In order that “I breathed of My spirit into him” may deliver thee from this (sorcery) and say (to thee), “Come higher!”
تا نفخت فیه من روحی ترا ** وا رهاند زین و گوید برتر آ
The breathing of sorcery is not consumed save by the breathing of God: this (the former) is the breathing of (Divine) wrath, (while) that (the latter) exhalation is the breathing of (Divine) love.
جز به نفخ حق نسوزد نفخ سحر ** نفخ قهرست این و آن دم نفح مهر
His mercy is prior to His wrath: (if) thou desirest priority (in spiritual rank), go, seek that (attribute) which is prior,3205
رحمت او سابقست از قهر او ** سابقی خواهی برو سابق بجو
That thou mayst attain unto the souls that are wedded; for lo, this, O ensorcelled prince, is thy way of escape.
تا رسی اندر نفوس زوجت ** کای شه مسحور اینک مخرجت
With the existence of the old woman, there can be no undoing (of the knots), (whilst thou art) in the net and in the arms of that (paramour) full of blandishments.
با وجود زال ناید انحلال ** در شبیکه و در بر آن پر دلال
Hath not the Lamp of the peoples called this world and that world the two fellow-wives (who are always quarrelling with each other)?
نه بگفتست آن سراج امتان ** این جهان و آن جهان را ضرتان
Therefore union with this (world) is separation from that (world): the health of this body is the sickness of the spirit.
پس وصال این فراق آن بود ** صحت این تن سقام جان بود
Hard is the separation from this transitory abode: know, then, that the separation from that permanent abode is harder3210
سخت می‌آید فراق این ممر ** پس فراق آن مقر دان سخت‌تر
Since it is hard for thee to be separated from the form, how hard must it be to be parted from its Maker!
چون فراق نقش سخت آید ترا ** تا چه سخت آید ز نقاشش جدا
O thou that hast not the patience to do without the vile world, how, O friend, how hast thou the patience to do without God?
ای که صبرت نیست از دنیای دون ** چونت صبرست از خدا ای دوست چون
Since thou hast not the patience to do without this black water, how hast thou the patience to do without God's (pure) fountain?
چونک صبرت نیست زین آب سیاه ** چون صبوری داری از چشمه‌ی اله
Since thou art restless without this (worldly) drink, how art thou (remaining patiently) apart from the righteous and from they shall drink (of the wine of Paradise)?
چونک بی این شرب کم داری سکون ** چون ز ابراری جدا وز یشربون
If for one moment thou behold the beauty of the Loving One and cast thy soul and existence into the fire (of love),3215
گر ببینی یک نفس حسن ودود ** اندر آتش افکنی جان و وجود
After that thou wilt regard this (worldly) drink as a carcase, when thou beholdest the glory and splendour of nighness (unto Him).
جیفه بینی بعد از آن این شرب را ** چون ببینی کر و فر قرب را
Like the prince, thou wilt attain unto thy Beloved; then thou wilt draw out from thy foot the thorn of self.
هم‌چو شه‌زاده رسی در یار خویش ** پس برون آری ز پا تو خار خویش
Strive for selflessness, find thy (true) self as soon as possible— and God best knoweth the right course.
جهد کن در بی‌خودی خود را بیاب ** زودتر والله اعلم بالصواب
Take heed, never be wedded to self: do not, like an ass, be always falling into water and mud.
هر زمانی هین مشو با خویش جفت ** هر زمان چون خر در آب و گل میفت
That stumbling arises from shortsightedness; for like a blind man, he (such a one) does not see the ups and downs.3220
از قصور چشم باشد آن عثار ** که نبیند شیب و بالا کور وار
Make the scent of Joseph's shirt thy stay, because his scent makes the eye clear.
The hidden Form and the Light of that Brow have made the eyes of the prophets far-seeing.
صورت پنهان و آن نور جبین ** کرده چشم انبیا را دوربین
The Light of that Countenance will deliver (thee) from the fire: hark, be not content with borrowed light.
نور آن رخسار برهاند ز نار ** هین مشو قانع به نور مستعار
This (borrowed) light makes the eye to see that which is transient: it makes body and mind and spirit to be scabby (diseased).
چشم را این نور حالی‌بین کند ** جسم و عقل و روح را گرگین کند
It has the appearance of light, but in reality it is fire: keep thy hands off it, if thou desire the (true) radiance.3225
صورتش نورست و در تحقیق نار ** گر ضیا خواهی دو دست از وی بدار
The eye and spirit that sees (only) the transient falls on its face continually wherever it goes.
دم به دم در رو فتد هر جا رود ** دیده و جانی که حالی‌بین بود
A far-seeing man who lacks knowledge may see far, just as (one has) far sight in dreams.
دور بیند دوربین بی‌هنر ** هم‌چنانک دور دیدن خواب در
You are asleep with parched lips on the bank of the river, and (in your dream) are running in search of water towards the mirage.
خفته باشی بر لب جو خشک‌لب ** می‌دوی سوی سراب اندر طلب
You see the mirage far away and run (towards it): you become in love with your own sight.
