When the bear cried out for help against the dragon, a valiant man removed it from the (dragon's) claws.1970
خرس چون فریاد کرد از اژدها ** شیر مردی کرد از جنگش جدا
Cunning and courage gave support to each other: by this strength he slew the dragon.
حیلت و مردی بهم دادند پشت ** اژدها را او بدین قوت بکشت
The dragon has strength, (but) it has not cunning; again, there is a cunning above your cunning.
اژدها را هست قوت حیله نیست ** نیز فوق حیلهی تو حیلهای است
When you have regarded your own cunning, go back (and see) whence it came: go to the origin.
حیلهی خود را چو دیدی باز رو ** کز کجا آمد سوی آغاز رو
Whatever is below has come from above: come on, turn your eye towards the height.
هر چه در پستی است آمد از علا ** چشم را سوی بلندی نه هلا
Looking aloft gives light, though at first it produces dazzlement; yes, it does.1975
روشنی بخشد نظر اندر علی ** گر چه اول خیرگی آرد بلی
Accustom your eye to the light; if you are not a bat, look in that direction.
چشم را در روشنایی خوی کن ** گر نه خفاشی نظر آن سوی کن
Vision of the end is the sign of your (having the) light; the lust of the moment is in truth your (dark) grave.
عاقبت بینی نشان نور تست ** شهوت حالی حقیقت گور تست
The man with vision of the end, who has seen a hundred artifices, is not like him that has (only) heard of one artifice,
عاقبت بینی که صد بازی بدید ** مثل آن نبود که یک بازی شنید
(And who) has been so befooled by that one artifice that in his pride he has become alienated from the masters.
ز آن یکی بازی چنان مغرور شد ** کز تکبر ز اوستادان دور شد
Like Sámirí, when he has seen in himself that (little) skill, through pride he has rebelled against (a) Moses.1980
سامریوار آن هنر در خود چو دید ** او ز موسی از تکبر سر کشید
He has learned that skill from (a) Moses and (then) closed his eyes to his teacher.
او ز موسی آن هنر آموخته ** وز معلم چشم را بر دوخته
Moses, of course, exhibited another artifice, so that it swept away (both) that artifice (of Sámirí) and his life.
لاجرم موسی دگر بازی نمود ** تا که آن بازی و جانش را ربود
Oh, many is the knowledge (talent) that runs in the head (and urges) that he (the owner) should become eminent—in truth, through that (knowledge) his head goes (he loses his life).
ای بسا دانش که اندر سر دود ** تا شود سرور بدان خود سر رود
If you wish not your head to be lost, be (lowly as) a foot: be under the protection of the Qutb who is possessed of discernment.
سر نخواهی که رود تو پای باش ** در پناه قطب صاحب رای باش
Though you be a king, deem not yourself above him: though you be honey, gather naught but his sugar-cane.1985
گر چه شاهی خویش فوق او مبین ** گر چه شهدی جز نبات او مچین
Your thought is the outward form, and his thought is the soul: your coin is false, and his coin is (pure as) the mine.
فکر تو نقش است و فکر اوست جان ** نقد تو قلب است و نقد اوست کان
You are (really) he: seek yourself in his “he” (personality). Say coo, coo: become a dove (flying) towards him.
او تویی خود را بجو در اوی او ** کو و کو گو فاخته شو سوی او
And if you are unwilling to serve the (holy) men of (human) kind, you are in the dragon's mouth, like the bear.
It may be that a Master will deliver you and pull you out of danger.
بو که استادی رهاند مر ترا ** و ز خطر بیرون کشاند مر ترا
As you have no strength, keep making a lamentation; since you are blind, take care, do not turn your head away from him that sees the road.1990
زاریی میکن چو زورت نیست هین ** چون که کوری سر مکش از راه بین
You are less (worse) than the bear, (for) you are not wailing at the pain. The bear was freed from pain when it made an outcry.
تو کم از خرسی نمینالی ز درد ** خرس رست از درد چون فریاد کرد
O God, make this stony heart (soft as) wax; make our wailing sweet (to Thee) and an object of (Thy) mercy!
ای خدا این سنگ دل را موم کن ** نالهی ما را خوش و مرحوم کن
How a sightless beggar said, “I have two blindnesses.”
گفتن نابینای سائل که دو کوری دارم
There was a blind man who used to say, “Pity! I have two blindnesses, O people of the time.
بود کوری کاو همیگفت الامان ** من دو کوری دارم ای اهل زمان
Therefore, hark ye, show unto me twice as much compassion, since I have two blindnesses, and I (live) between (them.)”
پس دو باره رحمتم آرید هان ** چون دو کوری دارم و من در میان
(Somebody) said, “We see one blindness of yours: what may the other blindness be? Explain.”1995
گفت یک کوریت میبینیم ما ** آن دگر کوری چه باشد وانما
He answered, “I have an ugly voice and unpleasing tones: ugliness of voice and blindness are double (blindness).
