Rumi's Masnavi - The points (involved in it) are sharp as a sword of steel; if you have not the shield (of capacity to understand), turn back and flee!

The points (involved in it) are sharp as a sword of steel; if you have not the shield (of capacity to understand), turn back and flee!

نکته‌‌ها چون تیغ پولاد است تیز ** گر نداری تو سپر واپس گریز

Do not come without shield against this adamant (keen blade), for the sword is not ashamed of cutting.

پیش این الماس بی‌‌اسپر میا ** کز بریدن تیغ را نبود حیا

For this cause I have put the sword in sheath, that none who misreads may read contrariwise (in a sense contrary to the true meaning of my words).

زین سبب من تیغ کردم در غلاف ** تا که کج خوانی نخواند بر خلاف‌‌

We come (now) to complete the tale and (speak) of the loyalty of the multitude of the righteous,

آمدیم اندر تمامی داستان ** وز وفاداری جمع راستان‌‌

Who rose up after (the death of) this leader, demanding a vicar in his place. 695

کز پس این پیشوا برخاستند ** بر مقامش نایبی می‌‌خواستند

The quarrel of the amírs concerning the succession.

منازعت امرا در ولیعهدی

One of those amírs advanced and went before that loyal-minded people.

یک امیری ز آن امیران پیش رفت ** پیش آن قوم وفا اندیش رفت‌‌

“Behold,” said he, “I am that man's vicar: I am the vicar of Jesus at the present time.

گفت اینک نایب آن مرد من ** نایب عیسی منم اندر زمن‌‌

Look, this scroll is my proof that after him the vicarate belongs to me.”

اینک این طومار برهان من است ** کاین نیابت بعد از او آن من است‌‌

Another amír came forth from ambush: his pretension regarding the vicegerency was the same;

آن امیر دیگر آمد از کمین ** دعوی او در خلافت بد همین‌‌

He too produced a scroll from under his arm, so that in both (amírs) there arose the Jewish anger. 700

از بغل او نیز طوماری نمود ** تا بر آمد هر دو را خشم جهود

The rest of the amírs, one after another, drawing swords of keen mettle,

آن امیران دگر یک یک قطار ** بر کشیده تیغهای آب دار

Each with a sword and a scroll in his hand, fell to combat like raging elephants.

هر یکی را تیغ و طوماری به دست ** درهم‌‌افتادند چون پیلان مست‌‌

Hundreds of thousands of Christians were slain, so that there were mounds of severed heads;

صد هزاران مرد ترسا کشته شد ** تا ز سرهای بریده پشته شد

Blood flowed, on left and right, like a torrent; mountains of this dust (of battle) rose in the air.

خون روان شد همچو سیل از چپ و راست ** کوه کوه اندر هوا زین گرد خاست‌‌

The seeds of dissension which he (the vizier) had sown had become a calamity (cause of destruction) to their heads. 705

تخمهای فتنه‌‌ها کاو کشته بود ** آفت سرهای ایشان گشته بود

The walnuts (bodies) were broken, and those which had the kernel had, after being slain, a spirit pure and fair.

جوزها بشکست و آن کان مغز داشت ** بعد کشتن روح پاک نغز داشت‌‌

Slaughter and death which befalls the bodily frame is like breaking pomegranates and apples:

کشتن و مردن که بر نقش تن است ** چون انار و سیب را بشکستن است‌‌

That which is sweet becomes pomegranate-syrup, and that which is rotten is naught but noise:

آن چه شیرین است او شد ناردانگ ** و آن که پوسیده ست نبود غیر بانگ‌‌

That which has reality is made manifest (after death), and that which is rotten is put to shame.

آن چه با معنی است خود پیدا شود ** و آن چه پوسیده ست او رسوا شود

Go, strive after reality, O worshipper of form, inasmuch as reality is the wing on form's body. 710

رو به معنی کوش ای صورت پرست ** ز آن که معنی بر تن صورت پر است‌‌

Consort with the followers of reality, that you may both win the gift and be generous (in giving yourself up to God).

همنشین اهل معنی باش تا ** هم عطا یابی و هم باشی فتا

Beyond dispute, in this body the spirit devoid of reality is even as a wooden sword in the sheath:

جان بی‌‌معنی در این تن بی‌‌خلاف ** هست همچون تیغ چوبین در غلاف‌‌

Whilst it remains in the sheath, it is (apparently) valuable, (but) when it has come forth it is an implement (only fit) for burning.

تا غلاف اندر بود با قیمت است ** چون برون شد سوختن را آلت است‌‌

Do not take a wooden sword into the battle! First see (whether your sword is a real one), in order that your plight may not be wretched.

تیغ چوبین را مبر در کارزار ** بنگر اول تا نگردد کار زار

If it is made of wood, go, seek another; and if it is adamant, march forward joyously. 715

گر بود چوبین برو دیگر طلب ** ور بود الماس پیش آ با طرب‌‌

The sword (of reality) is in the armoury of the saints: to see (and associate with) them is for you (as precious as) the Elixir.

