ و چوب ** در بیانش قصه‌‌ای هش دار خوب
How the moaning pillar complained when they made a pulpit for the Prophet, on whom be peace—for the multitude had become great, and said, “We do not see thy blessed face when thou art exhorting us”—and how the Prophet and his Companions heard that complaint, and how Mustafá conversed with the pillar in clear language.
نالیدن ستون حنانه چون برای پیغامبر علیه السلام منبر ساختند که جماعت انبوه شد گفتند ما روی مبارک تو را به هنگام وعظ نمی‌‌بینیم و شنیدن رسول و صحابه آن ناله را و سؤال و جواب مصطفی صلی الله علیه و اله و سلم با ستون صریح
The moaning pillar was complaining of (its) separation from the Prophet, just as rational beings (might do).
استن حنانه از هجر رسول ** ناله می‌‌زد همچو ارباب عقول
The Prophet said, “O pillar, what dost thou want?” It said, “My soul is turned to blood because of parting from thee.
گفت پیغمبر چه خواهی ای ستون ** گفت جانم از فراقت گشت خون
I was thy support: (now) thou hast run away from me: thou hast devised a place to lean against upon the pulpit.”2115
مسندت من بودم از من تاختی ** بر سر منبر تو مسند ساختی
“Dost thou desire,” said he, “to be made a date-palm, (so that) the people of the East and the West shall gather fruit from thee?
گفت خواهی که ترا نخلی کنند ** شرقی و غربی ز تو میوه چنند
Or that He (God) should make thee a cypress in yonder world, so that thou wilt remain everlastingly fresh and flourishing?”
یا در آن عالم حقت سروی کند ** تا تر و تازه بمانی تا ابد
It replied, “I desire that whereof the life is enduring for ever.” Hearken, O heedless one! Be not thou less than a piece of wood!
گفت آن خواهم که دایم شد بقاش ** بشنو ای غافل کم از چوبی مباش
He (the Prophet) buried that pillar in the earth, that it may be raised from the dead, like mankind, on the day of Resurrection,
آن ستون را دفن کرد اندر زمین ** تا چو مردم حشر گردد یوم دین
That (hence) thou mayst know that every one whom God has called (to Himself) remains disengaged from all the work of this world.2120
تا بدانی هر که را یزدان بخواند ** از همه کار جهان بی‌‌کار ماند
Whosoever hath his work and business from God, gains admission there and goes forth from (abandons worldly) work.
هر که را باشد ز یزدان کار و بار ** یافت بار آن جا و بیرون شد ز کار
He that hath no gift (portion) of spiritual mysteries, how should he believe in the complaining of inanimate things?
آن که او را نبود از اسرار داد ** کی کند تصدیق او ناله‌‌ی جماد
He says “Yes,” not from his heart (but) for agreement's sake, lest people should say that he is a hypocrite (in his religion).
گوید آری نه ز دل بهر وفاق ** تا نگویندش که هست اهل نفاق
Unless there were knowers of the (Divine) command “Be!”, this doctrine (that inanimate things are capable of speech) would have been rejected in the world.
گر نیندی واقفان امر کن ** در جهان رد گشته بودی این سخن
Myriads of conformists and legalists are cast into doubt by a half-imagination,2125
صد هزاران ز اهل تقلید و نشان ** افکندشان نیم وهمی در گمان
For their conformity and their drawing evidence from logical proofs and all their wings and wing-feathers (every means which they employ in order to arrive at the truth) depend on opinion.
که به ظن تقلید و استدلالشان ** قایم است و جمله پر و بالشان
The vile Devil raises a doubt (in their minds): all these blind ones fall in headlong.
شبهه‌‌ای انگیزد آن شیطان دون ** در فتند این جمله کوران سر نگون
The leg of the syllogisers is of wood: a wooden leg is very infirm,
پای استدلالیان چوبین بود ** پای چوبین سخت بی‌‌تمکین بود
Unlike the Qutb (supreme saint) of the age, the possessor of (spiritual) vision, by whose steadfastness the mountain is made giddy-headed (amazed).
غیر آن قطب زمان دیده‌‌ور ** کز ثباتش کوه گردد خیره‌‌سر
The blind man's leg is a staff, a staff, so that he may not fall headlong on the pebbles.2130
پای نابینا عصا باشد عصا ** تا نیفتد سر نگون او بر حصا
The cavalier that became (the cause of) victory for the army, who is he for (the army of) the religious? The Lord of (spiritual) sight.
آن سواری کاو سپه را شد ظفر ** اهل دین را کیست سلطان بصر
If, with (the aid of) a staff, the blind have seen their way, (yet) they are under the protection of the clear-sighted people.
با عصا کوران اگر ره دیده‌‌اند ** در پناه خلق روشن دیده‌‌اند
Were there no men of vision and (spiritual) kings, all the blind in the world would be dead.
گرنه بینایان بدندی و شهان ** جمله کوران مرده‌‌اندی در جهان
From the blind comes neither sowing nor reaping nor cultivation nor tradings and profit.
نی ز کوران کشت آید نه درود ** نه عمارت نه تجارتها و سود
If He (God) did not bestow mercy and grace upon you, the wood of your logical deduction would break.2135
گر نکردی رحمت و افضالتان ** در شکستی چوب استدلالتان
What is this staff? Inferences and (logical) demonstration. Who gave them (the blind) that staff? The all-seeing and almighty One.
این عصا چه بود قیاسات و دلیل ** آن عصا کی دادشان بینا جلیل
Since the staff has become a weapon of quarrel and attack, break that staff to pieces, O blind man!
چون عصا شد آلت جنگ و نفیر ** آن عصا را خرد بشکن ای ضریر
He gave you the staff that ye might approach (Him): with that staff ye struck even at Him in your anger.
او عصاتان داد تا پیش آمدید ** آن عصا از خشم هم بر وی زدید
O company of the blind, what are ye doing? Bring the seer between (you and God)!
حلقه‌‌ی کوران به چه کار اندرید ** دیدبان را در میانه آورید
Lay hold of His skirt who gave thee the staff: consider what (dreadful) things Adam suffered from disobedience.2140
دامن او گیر کاو دادت عصا ** در نگر کادم چها دید از عصی
Consider the miracles of Moses and Ahmad (Mohammed), how the staff became a serpent and the pillar was endowed with knowledge.
معجزه‌‌ی موسی و احمد را نگر ** چون عصا شد مار و استن با خبر
From the staff (came) a serpent and from the pillar a moaning: they (the staff and the pillar) are beating (the drums of honour) five times daily for the sake of the Religion.
از عصا ماری و از استن حنین ** پنج نوبت می‌‌زنند از بهر دین
Unless this savour (perception of spiritual truths) were non-intellectual, how should all these miracles have been necessary?
گرنه نامعقول بودی این مزه ** کی بدی حاجت به چندین معجزه
Whatever is intelligible, the intellect is swallowing (receiving) it without the evidence of miracles and without contention.
هر چه معقول است عقلش می‌‌خورد ** بی‌‌بیان معجزه بی‌‌جر و مد
This virgin (untrodden) Way deem unintelligible, deem (it) accepted in the heart of every fortunate (elect) one.2145
این طریق بکر نامعقول بین ** در دل هر مقبلی مقبول بین