Creaturely pardon is like a river and like a torrent: (all) the troop (of such pardons) run towards their ocean.
عفو خلقان هم‌چو جو و هم‌چو سیل ** هم بدان دریای خود تازند خیل
Every night from these individual hearts the pardons come to Thee, O King, like pigeons.
عفوها هر شب ازین دل‌پاره‌ها ** چون کبوتر سوی تو آید شها
At the hour of dawn Thou causest them to fly away again, and imprisonest them in these bodies till nightfall.
بازشان وقت سحر پران کنی ** تا به شب محبوس این ابدان کنی
Once more, at eventide, flapping their wings they fly off in passionate longing for that palace and roof.
پر زنان بار دگر در وقت شام ** می‌پرند از عشق آن ایوان و بام
In order that they may snap the thread that unites them with the body, they come before Thee, for by Thee they are endowed with fortune—4180
تا که از تن تار وصلت بسکلند ** پیش تو آیند کز تو مقبلند
Flapping their wings, secure from falling back headlong, (soaring) in the (spiritual) air and saying, “Verily unto Him we are returning.”
پر زنان آمن ز رجع سرنگون ** در هوا که انا الیه راجعون
From that Bounty comes the call, “Come! After that returning (unto Me) desire and anxiety are no more.
بانگ می‌آید تعالوا زان کرم ** بعد از آن رجعت نماند از حرص و غم
As exiles in the world ye suffered many indignities: ye will have learned to value Me, O nobles.
بس غریبیها کشیدیت از جهان ** قدر من دانسته باشید ای مهان
Hark now, stretch your legs beneath the shade of this tree of Mine in the intoxication of delight,
زیر سایه‌ی این درختم مست ناز ** هین بیندازید پاها را دراز
(Stretch) your legs, (which are) fatigued by (travel on) the Way of Religion, resting for ever on the bosoms and hands of the houris,4185
پایهای پر عنا از راه دین ** بر کنار و دست حوران خالدین
(While) the houris amorously and fondly say, ‘These Súfís have returned from their travels.
حوریان گشته مغمز مهربان ** کز سفر باز آمدند این صوفیان
The Súfís pure as the light of the sun, who for a long time had fallen into (the world of) earth and filth,
صوفیان صافیان چون نور خور ** مدتی افتاده بر خاک و قذر
Have (now) come back stainless and undefiled, as the sunlight to the lofty orb (of the sun).’”
بی‌اثر پاک از قذر باز آمدند ** هم‌چو نور خور سوی قرص بلند
(Ayáz said), “This company of sinners likewise, O glorious (King)—all their heads have come against a wall.
این گروه مجرمان هم ای مجید ** جمله سرهاشان به دیواری رسید
They have become aware of their fault and sin, although they were defeated by the King's two dice.4190
بر خطا و جرم خود واقف شدند ** گرچه مات کعبتین شه بدند
Now they turn their faces towards thee, uttering cries of lamentation. O thou whose clemency is making way for sinners,
رو به تو کردند اکنون اه‌کنان ** ای که لطفت مجرمان را ره‌کنان
Speedily grant the defiled ones admission into the Euphrates of (thy) pardon and the fountain (which is) a (cool) washing-place,
راه ده آلودگان را العجل ** در فرات عفو و عین مغتسل
That they may wash themselves clean of that prolonged sin and join in prayer among the ranks of the purified—
تا که غسل آرند زان جرم دراز ** در صف پاکان روند اندر نماز
Among those innumerable ranks plunged in the light of ‘We are they that stand in line.’”
اندر آن صفها ز اندازه برون ** غرقگان نور نحن الصافون
When the discourse reached the description of this (exalted) state, at once the pen broke and the paper tore.4195
چون سخن در وصف این حالت رسید ** هم قلم بشکست و هم کاغذ درید
Did any saucer measure the sea? Did a lamb ever carry off a lion?
بحر را پیمود هیچ اسکره‌ای ** شیر را برداشت هرگز بره‌ای
If you are veiled, go forth from enveilment, that you may behold the marvellous sovereignty (of God).
گر حجابستت برون رو ز احتجاب ** تا ببینی پادشاهی عجاب
Although the drunken fellows broke Thy cup, (yet) there is an excuse for him that is intoxicated by Thee.
گرچه بشکستند حامت قوم مست ** آنک مست از تو بود عذریش هست
Is not their intoxication with fortune and riches (the result) of Thy wine, O Thou whose actions are sweet?
مستی ایشان به اقبال و به مال ** نه ز باده‌ی تست ای شیرین فعال
O Emperor, they are intoxicated with Thy election (of them): pardon him that is intoxicated with Thee, O Pardoner!4200
ای شهنشه مست تخصیص توند ** عفو کن از مست خود ای عفومند
The delight of being elected (singled out) by Thee at the moment of Thy addressing them has an effect that is not produced by a hundred jars of wine.
لذت تخصیص تو وقت خطاب ** آن کند که ناید از صد خم شراب
Since Thou hast intoxicated me, do not inflict a penalty: the Law does not see fit to inflict a penalty on the intoxicated.
چونک مستم کرده‌ای حدم مزن ** شرع مستان را نبیند حد زدن
Inflict it (only) at the time when I become sober; for indeed I shall never become sober (again).
چون شوم هشیار آنگاهم بزن ** که نخواهم گشت خود هشیار من
Whoso has drunk of Thy cup, O Gracious One, is for ever delivered from self consciousness and from the infliction of penalties.
هرکه از جام تو خورد ای ذوالمنن ** تا ابد رست از هش و از حد زدن
Their intoxication consists in a state of unconsciousness of self (faná), (in which they are) abiding for ever: he that passes away from self in love for Thee will not arise.4205
خالدین فی فناء سکرهم ** من تفانی فی هواکم لم یقم
Thy grace saith to our heart, “Go, O thou who hast become in pawn to the buttermilk of My love.
فضل تو گوید دل ما را که رو ** ای شده در دوغ عشق ما گرو
Thou hast fallen, like a gnat, into My buttermilk: O gnat, thou art not intoxicated, thou art the wine (itself).
چون مگس در دوغ ما افتاده‌ای ** تو نه‌ای مست ای مگس تو باده‌ای
O gnat, the vultures become intoxicated by thee, when thou ridest on the ocean of honey.
کرگسان مست از تو گردند ای مگس ** چونک بر بحر عسل رانی فرس
The mountains are tipsy with thee (and dance) like motes; the point and the compass and the line are in thy hand (control).
کوهها چون ذره‌ها سرمست تو ** نقطه و پرگار و خط در دست تو
The torment at which they tremble is trembling at thee: every costly pearl is cheap to thee.”4210
فتنه که لرزند ازو لرزان تست ** هر گران‌قیمت گهر ارزان تست
If God gave me five hundred mouths, I would sing in description (praise) of thee, O (my) soul and world;
گر خدا دادی مرا پانصد دهان ** گفتمی شرح تو ای جان و جهان