گفت زشت آوازم و ناخوش نوا ** زشت آوازی و کوری شد دوتا
My ugly cry becomes the source of annoyance: the people's love is lessened by my cry.
بانگ زشتم مایهی غم میشود ** مهر خلق از بانگ من کم میشود
Whithersoever my ugly voice goes, it becomes the source of anger and annoyance and hatred.
زشت آوازم به هر جا که رود ** مایهی خشم و غم و کین میشود
Double your compassion for (these) two blindnesses: make room (in your hearts) for one who gets so little room.”
بر دو کوری رحم را دوتا کنید ** این چنین ناگنج را گنجا کنید
The ugliness of (his) voice was diminished by this plaint: the people became of one mind in (showing) compassion for him.2000
زشتی آواز کم شد زین گله ** خلق شد بر وی به رحمت یک دله
When he had told the secret (and explained his meaning), his voice was made beautiful by the graciousness of the voice of his heart;
کرد نیکو چون بگفت او راز را ** لطف آواز دلش آواز را
But that one whose heart's voice also is bad—(for him) those three blindnesses are banishment everlasting (from the favour of God);
و انکه آواز دلش هم بد بود ** آن سه کوری دوری سرمد بود
Yet it may be that the bounteous (saints), who give without cause, will lay a hand (of blessing) upon his ugly head.
لیک وهابان که بیعلت دهند ** بو که دستی بر سر زشتش نهند
Since his (the blind beggar's) voice became sweet and pitiable, the hearts of the stony-hearted were made (soft) as wax thereby.
چون که آوازش خوش و مظلوم شد ** زو دل سنگین دلان چون موم شد
Inasmuch as the infidel's lament is ugly and (like) braying, for that (reason) it meets with no (favourable) response.2005
نالهی کافر چو زشت است و شهیق ** ز آن نمیگردد اجابت را رفیق
“Be silent” has come down (has been revealed in the Qur’án) against the ugly-voiced (infidel), for he was drunken with the people's blood, like a dog.
اخسؤا بر زشت آواز آمده ست ** کاو ز خون خلق چون سگ بود مست
Inasmuch as the lament of the bear attracts compassion, (while) your lament is not like this, (but) is unpleasing,
چون که نالهی خرس رحمت کش بود ** نالهات نبود چنین ناخوش بود
Know that you have behaved with wolfishness to (a) Joseph, or have drunk of the blood of an innocent.
دان که با یوسف تو گرگی کردهای ** یا ز خون بیگناهی خوردهای
Repent, and empty yourself of what you have drunk; and if your wound is old (and unhealed), go, cauterise (it).
توبه کن و ز خورده استفراغ کن ** ور جراحت کهنه شد رو داغ کن
Continuation of the story of the bear and of the fool who had put trust in its good faith.
تتمهی حکایت خرس و آن ابله که بر وفای او اعتماد کرده بود
The bear, too, when it was delivered from the dragon and received such kindness from that brave man—2010
خرس هم از اژدها چون وارهید ** و آن کرم ز آن مرد مردانه بدید
Like the dog of the Men of the Cave, that poor bear became an attendant at the heels of him that bore the burden (of the fight with the dragon).
چون سگ اصحاب کهف آن خرس زار ** شد ملازم در پی آن بردبار
That Moslem, from fatigue, laid down his head (to rest); the bear, from devotion (to him), became (his) guard.
آن مسلمان سر نهاد از خستگی ** خرس حارس گشت از دل بستگی
A certain man passed by and said to him, “What has happened? O brother, who is this bear (in relation) to you?”
آن یکی بگذشت و گفتش حال چیست ** ای برادر مر ترا این خرس کیست
He recounted the adventure, and the story of the dragon. The other said, “Do not set your heart on a bear, O fool!
قصه واگفت و حدیث اژدها ** گفت بر خرسی منه دل ابلها
The friendship of a fool is worse than (his) enmity: it (the bear) ought to be driven away by every means you know.”2015
دوستی ابله بتر از دشمنی است ** او بهر حیله که دانی راندنی است
He (the man with the bear) said (to himself), “By God, he has said this from envy; otherwise,” (he said aloud), “why do you look at the bearishness (of the bear)? Behold this affection (which it has for me)!”
گفت و الله از حسودی گفت این ** ور نه خرسی چه نگری این مهر بین
“The affection of fools,” said the other, “is beguiling; this envy of mine is better than its (the bear's) affection.
گفت مهر ابلهان عشوهده است ** این حسودی من از مهرش به است
Hey, come with me and drive away this bear: do not choose the bear (as your friend), do not forsake one of your own kind!”
هی بیا با من بران این خرس را ** خرس را مگزین مهل هم جنس را
“Go, go,” said he, “mind your own business, O envious man!” Said the other, “This was my business, and it was not your fortune (to follow my advice).
گفت رو رو کار خود کن ای حسود ** گفت کارم این بد و رزقت نبود