Rumi's Masnavi - His (the perfect saint's) hand is the elixir that transmutes the “state”: (if) he move his hand, the copper becomes intoxicated with him.

His (the perfect saint's) hand is the elixir that transmutes the “state”: (if) he move his hand, the copper becomes intoxicated with him.

کیمیای حال باشد دست او ** دست جنباند شود مس مست او

If he will, even death becomes sweet; thorns and stings become narcissus and wild-rose.

گر بخواهد مرگ هم شیرین شود ** خار و نشتر نرگس و نسرین شود

He that is dependent on the “state” is (still) a human being: for (at one moment) he is (made) greater by the “state,” at another moment he is in decrease. 1425

آنک او موقوف حالست آدمیست ** کو بحال افزون و گاهی در کمیست

In respect of gaining (the 'state'), the Súfí is “the son of the time,” but the pure one (sáfí) is unconcerned with “time” and “state.”

صوفی ابن الوقت باشد در منال ** لیک صافی فارغست از وقت و حال

“States” are dependent on his decision and judgement; (they are) vivified by his Messiah-like breath.

حالها موقوف عزم و رای او ** زنده از نفخ مسیح‌آسای او

“Thou art in love with thy ‘state,’ thou art not in love with me; thou art attached to me in the hope of (experiencing) the ‘state.’”

عاشق حالی نه عاشق بر منی ** بر امید حال بر من می‌تنی

He that at one moment is deficient and at another moment perfect is not He that was worshipped by Khalíl (Abraham): he is one that sinks;

آنک یک دم کم دمی کامل بود ** نیست معبود خلیل آفل بود

And he that is liable to sink and is now that and (now) this is not the (true) beloved: “I love not them that sink.” 1430

وانک آفل باشد و گه آن و این ** نیست دلبر لا احب افلین

He that is now pleasing and now unpleasing, at one time water and at one moment fire,

آنک او گاهی خوش و گه ناخوشست ** یک زمانی آب و یک دم آتشست

May be the mansion of the Moon, but he is not the Moon; he may be the picture of the Adored One, but he is not conscious.

برج مه باشد ولیکن ماه نه ** نقش بت باشد ولی آگاه نه

The Súfí that seeks purity is ‘the son of the time’: he has clasped the ‘time’ tightly as (though it were) his father.

هست صوفی صفاجو ابن وقت ** وقت را همچون پدر بگرفته سخت

The pure one (sáfí) is plunged in love of the Glorious (God); he is not the son of any one, (he is) free from ‘times’ and ‘states’—

هست صافی غرق عشق ذوالجلال ** ابن کس نه فارغ از اوقات و حال

Plunged in the Light which is unbegotten: (the description) He neither begetteth nor is He begotten belongs to God (alone). 1435

غرقه‌ی نوری که او لم یولدست ** لم یلد لم یولد آن ایزدست

Go, seek a love like this, if thou art (spiritually) alive; otherwise, thou art a slave to the changing “time.”

رو چنین عشقی بجو گر زنده‌ای ** ورنه وقت مختلف را بنده‌ای

Do not regard thy ugly or beauteous form; regard Love and the object of thy search.

منگر اندر نقش زشت و خوب خویش ** بنگر اندر عشق و در مطلوب خویش

Do not regard the fact that thou art despicable or infirm; look upon thy aspiration, O noble one.

منگر آنک تو حقیری یا ضعیف ** بنگر اندر همت خود ای شریف

In whatsoever state thou be, keep searching; O thou with dry lip, always be seeking the water,

تو به هر حالی که باشی می‌طلب ** آب می‌جو دایما ای خشک‌لب

For that dry lip of thine gives evidence that at last it will reach the springhead. 1440

کان لب خشکت گواهی می‌دهد ** کو بخر بر سر منبع رسد

Dryness of lip is a message from the water (to say) that this agitation (anxious search) will certainly bring thee to the water,

خشکی لب هست پیغامی ز آب ** که بمات آرد یقین این اضطراب

For this seeking is a blessed motion; this search is a killer of obstacles on the Way to God.

کین طلب‌کاری مبارک جنبشیست ** این طلب در راه حق مانع کشیست

This search is the key to the things sought by thee; this (search) is thy army and the victory of thy banners.

این طلب مفتاح مطلوبات تست ** این سپاه و نصرت رایات تست

This search is like a cock crowing and proclaiming that the dawn is at hand.

این طلب همچون خروسی در صیاح ** می‌زند نعره که می‌آید صباح

Although thou hast no equipment, do thou be ever seeking: equipment is not necessary on the Way of the Lord. 1445

گرچه آلت نیستت تو می‌طلب ** نیست آلت حاجت اندر راه رب

Whomsoever thou seest engaged in search, O son, become his friend and cast thy head before him,

هر که را بینی طلب‌کار ای پسر ** یار او شو پیش او انداز سر

For through being the neighbour of the seekers thou (thyself) wilt become a seeker, and from the shadows (protection) of the conquerors thou (thyself) wilt become a conqueror.

