Every night he would break his fast with vine-tendrils (sar-i raz): during seven years he was continually (engaged) in one quest.
بود افطارش سر رز هر شبی ** هفت سال او دایم اندر مطلبی
He experienced many marvellous things from the King of existence, but his object was (to behold) the beauty of the King.
بس عجایب دید از شاه وجود ** لیک مقصودش جمال شاه بود
That man who was surfeited with himself went to the top of a mountain and said, “Appear, or I will fall (throw myself) to the bottom.”2670
بر سر که رفت آن از خویش سیر ** گفت بنما یا فتادم من به زیر
He (God) said, “The time for that favour is not (yet) come, and if thou fall down, thou wilt not die: I will not kill thee.”
گفت نامد مهلت آن مکرمت ** ور فرو افتی نمیری نکشمت
He, from love (of God), threw himself down: he fell into the depths of a (piece of) water.
او فرو افکند خود را از وداد ** در میان عمق آبی اوفتاد
When he (found that he) was not dead, on account of the shock (of disappointment) that man who was sick of life made lament over himself for having been parted from death;
چون نمرد از نکس آن جان‌سیر مرد ** از فراق مرگ بر خود نوحه کرد
For this (present) life seemed to him like a (state of) death: in his view the thing had become reversed.
کین حیات او را چو مرگی می‌نمود ** کار پیشش بازگونه گشته بود
He was begging death (as a gift) from the Unseen, he was crying, “Verily, my life is in my death.”2675
موت را از غیب می‌کرد او کدی ** ان فی موتی حیاتی می‌زدی
He had embraced death as (other people embrace) life, he had become in full accord with the destruction of his life.
موت را چون زندگی قابل شده ** با هلاک جان خود یک دل شده
As (with) ‘Alí, the sword and dagger were his sweet basil, the narcissus and eglantine were his soul's enemies.
سیف و خنجر چون علی ریحان او ** نرگس و نسرین عدوی جان او
A Voice came (to his ear), “Go from the desert to the city”— a wondrous Voice transcending the occult and the manifest.
بانگ آمد رو ز صحرا سوی شهر ** بانگ طرفه از ورای سر و جهر
He cried, “O Thou that knowest my secret, hair by hair, tell me, what service am I to do in the city?”
گفت ای دانای رازم مو به مو ** چه کنم در شهر از خدمت بگو
It (the Voice) said, “The service is this, that for the purpose of self abasement thou shouldst make thyself (like) ‘Abbás (the seller) of date-syrup.2680
گفت خدمت آنک بهر ذل نفس ** خویش را سازی تو چون عباس دبس
For a while take money from the rich and then deliver it to the lowly poor.
مدتی از اغنیا زر می‌ستان ** پس به درویشان مسکین می‌رسان
This is the service thou must do for some time.” He replied, “To hear is to obey, O Thou who art my soul's refuge.”
خدمتت اینست تا یک چند گاه ** گفت سمعا طاعة ای جان‌پناه
Many questions and answers and much conversation passed between the ascetic and the Lord of mankind,
بس سال و بس جواب و ماجرا ** بد میان زاهد و رب الوری
Whereby earth and heaven were filled with (spiritual) light: all that is recorded in the Maqálát;
که زمین و آسمان پر نور شد ** در مقالات آن همه مذکور شد
But I will cut short that dialogue, in order that every worthless person may not hear (such) mysteries.2685
لیک کوته کردم آن گفتار را ** تا ننوشد هر خسی اسرار را
How after many years the Shaykh came from the desert to the city of Ghazna and carried round the basket (as a beggar) in obedience to the behest from the Unseen and distributed amongst the poor all (the money and food) that was collected. “When any one possesses the spirit of the glory of Labbayka (devoted service), letter on letter and messenger after messenger are (sent to him),” as (when) the window of a house is open, sunbeams and moonbeams and rain and letters and so forth never cease (from coming in).
آمدن شیخ بعد از چندین سال از بیابان به شهر غزنین و زنبیل گردانیدن به اشارت غیبی و تفرقه کردن آنچ جمع آید بر فقرا هر که را جان عز لبیکست نامه بر نامه پیک بر پیکست چنانک روزن خانه باز باشد آفتاب و ماهتاب و باران و نامه و غیره منقطع نباشد
That (Shaykh who was) obedient to the (Divine) command turned his face towards the city; the city of Ghazna became illumined by his face.
رو به شهر آورد آن فرمان‌پذیر ** شهر غزنین گشت از رویش منیر
A (great) multitude joyfully went out to meet him, (but) he entered (the city) in haste and furtively.
از فرح خلقی به استقبال رفت ** او در آمد از ره دزدیده تفت
All the notables and grandees rose up and made their palaces ready to receive him,
جمله اعیان و مهان بر خاستند ** قصرها از بهر او آراستند
(But) he said, “I do not come from (motives of) self-advertisement: I come not save in humility and beggary.
گفت من از خودنمایی نامدم ** جز به خواری و گدایی نامدم
I have no intention of talking and discoursing: I will go about from door to door with a basket in my hand.2690
نیستم در عزم قال و قیل من ** در به در گردم به کف زنبیل من
I am devoted to the (Divine) edict, for ’tis commanded by God that I should be a beggar, a beggar, a beggar.