تیغ در زرادخانه‌‌ی اولیاست ** دیدن ایشان شما را کیمیاست‌‌

All the wise have said this same thing: the wise man is a (Divine) mercy to created beings.

جمله دانایان همین گفته همین ** هست دانا رحمة للعالمین‌‌

If you would buy a pomegranate, buy (it when it is) laughing (having its rind cleft open), so that its laughter (openness) may give information as to its seeds.

گر اناری می‌‌خری خندان بخر ** تا دهد خنده ز دانه‌‌ی او خبر

Oh, blessed is its laughter, for through its mouth it shows the heart, like a pearl from the casket of the spirit.

ای مبارک خنده‌‌اش کاو از دهان ** می‌‌نماید دل چو در از درج جان‌‌

Unblest was the laughter (openness) of the red anemone, from whose mouth appeared the blackness of its heart. 720

نامبارک خنده‌‌ی آن لاله بود ** کز دهان او سیاهی دل نمود

The laughing pomegranate makes the garden laughing (gay and blooming): companionship with (holy) men makes you one of the (holy) men.

نار خندان باغ را خندان کند ** صحبت مردانت از مردان کند

Though you be rock or marble, you will become a jewel when you reach the man of heart (the saint).

گر تو سنگ صخره و مرمر شوی ** چون به صاحب دل رسی گوهر شوی‌‌

Plant the love of the holy ones within your spirit; do not give your heart (to aught) save to the love of them whose hearts are glad.

مهر پاکان در میان جان نشان ** دل مده الا به مهر دل خوشان‌‌

Go not to the neighbourhood of despair: there are hopes. Go not in the direction of darkness: there are suns.

کوی نومیدی مرو امیدهاست ** سوی تاریکی مرو خورشیدهاست‌‌

The heart leads you into the neighbourhood of the men of heart (the saints); the body leads you into the prison of water and earth. 725

دل ترا در کوی اهل دل کشد ** تن ترا در حبس آب و گل کشد

Oh, give your heart food from (conversation with) one who is in accord with it; go, seek (spiritual) advancement from one who is advanced.

هین غذای دل بده از هم دلی ** رو بجو اقبال را از مقبلی‌‌

How honour was paid to the description of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, which was mentioned in the Gospel.

تعظیم نعت مصطفی علیه السلام که مذکور بود در انجیل

The name of Mustafá was in the Gospel—(Mustafá) the chief of the prophets, the sea of purity.

بود در انجیل نام مصطفی ** آن سر پیغمبران بحر صفا

There was mention of his (external) characteristics and appearance; there was mention of his warring and fasting and eating.

بود ذکر حلیه‌‌ها و شکل او ** بود ذکر غزو و صوم و اکل او

A party among the Christians, for the sake of the Divine reward, whenever (in reading the Gospel) they came to that name and allocution,

طایفه‌‌ی نصرانیان بهر ثواب ** چون رسیدندی بدان نام و خطاب‌‌

Would bestow kisses on that noble name and stoop their faces towards that beauteous description. 730

بوسه دادندی بر آن نام شریف ** رو نهادندی بر آن وصف لطیف‌‌

In this tribulation of which we have told, that party were secure from tribulation and dread,

اندر این فتنه که گفتیم آن گروه ** ایمن از فتنه بدند و از شکوه‌‌

Secure from the mischief of the amírs and the vizier, seeking refuge in the protection of the Name of Ahmad (Mohammed).

ایمن از شر امیران و وزیر ** در پناه نام احمد مستجیر

Their offspring also multiplied: the Light of Ahmad aided and befriended them.

نسل ایشان نیز هم بسیار شد ** نور احمد ناصر آمد یار شد

And the other party among the Christians (who) were holding the Name of Ahmad in contempt,

و آن گروه دیگر از نصرانیان ** نام احمد داشتندی مستهان‌‌

They became contemptible and despised through dissensions caused by the evil counselling and evil-plotting vizier; 735

مستهان و خوار گشتند از فتن ** از وزیر شوم رای شوم فن‌‌

Moreover, their religion and their law became corrupted in consequence of the scrolls which set forth all perversely.

هم مخبط دینشان و حکمشان ** از پی طومارهای کژ بیان‌‌

The Name of Ahmad gives such help as this, so that (one may judge) how his Light keeps guard (over his followers).

نام احمد این چنین یاری کند ** تا که نورش چون نگهداری کند

Since the Name of Ahmad became (to the Christians) an impregnable fortress, what then must be the Essence of that trusted Spirit?

نام احمد چون حصاری شد حصین ** تا چه باشد ذات آن روح الامین

The story of another Jewish king who endeavored to destroy the religion of Jesus.

حکایت پادشاه جهود دیگر که در هلاک دین عیسی سعی نمود

After this irremediable bloodshed which befell through the affliction (brought upon the Christians) by the vizier,

بعد از این خون ریز درمان ناپذیر ** کاندر افتاد از بلای آن وزیر

Another king, of the progeny of that Jew, addressed himself to the destruction of the people of Jesus. 740

یک شه دیگر ز نسل آن جهود ** در هلاک قوم عیسی رو نمود