(For) you will hear the sorrows of the heart-sick—the starvation of the noble spirit by the water and clay (of the body).
بشنوی غمهای رنجوران دل ** فاقهی جان شریف از آب و گل
(Though it is) one filled with knowledge, it hath a house filled with smoke: open a window for it by listening.485
خانهی پر دود دارد پر فنی ** مر ورا بگشا ز اصغا روزنی
When your ear becomes a way of breath (relief) for it, the bitter smoke will decrease (and disappear) from its house.
گوش تو او را چو راه دم شود ** دود تلخ از خانهی او کم شود
Show sympathy with us, O well-watered (prosperous) one, if you are faring to wards the most high Lord.
غمگساری کن تو با ما ای روی ** گر به سوی رب اعلی میروی
This vacillation is a prison and gaol that will not let the soul go in any direction.
این تردد حبس و زندانی بود ** که بنگذارد که جان سویی رود
This (motive) draws (you) in one direction, and that (motive) in another, each (motive) saying, “I am the right way.”
این بدین سو آن بدان سو میکشد ** هر یکی گویا منم راه رشد
This vacillation is a precipice on the Way to God: oh, blest is he whose feet are loosed (from its bonds).490
این تردد عقبهی راه حقست ** ای خنک آن را که پایش مطلقست
He fares on the right way without vacillation: (if) you do not know the way, seek (to find) where his footprints are.
بیتردد میرود در راه راست ** ره نمیدانی بجو گامش کجاست
Cleave to the footprints of the deer and advance safely, that from the deer's footprints you may attain to the musk-gland.
گام آهو را بگیر و رو معاف ** تا رسی از گام آهو تا بناف
By means of this wayfaring you will ascend to the most luminous zenith, O brother, if you will walk on the fire (of tribulation).
زین روش بر اوج انور میروی ** ای برادر گر بر آذر میروی
(There is) no fear of sea or waves or foam, since you have heard the (Divine) allocution, “Be not afraid.”
نه ز دریا ترس نه از موج و کف ** چون شنیدی تو خطاب لا تخف
Know that it is (a fulfilment of) Be not afraid, when God hath given you the fear (which causes you to refrain from sin): He will send the bread, since He hath sent the tray to you.495
لا تخف دان چونک خوفت داد حق ** نان فرستد چون فرستادت طبق
The fear (danger) is for that one who has no fear (of God); the anguish (is) for that one who does not frequent this place (where God is feared).
خوف آن کس راست کو را خوف نیست ** غصهی آن کس را کش اینجا طوف نیست
The Khwaja’s departure to the country.
روان شدن خواجه به سوی ده
The Khwaja got to work and made preparations (for the journey): the bird, his resolve (to set out), sped rapidly towards the country.
خواجه در کار آمد و تجهیز ساخت ** مرغ عزمش سوی ده اشتاب تاخت
His kinsfolk and children made ready for the journey and threw the baggage upon the ox of departure,
اهل و فرزندان سفر را ساختند ** رخت را بر گاو عزم انداختند
Rejoicing and hastening towards the country, saying, “We have eaten some fruit (in anticipation) : give (us) the glad news of ( arrival in) the country!
شادمانان و شتابان سوی ده ** که بری خوردیم از ده مژده ده
The place for which we are bound is a sweet pasturage, and our friend there is kind and charming.500
مقصد ما را چراگاه خوشست ** یار ما آنجا کریم و دلکشست
He has invited us with thousands of wishes, he has planted for us the shoot of kindness.
با هزاران آرزومان خوانده است ** بهر ما غرس کرم بنشانده است
From him we shall bring back to town the store of the country-side ( to sustain us) during the ling winter.
ما ذخیرهی ده زمستان دراز ** از بر او سوی شهر آریم باز
Nay, he will give up the orchard for our sake, he will make a place for us in the middle of his soul.
بلک باغ ایثار راه ما کند ** در میان جان خودمان جا کند
Hasten, friends, that ye may get gain!” (But) Reason from within was saying ( to them), “Do not rejoice!”
عجلوا اصحابنا کی تربحوا ** عقل میگفت از درون لا تفرحوا
Be gainers by the gain of God:lo, my Lord loveth not them that rejoice (overmuch).505
من رباح الله کونوا رابحین ** ان ربی لا یحب الفرحین
Rejoice (but) moderately on account of what He causeth to come to you: everything that comes and is a source of preoccupation diverts you (from Him).
افرحوا هونا بما آتاکم ** کل آت مشغل الهاکم
Rejoice in Him, do not rejoice in aught except Him: He is (as) the spring, and (all) other things (as) the month of December.
شاد از وی شو مشو از غیر وی ** او بهارست و دگرها ماه دی
Everything other than He is the (means of) leading you gradually to perdition, (even) though it is your throne and kingdom and your crown.
