Behold the kindness of the (Divine) Moon; for this too is His kindness, that He hath said, ‘The clouds are enemies to Us.’
لطف مه بنگر که این هم لطف اوست ** که بگفت او ابرها ما را عدوست
The Moon is independent of clouds and dust: the Moon hath His orbit aloft in the (spiritual) sky.
مه فراغت دارد از ابر و غبار ** بر فراز چرخ دارد مه مدار
The cloud is our mortal enemy and adversary because it hides the Moon from our eyes.690
ابر ما را شد عدو و خصم جان ** که کند مه را ز چشم ما نهان
This veil makes the houri (to appear as) a hag: it makes the full-moon less than a new moon.
حور را این پرده زالی می‌کند ** بدر را کم از هلالی می‌کند
The Moon hath seated us in the lap of glory: He hath called our foe His enemy.
ماه ما را در کنار عز نشاند ** دشمن ما را عدوی خویش خواند
The splendour and beauty of the cloud is (derived) from the Moon, (but) whoever calls the cloud the Moon is much astray.
تاب ابر و آب او خود زین مهست ** هر که مه خواند ابر را بس گمرهست
Since the light of the Moon has been poured down upon the cloud, its (the cloud's) dark face has been transfigured by the Moon.
نور مه بر ابر چون منزل شدست ** روی تاریکش ز مه مبدل شدست
Although it is of the same colour as the Moon and is associated with (the Moon's) empire, (yet) in the cloud the light of the Moon is (only) borrowed (impermanent).695
گرچه همرنگ مهست و دولتیست ** اندر ابر آن نور مه عاریتیست
At the Resurrection the sun and moon are discharged (from their office): the eye is occupied in (contemplating) the Source of (their) radiance,
در قیامت شمس و مه معزول شد ** چشم در اصل ضیا مشغول شد
In order that it may know (distinguish) the (permanent) possession from the (temporary) loan, and this perishable caravanseray from the everlasting abode.
تا بداند ملک را از مستعار ** وین رباط فانی از دارالقرار
The nurse is borrowed for three or four days: do thou, O Mother, take us into thy bosom!
دایه عاریه بود روزی سه چار ** مادرا ما را تو گیر اندر کنار
My feathers are (like) the cloud and are a veil and gross: (only) by the reflexion of God's loveliness are they made lovely.
پر من ابرست و پرده‌ست و کثیف ** ز انعکاس لطف حق شد او لطیف
I will pluck my feathers and their beauty from the Way (to God), that I may behold the Moon's beauty (by immediate illumination) from the Moon.700
بر کنم پر را و حسنش را ز راه ** تا ببینم حسن مه را هم ز ماه
I do not want the nurse; (my) Mother is fairer. I am (like) Moses: (my) Mother (herself) is my nurse.
من نخواهم دایه مادر خوشترست ** موسی‌ام من دایه‌ی من مادرست
I do not want (to enjoy) the loveliness of the Moon through an intermediary, for this link is perdition to the people;
من نخواهم لطف مه از واسطه ** که هلاک قوم شد این رابطه
Unless (the intermediary be) a cloud (that) becomes naughted in the Way (to God) in order that it may not be a veil to the face of the Moon.
یا مگر ابری شود فانی راه ** تا نگردد او حجاب روی ماه
In the aspect of lá (self-negation) it (such a cloud) displays His (the Moon's) form, like the bodies of the prophets and saints.
صورتش بنماید او در وصف لا ** هم‌چو جسم انبیا و اولیا
Such a cloud is not veil-tying; it is in reality veil-tearing (and) salutary.705
آنچنان ابری نباشد پرده‌بند ** پرده‌در باشد به معنی سودمند
’Tis as when, on a bright morning, drops of rain were falling though there was no cloud above (in the sky).
آنچنان که اندر صباح روشنی ** قطره می‌بارید و بالا ابر نی
That water-skin was a miracle of the Prophet: from self-effacement the cloud (which replenished it) had become of the same colour as the sky.
معجزه‌ی پیغامبری بود آن سقا ** گشته ابر از محو همرنگ سما
The cloud was (there), but the cloud-nature had gone from it: the body of the lover (of God) becomes like this by means of renunciation.
بود ابر و رفته از وی خوی ابر ** این چنین گردد تن عاشق به صبر
It is body, but corporeality has vanished from it: it has been transfigured, colour and perfume have gone from it.
تن بود اما تنی گم گشته زو ** گشته مبدل رفته از وی رنگ و بو
(My) feathers are for the sake of others, while (my) head is for my own sake: (the head which is) the abode of hearing and sight is the pillar (support) of the body.710
پر پی غیرست و سر از بهر من ** خانه‌ی سمع و بصر استون تن
Know that to sacrifice the spirit for the sake of catching others is absolute infidelity and despair of good.
جان فدا کردن برای صید غیر ** کفر مطلق دان و نومیدی ز خیر
Beware! Do not be like sugar before parrots; nay, be a poison, be secure from loss;
هین مشو چون قند پیش طوطیان ** بلک زهری شو شو آمن از زیان
Or (otherwise), for the sake of having a ‘Bravo’ addressed to thee, make thyself (as) a carcase in the presence of dogs!
یا برای شادباشی در خطاب ** خویش چون مردار کن پی کلاب
Therefore Khadir scuttled the boat for this purpose, (namely), that the boat might be delivered from him who would have seized it by force.