کز جوار طالبان طالب شوی ** وز ظلال غالبان غالب شوی

If an ant has sought (to attain) the rank of Solomon, do not look languidly (contemptuously) on its quest.

گر یکی موری سلیمانی بجست ** منگر اندر جستن او سست سست

Everything that thou hast of wealth and (skill in) a handicraft (or profession)— was it not at first a quest and a thought?

هرچه داری تو ز مال و پیشه‌ای ** نه طلب بود اول و اندیشه‌ای

Story of the person who in the time of David, on whom be peace, used to pray night and day, crying, “Give me a lawful livelihood without trouble (on my part).”

حکایت آن شخص کی در عهد داود شب و روز دعا می‌کرد کی مرا روزی حلال ده بی رنج

In the time of the prophet David a certain man, beside every sage and before every simpleton, 1450

آن یکی در عهد داوود نبی ** نزد هر دانا و پیش هر غبی

Used always to utter this prayer: “O God, bestow on me riches without trouble!

این دعا می‌کرد دایم کای خدا ** ثروتی بی رنج روزی کن مرا

Since Thou hast created me a lazybones, a receiver of blows, a slow mover, a sluggard,

چون مرا تو آفریدی کاهلی ** زخم‌خواری سست‌جنبی منبلی

One cannot place on sore-backed luckless asses the load carried by horses and mules.

بر خران پشت‌ریش بی‌مراد ** بار اسپان و استران نتوان نهاد

Inasmuch as Thou, O perfect One, hast created me lazy, do Thou accordingly give me the daily bread by the way of laziness.

کاهلم چون آفریدی ای ملی ** روزیم ده هم ز راه کاهلی

I am lazy and sleeping in the shade in (the world of) existence: I sleep in the shade of this Bounty and Munificence. 1455

کاهلم من سایه‌ی خسپم در وجود ** خفتم اندر سایه‌ی این فضل و جود

Surely for them that are lazy and sleeping in the shade Thou hast prescribed a livelihood in another fashion.

کاهلان و سایه‌خسپان را مگر ** روزیی بنوشته‌ای نوعی دگر

Every one that has a foot (power to move) seeks a livelihood: do Thou show some pity towards every one that has no foot.

هر که را پایست جوید روزیی ** هر که را پا نیست کن دلسوزیی

Send the daily bread to that sorrowful one: cause the cloud to rain in the direction of every land.

رزق را می‌ران به سوی آن حزین ** ابر را باران به سوی هر زمین

Since the land has no foot, Thy munificence drives the clouds doubly towards it.

چون زمین را پا نباشد جود تو ** ابر را راند به سوی او دوتو

Since the babe has no foot (means of seeking nutriment), its mother comes and pours the ration (of milk) upon it. 1460

طفل را چون پا نباشد مادرش ** آید و ریزد وظیفه بر سرش

I crave a daily portion (that is bestowed) suddenly without fatigue (on my part), for I have naught of endeavour except the seeking.”

روزیی خواهم بناگه بی تعب ** که ندارم من ز کوشش جز طلب

Thus was he praying for a long time, (all) day until night and all night until morning.

مدت بسیار می‌کرد این دعا ** روز تا شب شب همه شب تا ضحی

The people were laughing at his words, at the folly of his hope, and at his contention,

خلق می‌خندید بر گفتار او ** بر طمع‌خامی و بر بیگار او

Saying, “Marvellous! What is he saying—this idiot? Or has some one given him beng (that is the cause) of senselessness?

که چه می‌گوید عجب این سست‌ریش ** یا کسی دادست بنگ بیهشیش

The way of (getting) daily bread is work and trouble and fatigue; He (God) hath given every one a handicraft and (the capacity for) seeking (a livelihood): 1465

راه روزی کسب و رنجست و تعب ** هر کسی را پیشه‌ای داد و طلب

‘Seek ye your daily portions in the means thereof: enter your dwellings by their doors.’

اطلبوا الارزاق فی اسبابها ** ادخلو الاوطان من ابوابها

At present the King and ruler and messenger of God is the prophet David, one endowed with many accomplishments.

شاه و سلطان و رسول حق کنون ** هست داود نبی ذو فنون

Notwithstanding such glory and pride as is in him, forasmuch as the favours of the Friend have chosen him out—

با چنان عزی و نازی کاندروست ** که گزیدستش عنایتهای دوست

His miracles are countless and innumerable, the waves of his bounty are tide upon tide:

معجزاتش بی شمار و بی عدد ** موج بخشایش مدد اندر مدد

When has any one, even from Adam till now, had a hundred (melodious) voices like an organ, 1470

هیچ کس را خود ز آدم تا کنون ** کی بدست آواز صد چون ارغنون

Which at every preaching causes (people) to die? His beautiful voice made two hundred human beings non-existent.

که بهر وعظی بمیراند دویست ** آدمی را صوت خوبش کرد نیست

At that time the lion and the deer unite (in turning) towards his exhortation, the one oblivious of the other;

شیر و آهو جمع گردد آن زمان ** سوی تذکیرش مغفل این از آن