Thou performest a prayer in whatever place thou mayst find, (even whilst) unclean and low (people) are running about in the house;3425
هر کجا یابی نمازی میکنی ** میدود در خانه ناپاک و دنی
Although thou knowest that any dirty child makes unclean every place he comes to."
مستحاضه و طفل و آلودهی پلید ** کرد مستعمل به هر جا که رسید
The Prophet said, “Know that God makes impure (things) pure for the (spiritually) great.
گفت پیغمبر که از بهر مهان ** حق نجس را پاک گرداند بدان
On that account the grace of God has made my place of worship to be pure (everywhere, even) up to the seventh tier (of Heaven).”
سجدهگاهم را از آن رو لطف حق ** پاک گردانید تا هفتم طبق
Beware and beware! Cease from envying the (spiritual) kings, else you will become a devil in the world.
هان و هان ترک حسد کن با شهان ** ور نه ابلیسی شوی اندر جهان
For if he drink poison, it turns to honey; (but) if you eat honey, it is poison (to you);3430
کاو اگر زهری خورد شهدی شود ** تو اگر شهدی خوری زهری بود
For he has been changed, and his action has been changed: he has become the Grace (of God), and every fire in him has been turned into Light.
کاو بدل گشت و بدل شد کار او ** لطف گشت و نور شد هر نار او
The abábíl (swifts) had the power of God (in them); else, how should a bird kill an elephant?
قوت حق بود مر بابیل را ** ور نه مرغی چون کشد مر پیل را
A number of little birds broke an (entire) army—so that you may know that that strength is from God.
لشکری را مرغکی چندی شکست ** تا بدانی کان صلابت از حق است
If temptation of this kind come to you, go, read the Súra concerning the Possessors of the Elephant.
گر تو را وسواس آید زین قبیل ** رو بخوان تو سورهی اصحاب فیل
And if you contend and engage in rivalry with him (the saint), deem me an infidel if you save your head from them.3435
ور کنی با او مری و همسری ** کافرم دان گر تو ز ایشان سر بری
How the mouse pulled (the rope attached to) the camel's nose-ring and became self conceited.
کشیدن موش مهار شتر را و متعجب شدن موش در خود
A little mouse caught in his forelegs a camel's leading-rope and from emulation went off (with it).
موشکی در کف مهار اشتری ** در ربود و شد روان او از مری
By reason of the readiness with which the camel set out along with him, the mouse was duped into thinking himself a hero.
اشتر از چستی که با او شد روان ** موش غره شد که هستم پهلوان
The ray of his thought struck the camel. He (the camel) said (aside), “I will show thee (presently)! Enjoy thyself!”
بر شتر زد پرتو اندیشهاش ** گفت بنمایم ترا تو باش خوش
(All went well) till he (the mouse) came to the bank of a great river, at which any lion or wolf would have lost heart.
تا بیامد بر لب جوی بزرگ ** کاندر او گشتی زبون پیل سترگ
There the mouse stopped and became paralysed. The camel said, “O my companion o’er hill and plain,3440
موش آن جا ایستاد و خشک گشت ** گفت اشتر ای رفیق کوه و دشت
What is this standing still (for)? Why art thou dismayed? Step (forward) like a man! Go into the river!
این توقف چیست حیرانی چرا ** پا بنه مردانه اندر جو در آ
Thou art my guide and leader: don't halt midway and be dumbfounded!”
تو قلاووزی و پیش آهنگ من ** در میان ره مباش و تن مزن
He (the mouse) said, “This is a huge and deep river: I am afraid of being drowned, O comrade.”
گفت این آب شگرف است و عمیق ** من همیترسم ز غرقاب ای رفیق
Said the camel, “Let me see the limit (depth) of the water,” and he quickly set foot in it.
گفت اشتر تا ببینم حد آب ** پا در او بنهاد آن اشتر شتاب
“The water,” he said, “is (only) up to the knee. O blind mouse, wherefore didst thou become dismayed and lose thy wits?”3445
گفت تا زانوست آب ای کور موش ** از چه حیران گشتی و رفتی ز هوش
He (the mouse) replied, “It is (as) an ant to you, but to me it is a dragon, for there are differences between one knee and another.
گفت مور تست و ما را اژدهاست ** که ز زانو تا به زانو فرقهاست
If it is (only) up to your knee, O excellent one, it is a hundred ells higher than the crown of my head.”
گر ترا تا زانو است ای پر هنر ** مر مرا صد گز گذشت از فرق سر
He (the camel) said, “Another time, do not behave (so) boldly, lest thy body and soul be consumed by these sparks.
گفت گستاخی مکن بار دگر ** تا نسوزد جسم و جانت زین شرر
Contend with mice like thyself: a mouse has nothing to say to a camel.”