بنده فرمانم که امرست از خدا ** که گدا باشم گدا باشم گدا
I will not use choice expressions in begging: I will tread the way of none but the vile beggars,
در گدایی لفظ نادر ناورم ** جز طریق خس گدایان نسپرم
That I may be completely overwhelmed with abasement, and that I may hear abusive words from high and low.
تا شوم غرقه‌ی مذلت من تمام ** تا سقطها بشنوم از خاص و عام
God's command is my (very) soul, and I am its follower: He has commanded me to be covetous, (for) ‘base is he that covets.’
امر حق جانست و من آن را تبع ** او طمع فرمود ذل من طمع
Since the Sultan of the Judgement desires covetousness from me, dust on the head of contentment henceforth!2695
چون طمع خواهد ز من سلطان دین ** خاک بر فرق قناعت بعد ازین
He has desired covetousness: how should I be ambitious of glory? He has desired beggary: how should I exercise sovereignty?
او مذلت خواست کی عزت تنم ** او گدایی خواست کی میری کنم
Henceforth beggary and abasement are my (very) soul: in my wallet are twenty (consummate beggars like) ‘Abbás.”
بعد ازین کد و مذلت جان من ** بیست عباس‌اند در انبان من
The Shaykh would go about, with a basket in his hand, (saying, “Give) something, Sir, for God's sake, if He prompt you (to be generous).”
شیخ بر می‌گشت زنبیلی به دست ** شیء لله خواجه توفیقیت هست
His inward experiences were higher than the Footstool and the Throne (of God); his (external) business was (to cry), “Something for God's sake, something for God's sake!”
برتر از کرسی و عرش اسرار او ** شیء لله شیء لله کار او
The prophets, every one, ply this same trade: the people (to whom they are sent) are (really) destitute, (yet) they (the prophets) practise beggary,2700
انبیا هر یک همین فن می‌زنند ** خلق مفلس کدیه ایشان می‌کنند
Crying, “Lend to God, lend to God,” and persevering contrariously in (the exhortation) “Help God!”
اقرضوا الله اقرضوا الله می‌زنند ** بازگون بر انصروا الله می‌تنند
This Shaykh is going as a suppliant from door to door, (while) in Heaven a hundred doors are opened for the Shaykh,
در به در این شیخ می‌آرد نیاز ** بر فلک صد در برای شیخ باز
Because the beggary that he practised (so) diligently was for the sake of God, not for the sake of his gullet;
که آن گدایی که آن به جد می‌کرد او ** بهر یزدان بود نه از بهر گلو
And even if he had done it for the sake of his gullet, that gullet hath (is endowed with) exorbitance by the Light of God.
ور بکردی نیز از بهر گلو ** آن گلو از نور حق دارد غلو
As regards him, the eating of bread and honey and the drinking of milk is better than the forty days' seclusion and the three days' fast of a hundred dervishes.2705
در حق او خورد نان و شهد و شیر ** به ز چله وز سه روزه‌ی صد فقیر
He eats Light, do not say he eats bread: he sows anemones (though) in appearance he feeds (on them).
نور می‌نوشد مگو نان می‌خورد ** لاله می‌کارد به صورت می‌چرد
Like the flame that consumes the oil (wax) in a candle, from his eating and drinking there is an increase of light for the company.
چون شراری کو خورد روغن ز شمع ** نور افزاید ز خوردش بهر جمع
God hath said, “Be not immoderate,” in reference to the eating of bread; He hath not said, “Be satisfied,” in reference to the eating of Light.
نان‌خوری را گفت حق لاتسرفوا ** نور خوردن را نگفتست اکتفوا
The former was the gullet subject to probation, while this (saintly) gullet was free from immoderation and secure from exorbitance.
آن گلوی ابتلا بد وین گلو ** فارغ از اسراف و آمن از غلو
(In the case of the Shaykh) ’twas (by) the (Divine) command and order, not (from) greed and cupidity: a spirit like that is not a follower of greed.2710
امر و فرمان بود نه حرص و طمع ** آن چنان جان حرص را نبود تبع
If the elixir say to the copper, “Give thyself up to me,” cupidity does not prevail (over it).
گر بگوید کیمیا مس را بده ** تو به من خود را طمع نبود فره
God had offered to the Shaykh (all) the treasures of the earth down to the seventh tier;
گنجهای خاک تا هفتم طبق ** عرضه کرده بود پیش شیخ حق
(But) the Shaykh said, “O Creator, I am a lover: if I seek aught but Thee, I am impious.
شیخ گفتا خالقا من عاشقم ** گر بجویم غیر تو من فاسقم
If I should bring into view the Eight Paradises, or if I should serve Thee from fear of Hell,
هشت جنت گر در آرم در نظر ** ور کنم خدمت من از خوف سقر
(Then) I am (only) a believer seeking salvation, for both these (motives) are concerned with the body.”2715
مومنی باشم سلامت‌جوی من ** زانک این هر دو بود حظ بدن
A hundred bodies are not worth a bean in the eyes of the lover who has received nutriment from God's love;
عاشقی کز عشق یزدان خورد قوت ** صد بدن پیشش نیرزد تره‌توت
And this body which the Shaykh of insight possesses has become something different: do not call it a body.
وین بدن که دارد آن شیخ فطن ** چیز دگر گشت کم خوانش بدن