پس خضر کشتی برای این شکست ** تا که آن کشتی ز غاصب باز رست
(The mystery of) ‘Poverty is my pride’ is sublime: (it is) for the purpose that I may take refuge from the covetous with Him who is Self-sufficient.715
فقر فخری بهر آن آمد سنی ** تا ز طماعان گریزم در غنی
Treasures are deposited in a ruined spot to the end that they may escape the greed of those who dwell in places of cultivation.
گنجها را در خرابی زان نهند ** تا ز حرص اهل عمران وا رهند
(If) thou canst not tear out thy feathers, go, adopt (a life of) solitude, that thou mayst not be entirely squandered (consumed) by that one and this one;
پر نتانی کند رو خلوت گزین ** تا نگردی جمله خرج آن و این
For thou art both the morsel (of food) and the eater of the morsel: thou art the devourer and the devoured. Apprehend (this), O (dear) soul!
زآنک تو هم لقمه‌ای هم لقمه‌خوار ** آکل و ماکولی ای جان هوش‌دار
Explaining that everything except God is devouring and devoured, like the bird that was in pursuit of a locust and occupied in chasing it and oblivious of the hungry hawk behind its own back, that was about to seize it. Now, O hunting and devouring man, be not secure against thine own hunter and devourer. Though with the sight of the (physical) eye thou seest him not, (yet) see him with the eye of serious consideration till the opening of the eye of the inmost heart (oculus cordis).
در بیان آنک ما سوی الله هر چیزی آکل و ماکولست هم‌چون آن مرغی کی قصد صید ملخ می‌کرد و به صید ملخ مشغول می‌بود و غافل بود از باز گرسنه کی از پس قفای او قصد صید او داشت اکنون ای آدمی صیاد آکل از صیاد و آکل خود آمن مباش اگر چه نمی‌بینیش به نظر چشم به نظر دلیل و عبرتش می‌بین تا چشم نیز باز شدن
A little bird was hunting a worm: a cat found its opportunity and seized it.
مرغکی اندر شکار کرم بود ** گربه فرصت یافت او را در ربود
It (the bird) was a devourer and a thing devoured, and (being engrossed) in its hunting was ignorant of another hunter.720
آکل و ماکول بود و بی‌خبر ** در شکار خود ز صیادی دگر
Although the thief is (engaged) in hunting articles of property, (yet) the prefect of police with (the thief's) enemies is behind him (on his track).
دزد گرچه در شکار کاله‌ایست ** شحنه با خصمانش در دنباله‌ایست
His mind is occupied with chattels and lock and door: he is heedless of the prefect and of the outcry (that will arise) at dawn.
عقل او مشغول رخت و قفل و در ** غافل از شحنه‌ست و از آه سحر
He is so absorbed in his passion (for gain) he gives no heed to his seekers and pursuers.
او چنان غرقست در سودای خود ** غافلست از طالب و جویای خود
If the herbage is drinking pure water, (yet) afterwards an animal's belly will feed on it.
گر حشیش آب و هوایی می‌خورد ** معده‌ی حیوانش در پی می‌چرد
That grass is devouring and devoured: even so (is) everything that exists except God.725
آکل و ماکول آمد آن گیاه ** هم‌چنین هر هستیی غیر اله
Since He is (the subject of the text) and He feedeth you and is not fed, God is not devouring and devoured, (like) flesh and skin.
و هو یطعمکم و لا یطعم چو اوست ** نیست حق ماکول و آکل لحم و پوست
How should that which is devouring and devoured be secure from a devourer who dwells in a (secret) hiding-place?
آکل و ماکول کی ایمن بود ** ز آکلی که اندر کمین ساکن بود
The security of those who are (liable to be) devoured brings mourning in its train: go to the Portal of Him who is not fed.
امن ماکولان جذوب ماتمست ** رو بدان درگاه کو لا یطعم است
Every phantasy is devouring another phantasy: (one) thought feeds on another thought.
هر خیالی را خیالی می‌خورد ** فکر آن فکر دگر را می‌چرد
Thou canst not be delivered from any phantasy or fall asleep so as to escape from it (altogether).730
تو نتانی کز خیالی وا رهی ** یا بخسپی که از آن بیرون جهی
(Thy) thoughts are (like) hornets, and thy sleep is (like) the water (in which thou art plunged): when thou awakest, the flies (hornets) come back,
فکر زنبورست و آن خواب تو آب ** چون شوی بیدار باز آید ذباب
And many hornet-like phantasies fly in and (now) draw thee this way and (now) take thee that way.
چند زنبور خیالی در پرد ** می‌کشد این سو و آن سو می‌برد
This (mental) phantasy is the least of the devourers: the Almighty knows (how great are) the others.
کمترین آکلانست این خیال ** وآن دگرها را شناسد ذوالجلال
Hark, flee from the troop of huge devourers towards Him who hath said, ‘We are thy protector’;
هین گریز از جوق اکال غلیظ ** سوی او که گفت ما ایمت حفیظ
Or towards one who has gained that (power of) protection, if thou canst not hasten towards the Protector (Himself).735
یا به سوی آن که او آن حفظ یافت ** گر نتانی سوی آن حافظ شتافت
Do not surrender thy hand save to the hand of the Pír (spiritual director); (for) God hath become the aider of his hand.
دست را مسپار جز در دست پیر ** حق شدست آن دست او را دستگیر
The Pír (Elder), (which is) thy intellect, has become childish from being a neighbour to the carnal soul which is in the veil (of sensuality).
پیر عقلت کودکی خو کرده است ** از جوار نفس که اندر پرده است