دور می‌بینی سراب و می‌دوی ** عاشق آن بینش خود می‌شوی
In the dream you boast to your friends, saying, “I am the one whose heart possesses vision, and (I am) the one that rends the veil.3230
می‌زنی در خواب با یاران تو لاف ** که منم بینادل و پرده‌شکاف
Lo, I see water yonder: hark, make haste that we may go there”—and ’tis (only) the mirage.
نک بدان سو آب دیدم هین شتاب ** تا رویم آنجا و آن باشد سراب
At every step you hurry farther away from the water, whilst you keep running on towards the perilous mirage.
هر قدم زین آب تازی دورتر ** دو دوان سوی سراب با غرر
Your very setting-out has become the barrier (which prevents you) from (seeing) this that has come close to you.
عین آن عزمت حجاب این شده ** که به تو پیوسته است و آمده
Oh, many a one sets out to some place from the spot where the object of his quest is (to be found).
بس کسا عزمی به جایی می‌کند ** از مقامی کان غرض در وی بود
The (far) sight and boasting of the sleeper is of no avail; it is naught but a phantasy: hold aloof from it.3235
دید و لاف خفته می‌ناید به کار ** جز خیالی نیست دست از وی بدار
Thou art sleepy, but anyhow sleep on the Way: for God's sake, for God's sake, sleep on the Way of God,
خوابناکی لیک هم بر راه خسپ ** الله الله بر ره الله خسپ
That perchance a Traveller (on the Way) may attach himself to thee and tear thee from the phantasies of slumber.
تا بود که سالکی بر تو زند ** از خیالات نعاست بر کند
(Even) if the sleeper's thought become (subtle) as a hair, he will not find the way to the Abode by that subtlety.
خفته را گر فکر گردد هم‌چو موی ** او از آن دقت نیابد راه کوی
Whether the sleeper's thought is twofold or threefold, still it is error on error on error.
فکر خفته گر دوتا و گر سه‌تاست ** هم خطا اندر خطا اندر خطاست
The waves are beating upon him without restraint, (whilst) he asleep is running in the long wilderness.3240
موج بر وی می‌زند بی‌احتراز ** خفته پویان در بیابان دراز
The sleeper dreams of the sore pangs of thirst, (whilst) the water is nearer unto him than the neck-vein.
خفته می‌بیند عطشهای شدید ** آب اقرب منه من حبل الورید
Story of the ascetic who, notwithstanding his destitution and numerous family, was rejoicing and laughing in a year of drought whilst the people were dying of hunger. They said to him, "What is the occasion for joy? It is an occasion for a hundred mournings." "For me at any rate ’tis not (so)," he replied.
حکایت آن زاهد کی در سال قحط شاد و خندان بود با مفلسی و بسیاری عیان و خلق می‌مردند از گرسنگی گفتندش چه هنگام شادیست کی هنگام صد تعزیت است گفت مرا باری نیست
Even as (for example) that ascetic was laughing in a year of drought, while all (his) folk were weeping.
هم‌چنان کن زاهد اندر سال قحط ** بود او خندان و گریان جمله رهط
So they said to him, “What is the occasion for laughter, (when) the drought has uprooted (destroyed) the true believers?
پس بگفتندش چه جای خنده است ** قحط بیخ مومنان بر کنده است
The (Divine) mercy hath closed its eyes to us: the plain is burnt by the fierce sun.
رحمت از ما چشم خود بر دوختست ** ز آفتاب تیز صحرا سوختست
Crops and vineyards and vines are standing black: there is no moisture in the earth, neither up nor down.3245
کشت و باغ و رز سیه استاده است ** در زمین نم نیست نه بالا نه پست
The people are dying from this drought and torment by tens and hundreds like fish far from the water.
خل می‌میرند زین قحط و عذاب ** ده ده و صد صد چو ماهی دور از آب
Thou art taking no pity on the Moslems; (yet) the true believers are kinsmen and one body (of) fat and flesh.
بر مسلمانان نمی‌آری تو رحم ** مومنان خویشند و یک تن شحم و لحم
The pain of one part of the body is the pain of all (its parts), whether it be the hour of peace or war.”
رنج یک جزوی ز تن رنج همه‌ست ** گر دم صلحست یا خود ملحمه‌ست
He (the ascetic) replied, “In your eyes this is a drought, (but) to my eye this earth is like Paradise.
گفت در چشم شما قحطست این ** پیش چشمم چون بهشتست این زمین
I am beholding in every desert and everywhere ears of corn in abundance, reaching up to the waist;3250
من همی‌بینم بهر دشت و مکان ** خوشه‌ها انبه رسیده تا میان
(I see) the wilderness full of ears of corn (tossed) in waves by the east-wind, (so that it is) greener than the leek.
خوشه‌ها در موج از باد صبا ** پر بیابان سبزتر از گندنا
By way of trial I am putting my hand thereon: how should I remove my hand and eye?
ز آزمون من دست بر وی می‌زنم ** دست و چشم خویش را چون بر کنم