تو مری با مثل خود موشان بکن ** با شتر مر موش را نبود سخن
He (the mouse) said, “I repent. For God's sake, get me across this deadly water!”3450
گفت توبه کردم از بهر خدا ** بگذران زین آب مهلک مر مرا
The camel took pity. “Hark,” said he, “jump up and sit on my hump.
رحم آمد مر شتر را گفت هین ** برجه و بر کودبان من نشین
This passage has been vouchsafed to me: I would take across hundreds of thousands like thee.”
این گذشتن شد مسلم مر مرا ** بگذرانم صد هزاران چون ترا
Since you are not a prophet, go on the road (after the prophets), that one day you may come from the pit (of fleshliness) to (spiritual) place and power.
چون پیمبر نیستی پس رو به راه ** تا رسی از چاه روزی سوی جاه
Be a vassal since you are not a lord: do not steer (the boat) yourself, since you are not the boatman.
تو رعیت باش چون سلطان نهای ** خود مران چون مرد کشتیبان نهای
Since you are not (spiritually) perfect, do not take a shop (by yourself) alone. Be pliant to the hand, in order that you may become leavened (like dough).3455
چون نهای کامل دکان تنها مگیر ** دستخوش میباش تا گردی خمیر
Give ear to (the Divine command), “Keep silence,” be mute; since you have not become the tongue (mouthpiece) of God, be an ear.
أنصتوا را گوش کن خاموش باش ** چون زبان حق نگشتی گوش باش
And if you speak, speak in the form of a request for explanation: speak to the (spiritual) emperors as a lowly beggar.
ور بگویی شکل استفسار گو ** با شهنشاهان تو مسکینوار گو
The beginning of pride and hatred is in (worldly) lust, and the rootedness of your lust is from habit.
ابتدای کبر و کین از شهوت است ** راسخی شهوتت از عادت است
When an evil disposition becomes confirmed by habit, you are enraged with any one who restrains you.
چون ز عادت گشت محکم خوی بد ** خشم آید بر کسی کت واکشد
After you have become an eater of clay, any one who restrains you from (eating) clay is your enemy.3460
چون که تو گل خوار گشتی هر که او ** واکشد از گل ترا باشد عدو
Since idolaters are devoted to the idol, they are foes to them that prevent their access (to it).
بت پرستان چون که خو با بت کنند ** مانعان راه بت را دشمنند
Since Iblís had become accustomed to being leader, he in his folly regarded Adam with contempt.
چون که کرد ابلیس خو با سروری ** دید آدم را حقیر او از خری
Saying, “Is there another leader superior to me, so that he should be worshipped by one like me?”
که به از من سروری دیگر بود ** تا که او مسجود چون من کس شود
Leadership is poison, except to the spirit that from the beginning hath (in himself) abundance of the antidote.
سروری زهر است جز آن روح را ** کاو بود تریاق لانی ز ابتدا
If the mountain is full of snakes, have no fear, for it is a mine of antidote within.3465
کوه اگر پر مار شد باکی مدار ** کاو بود در اندرون تریاقزار
When leadership has become a bosom-friend to your brain, any one who breaks (thwarts) you becomes (as) an ancient adversary.
سروری چون شد دماغت را ندیم ** هر که بشکستت شود خصم قدیم
When any one contradicts your disposition (habit of mind), many feelings of hatred against him arise in you.
چون خلاف خوی تو گوید کسی ** کینهها خیزد ترا با او بسی
“He is tearing me (you say) from my (engrained) disposition, he is making himself like a captain over me.”
که مرا از خوی من بر میکند ** خویش را بر من چو سرور میکند
Unless the evil disposition has become headstrong in him, how should the fire (of passion) blaze up in him through being opposed?
چون نباشد خوی بد سرکش در او ** کی فروزد آن خلاف آتش در او
He may show some feigned courtesy to the opponent, he may make a place for himself in his heart,3470
با مخالف او مدارایی کند ** در دل او خویش را جایی کند
(But he really hates him), because the evil disposition has waxed strong: the ant of (worldly) lust has through habit become as a snake.
ز انکه خوی بد بگشته ست استوار ** مور شهوت شد ز عادت همچو مار
Kill the snake of lust in tribulation; else, look you, your snake is become a dragon.
مار شهوت را بکش در ابتدا ** ور نه اینک گشت مارت اژدها
But every one deems his own snake an ant: do you (then) seek the explanation of yourself (your real state) from him that is lord of the heart.
لیک هر کس مور بیند مار خویش ** تو ز صاحب دل کن استفسار خویش
Until copper becomes gold, it does not know itself to be copper: until the heart becomes a king, it does not know itself to be an insolvent.
تا نشد زر مس نداند من مسم ** تا نشد شه دل نداند مفلسم