Though (one equal to) a hundred like me would not have the strength to bear the Sea, yet I cannot refrain from the drowning waters of the Sea.
گر چه صد چون من ندارد تاب بحر ** لیک مینشکیبم از غرقاب بحر
May my soul and mind be a sacrifice to the Sea: this Sea has paid the blood-price of mind and soul.
جان و عقل من فدای بحر باد ** خونبهای عقل و جان این بحر داد
I will march in It as long as my feet move; when feet remain not, I am (plunged) in It, like ducks.
تا که پایم میرود رانم در او ** چون نماند پا چو بطانم در او
An unrespectful person present is better than one absent: though the ring be crooked, is it not on the door?1360
بیادب حاضر ز غایب خوشتر است ** حلقه گر چه کژ بود نه بر در است
O defiled in body, frequent the tank: outside of the tank, how shall a man be cleansed?
ای تن آلوده به گرد حوض گرد ** پاک کی گردد برون حوض مرد
The pure one who has been banished from the tank becomes far also from his purity.
پاک کاو از حوض مهجور اوفتاد ** او ز پاکی خویش هم دور اوفتاد
The purity of this tank is infinite; the purity of bodies is of little weight,
پاکی این حوض بیپایان بود ** پاکی اجسام کم میزان بود
Because the heart (though it) is a tank, yet in ambush (out of sight) it has a hidden channel to the Sea.
ز انکه دل حوض است لیکن در کمین ** سوی دریا راه پنهان دارد این
Your finite purity wants reinforcement; otherwise, number is diminished in (the course of) expenditure.1365
پاکی محدود تو خواهد مدد ** ور نه اندر خرج کم گردد عدد
The water said to the defiled one, “Hasten (to come) into me.” The defiled one said, “I feel shame before the water.”
آب گفت آلوده را در من شتاب ** گفت آلوده که دارم شرم از آب
Said the water, “Without me how shall this shame go? Without me how shall this defilement be removed?”
گفت آب این شرم بیمن کی رود ** بیمن این آلوده زایل کی شود
Every defiled one who hides from the water is (an example of the saying that) “Shame hinders Faith.”
ز آب هر آلوده کاو پنهان شود ** الحیاء یمنع الإیمان بود
The heart is muddied by the steps of the body's tank; the body is cleansed by the water of the heart's tanks.
دل ز پایهی حوض تن گلناک شد ** تن ز آب حوض دلها پاک شد
Haunt the steps of the heart's tank, O son; take heed and always beware of the steps of the body's tank.1370
گرد پایهی حوض دل گرد ای پسر ** هان ز پایهی حوض تن میکن حذر
The sea of the body is dashing against the sea of the heart, (but) between them is a barrier which they shall not cross.
بحر تن بر بحر دل بر هم زنان ** در میانشان برزخ لا یبغیان
Whether you be straight (righteous) or crooked, always creep forwards to Him; do not creep backwards.
گر تو باشی راست ور باشی تو کژ ** پیشتر میغژ بدو واپس مغژ
If in the presence of kings there be danger to life, yet they that aspire cannot refrain from (presence with) Him.
پیش شاهان گر خطر باشد به جان ** لیک نشکیبد از او با همتان
Since the King is sweeter than sugar, ’tis better that life should go (as a sacrifice) to (that) sweetness.
شاه چون شیرینتر از شکر بود ** جان به شیرینی رود خوشتر بود
O blamer (of lovers), safety be thine! O seeker of safety, thou art infirm.1375
ای ملامت گر سلامت مر ترا ** ای سلامت جو تویی واهی العری
My soul is a furnace: it is happy with the fire: ’tis enough for the furnace that it is the fire's house.
جان من کوره ست با آتش خوش است ** کوره را این بس که خانهی آتش است
For Love, as (for) the furnace, there is something to be burned: any one that is blind to this is not a furnace.
همچو کوره عشق را سوزیدنی است ** هر که او زین کور باشد کوره نیست
When the provision of unprovidedness has become your provision, you have gained life everlasting, and death is gone.
برگ بیبرگی ترا چون برگ شد ** جان باقی یافتی و مرگ شد
When the pain (of love) has begun to increase your (spiritual) joy, roses and lilies have taken possession of the garden of your soul.
چون ترا غم شادی افزودن گرفت ** روضهی جانت گل و سوسن گرفت
That which is the dread of others is your safety (safeguard): the duck is (made) strong by the river, the domestic fowl weak.1380
آن چه خوف دیگران آن امن تست ** بط قوی از بحر و مرغ خانه سست
Once more have I become mad, O Physician! Once more have I become frenzied, O Beloved!
باز دیوانه شدم من ای طبیب ** باز سودایی شدم من ای حبیب
The rings (links) of Thy chain are multiform: every single ring gives a different madness.