هر چه غیر اوست استدراج تست ** گرچه تخت و ملکتست و تاج تست
Rejoice in sorrow, for sorrow is the snare of (means of attaining to) union (with God): in this Way the ascent is downwards.
شاد از غم شو که غم دام لقاست ** اندرین ره سوی پستی ارتقاست
Sorrow is a treasure, and your pain is as the mine, but how should this (saying) catch hold of (make an impression on) children?510
غم یکی گنجیست و رنج تو چو کان ** لیک کی در گیرد این در کودکان
When children hear the name of “play,” they all run (after it) with the speed of a wild ass.
کودکان چون نام بازی بشنوند ** جمله با خر گور هم تگ میدوند
O blind asses, in this direction there are snares; in this direction there are bloodsheds (concealed) in ambush.
ای خران کور این سو دامهاست ** در کمین این سوی خونآشامهاست
The arrows are flying, (but) the bow is hidden: from the Unseen World come upon youth a hundred arrows of hoary eld.
تیرها پران کمان پنهان ز غیب ** بر جوانی میرسد صد تیر شیب
You must set foot on the plain of the heart (spirit), because in the plain of (the body’s) clay there is no opening ( for spiritual progress).
گام در صحرای دل باید نهاد ** زانک در صحرای گل نبود گشاد
The heart is the abode of security, O friends; (it has) fountains and rose-gardens within rose-gardens.515
ایمن آبادست دل ای دوستان ** چشمهها و گلستان در گلستان
Turn towards the heart and journey on, O night-travellers: therein are trees and (many) a flowing spring.
عج الی القلب و سر یا ساریه ** فیه اشجار و عین جاریه
Do not go to the country: the country makes a fool of a man, it makes the intellect void of light and splendour.
ده مرو ده مرد را احمق کند ** عقل را بی نور و بی رونق کند
O chosen one, hear the Prophet’s saying: “To dwell in the country is the grave of the intellect.”
قول پیغامبر شنو ای مجتبی ** گور عقل آمد وطن در روستا
If any one stay in the country a single day and evening, his intellect will not be fully restored for a month.
هر که را در رستا بود روزی و شام ** تا بماهی عقل او نبود تمام
For a (whole) month foolishness will abide with him: what but these things should he reap from the parched herbage of the country?520
تا بماهی احمقی با او بود ** از حشیش ده جز اینها چه درود
And he that stays a month in the country, ignorance and blindness will be his (lot) for a long time.
وانک ماهی باشد اندر روستا ** روزگاری باشدش جهل و عمی
What is “the country”? The Shaykh that has not been united (with god), but has become addicted to conventionality and argument.
ده چه باشد شیخ واصل ناشده ** دست در تقلید و حجت در زده
Compared with the town, (which is) Universal Reason, these senses (of ours) are like asses (going round and round) in an ass-mill with their eyes bandaged.
پیش شهر عقل کلی این حواس ** چون خران چشمبسته در خراس
Leave this (inner meaning) and take the outward form of the tale: let the pearlseed alone and take the cornseed.
این رها کن صورت افسانه گیر ** هل تو دردانه تو گندمدانه گیر
If there is no way to the pearl, come, take the wheat; if there is no way for you in that (direction), push on in this direction.525
گر بدر ره نیست هین بر میستان ** گر بدان ره نیستت این سو بران
Take its outward (form)! Though the outward (form) fly crookedly (not straight), the outward (form) at last will lead (you) to the inward (meaning).
ظاهرش گیر ار چه ظاهر کژ پرد ** عاقبت ظاهر سوی باطن برد
In sooth, the first (stage) of every human being is the form; after that (comes) the spirit, which is beauty of disposition.
اول هر آدمی خود صورتست ** بعد از آن جان کو جمال سیرتست
How is the first (stage) of every fruit anything but the form? After that (comes) the delicious taste which is its real meaning.
اول هر میوه جز صورت کیست ** بعد از آن لذت که معنی ویست
First they make or buy a tent; afterwards they bring the Turcoman (their beloved) as a guest.
اولا خرگاه سازند و خرند ** ترک را زان پس به مهمان آورند
Deem your form to be the tent, your real essence the Turcoman, regard your essence as the sailor, your form as the ship.530
صورتت خرگاه دان معنیت ترک ** معنیت ملاح دان صورت چو فلک
For God’s sake, quit this (topic) for a moment, so that the Khwaja’s ass may shake its bell (proceed on its journey).
بهر حق این را رها کن یک نفس ** تا خر خواجه بجنباند جرس
How the Khwaja and his family went to the country.
رفتن خواجه و قومش به سوی ده
The Khwaja and his children prepared an outfit and galloped on their beasts towards the country.
خواجه و بچگان جهازی ساختند ** بر ستوران جانب ده تاختند
Merrily they rode a field; they chanted, “Travel, that ye may gain advantage”;
شادمانه سوی صحرا راندند ** سافروا کی تغنموا بر خواندند