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
What happened to Joseph of Egypt on account of envy? This envy is a big wolf in covert.
از حسد بر یوسف مصری چه رفت ** این حسد اندر کمین گرگی است زفت
Of necessity, kind Jacob always had fear and dread for Joseph because of this wolf.
لاجرم زین گرگ یعقوب حلیم ** داشت بر یوسف همیشه خوف و بیم
The outward (visible) wolf, indeed, did not prowl about (approach) Joseph; (but) this envy has actually surpassed wolves (in malignity).
گرگ ظاهر گرد یوسف خود نگشت ** این حسد در فعل از گرگان گذشت
This (visible) wolf took pity (on Joseph), and by way of specious excuse came (the words), “Lo, we went to compete with one another.”1410
رحم کرد این گرگ و ز عذر لبق ** آمده که إنا ذهبنا نستبق
Hundreds of thousands of wolves have not this cunning; (but) this wolf will at last be put to shame—stop (and see)!—
صد هزاران گرگ را این مکر نیست ** عاقبت رسوا شود این گرگ بیست
Because on the Day of Bale the envious will without doubt be (raised from the dead and) brought together (to Judgement) in the shape of wolves.
ز انکه حشر حاسدان روز گزند ** بیگمان بر صورت گرگان کنند
The resurrection of the greedy vile eater of carrion (unlawful food) will be in the shape of a hog on the Day of Reckoning.
حشر پر حرص خس مردار خوار ** صورت خوکی بود روز شمار
Adulteris (erit) foetor membri latentis; wine-drinkers will have stinking mouths. [Adulturers (will) have stinking private members; wine-drinkers will have stinking mouths.]
زانیان را گند اندام نهان ** خمر خواران را بود گند دهان
The hidden stench that was reaching (only) to (people's) hearts will become sensible and manifest at the Resurrection.1415
گند مخفی کان به دلها میرسید ** گشت اندر حشر محسوس و پدید
The being of Man is a jungle: be on your guard against this being, if you are of that (Divine) Breath.
بیشهای آمد وجود آدمی ** بر حذر شو زین وجود ار ز آن دمی
In our being there are thousands of wolves and hogs; (there is) goodly and ungodly and fair and foul.
در وجود ما هزاران گرگ و خوک ** صالح و ناصالح و خوب و خشوک
To the disposition that is preponderant belongs the decision (as to what you are): when the gold is more than the copper, it (the mixture) is gold.
حکم آن خور است کان غالبتر است ** چون که زر بیش از مس آید آن زر است