حلقههای سلسلهی تو ذو فنون ** هر یکی حلقه دهد دیگر جنون
The gift of every ring is (consists in) different forms: therefore I have a different madness at every moment.
داد هر حلقه فنونی دیگر است ** پس مرا هر دم جنونی دیگر است
So “Madness is of different forms”—this has become a proverb; especially (is it true) as regards the chain of this most glorious Prince.
پس فنون باشد جنون این شد مثل ** خاصه در زنجیر این میر اجل
Such a madness has broken the bonds (of my reason) that all madmen would give me admonition.1385
آن چنان دیوانگی بگسست بند ** که همه دیوانگان پندم دهند
How friends came to the madhouse for Dhu ’l-Nún—may God sanctify his honoured spirit!
آمدن دوستان به بیمارستان جهت پرسش ذو النون مصری
It so happened to Dhu ’l-Nún the Egyptian that a new agitation and madness was born within him.
این چنین ذو النون مصری را فتاد ** کاندر او شور و جنونی نو بزاد
His agitation became so great that salt (bitterness) from it was reaching (all) hearts up to above the sky.
شور چندان شد که تا فوق فلک ** میرسید از وی جگرها را نمک
Beware, O (thou of) salty soil, do not put thy agitation beside (in comparison with) the agitation of the holy lords (saints).
هین منه تو شور خود ای شوره خاک ** پهلوی شور خداوندان پاک
The people could not endure his madness: his fire was carrying off their beards.
خلق را تاب جنون او نبود ** آتش او ریشهاشان میربود
When (that) fire fell on the beards of the vulgar, they bound him and put him in a prison.1390
چون که در ریش عوام آتش فتاد ** بند کردندش به زندانی نهاد
There is no possibility of pulling back this rein, though the vulgar be distressed by this way.
نیست امکان واکشیدن این لگام ** گر چه زین ره تنگ میآیند عام
These (spiritual) kings have seen (themselves in) danger of their lives from the vulgar; for this multitude are blind, and the kings (are) without (a visible) mark.
دیده این شاهان ز عامه خوف جان ** کاین گره کورند و شاهان بینشان
When authority is in the hands of profligates, (a) Dhu ’l-Nún is inevitably in prison.
چون که حکم اندر کف رندان بود ** لاجرم ذو النون در زندان بود
The great king rides alone! Such a unique pearl in the hands of children!
یک سواره میرود شاه عظیم ** در کف طفلان چنین در یتیم
What pearl? (Nay), the Sea hidden in a drop, a Sun concealed in a mote.1395
در چه دریا نهان در قطرهای ** آفتابی مخفی اندر ذرهای
A Sun showed itself as a mote, and little by little uncovered its face.
آفتابی خویش را ذره نمود ** و اندک اندک روی خود را بر گشود
All motes vanished in it; the (whole) world became intoxicated by it and (then) became sober.
جملهی ذرات در وی محو شد ** عالم از وی مست گشت و صحو شد
When the pen (of authority) is in the hand of a traitor, unquestionably Mansúr is on a gibbet.
چون قلم در دست غداری بود ** بیگمان منصور بر داری بود
When this affair (dominion) belongs to the foolish, the necessary consequence is (that) they kill the prophets.
چون سفیهان راست این کار و کیا ** لازم آمد یقتلون الأنبیاء
Through folly the people who had lost the (right) way said to the prophets, “Lo, we augur ill from you.”1400
انبیا را گفته قومی راه گم ** از سفه إنا تطیرنا بکم
See the ignorance of the Christian appealing for protection to the Lord who was suspended (on the Cross)!
جهل ترسا بین امان انگیخته ** ز آن خداوندی که گشت آویخته
Since, according to his (the Christian's) belief, He was crucified by the Jews, how then can He protect him?
چون به قول اوست مصلوب جهود ** پس مر او را امن کی تاند نمود
Inasmuch as the heart of that King (Jesus) bleeds on account of them (the Christians), how should there be (for them) the inviolable defence of whilst thou art amongst them?
چون دل آن شاه ز ایشان خون بود ** عصمت و أنت فیهم چون بود
To the pure gold and to the goldsmith the danger from the false counterfeiter is greater (than from any one else).
زر خالص را و زرگر را خطر ** باشد از قلاب خاین بیشتر
Josephs are concealed on account of the jealousy of the ugly, for because of enemies the beautiful live in the fire (of tribulation).1405
یوسفان از رشک زشتان مخفیند ** کز عدو خوبان در آتش میزیند
Josephs are in the pit through the guile of (their) brethren, who from envy give Joseph to the wolves.
یوسفان از مکر اخوان در چهاند ** کز حسد یوسف به گرگان میدهند