munāza'at-e-umarā dar valī 'ahadī
The quarrel of the amírs concerning the succession.
yak amīre zaañ amīrāñ pesh raft
pesh-e-āñ qaum-e-vafā andesh raft
One of those amírs advanced and
went before that loyal-minded people.
guft iinak nā.ib-e-āñ mard man
nā.ib-e-'īsā manam andar zaman
Behold, said he, I am that man's vicar:
I am the vicar of Jesus at the present time.
iinak iiñ tūmār burhān-e-manast
kiiñ niyābat baad azū ān-e-manast
Look, this scroll is my proof that after
him the vicarate belongs to me.
aañ amīr-e-dīgar aamad az kamīñ
dā'va uu dar ḳhilāfat bud hamīñ
Another amír came forth from ambush:
his pretension regarding the vicegerency was the same;
az baġhal uu niiz tūmāre numūd
tā bar aamad har-do rā ḳhashm-e-jahūd
He too produced a scroll from under his arm,
so that in both (amírs) there arose the Jewish anger.
aañ amīrān-e-digar yak-yak qatār
bar kashīda teġh-hā-e-ābdār
The rest of the amírs, one after another,
drawing swords of keen mettle,
har yake rā teġh-o-tūmāre ba-dast
dar ham uftādand chuuñ pīlān-e-mast
Each with a sword and a scroll in his hand,
fell to combat like raging elephants.
sad hazārāñ mard-e-tarsā kushta shud
tā za sar-hā-e-burīda pushta shud
Hundreds of thousands of Christians were slain,
so that there were mounds of severed heads;
ḳhuuñ ravāñ shud ham-chu sail az chap-o-rāst
koh koh andar havā ziiñ gard ḳhāst
Blood flowed, on left and right, like a torrent;
mountains of this dust (of battle) rose in the air.
tukHm-hā-e-fitna-hā kū kishta buud
āfat-e-sar-hā-e-īshāñ gashta buud
The seeds of dissension which he (the vizier) had sown
had become a calamity (cause of destruction) to their heads.
jauz-hā ba-shikast-o-āñ kaañ maġhz dāsht
bād-e-kushtan rūh-e-pāk-e-naġhz dāsht
The walnuts (bodies) were broken, and those which had the kernel had,
after being slain, a spirit pure and fair.
kushtan-o-murdan ki bar naqsh-e-tanast
chuuñ anār-o-seb rā ba-shikastanast
Slaughter and death which befalls the bodily
frame is like breaking pomegranates and apples:
āñ-che shīrīñst aañ shud nār-e-dāñg
vāñ-ki posīda-st na-buvad ġhair-e-bāñg
That which is sweet becomes pomegranate-syrup,
and that which is rotten is naught but noise:
āñ-che bā-mā'nīst ḳhud paidā shavad
vāñche posīda ast aañ rusvā shavad
That which has reality is made manifest (after death),
and that which is rotten is put to shame.
rau ba-mā'nī kosh ai sūrat parast
zāñ-ki mā'nī bar tan-e-sūrat-parast
Go, strive after reality, O worshipper of form,
inasmuch as reality is the wing on form's body.
ham-nashīn-e-ahl-e-mā'nī baash tā
ham 'atā yābī-o-ham bāshī fatā
Consort with the followers of reality, that you may both
win the gift and be generous (in giving yourself up to God).
jān-e-be-mā'nī dar iiñ tan be-kHilāf
hast ham-chūñ teġh-e-chobīñ dar ġhilāf
Beyond dispute, in this body the spirit devoid
of reality is even as a wooden sword in the sheath:
tā ġhilāf andar buvad bā qīmatast
chuuñ barūñ shud soḳhtan rā ālatast
Whilst it remains in the sheath, it is (apparently) valuable,
(but) when it has come forth it is an implement (only fit) for burning.
teġh-e-chobīñ rā ma-bar dar kār-zār
ba-nigar avval tā na-gardad kār-zār
Do not take a wooden sword into the battle! First see (whether your sword is a real one),
in order that your plight may not be wretched.
gar buvad chobīñ ba-rau dīgar talab
var buvad ilmās pesh aa bā-tarab
If it is made of wood, go, seek another;
and if it is adamant, march forward joyously.
teġh dar zarrād-kHāna-e-auliyāst
dīdan-e-īshāñ shumā rā kīmiyāst
The sword (of reality) is in the armoury of the saints: to see (and associate with)
them is for you (as precious as) the Elixir.
jumla dānāyāñ hamīñ gufta hamīñ
hast daanā rahamtul-lil-'ālamīñ
All the wise have said this same thing:
the wise man is a (Divine) mercy to created beings.
gar anāre mī-ḳharī ḳhandāñ ba-ḳhar
tā dehad ḳhanda za dāna-e-ū ḳhabar
If you would buy a pomegranate, buy (it when it is) laughing (having its rind cleft open),
so that its laughter (openness) may give information as to its seeds.
ai mubārak kHanda-ash kū az dahāñ
mī numāyad dil chu durr az durj-e-jāñ
Oh, blessed is its laughter, for through its mouth it shows the heart,
like a pearl from the casket of the spirit.
nā-mubārak kHanda-e-āñ laala buud
kaz dahān-e-ū syāhī dil numūd
Unblest was the laughter (openness) of the red anemone,
from whose mouth appeared the blackness of its heart.
nār-e-ḳhandāñ baaġh rā ḳhandāñ kunad
sohbat-e-mardānat az mardāñ kunad
The laughing pomegranate makes the garden laughing (gay and blooming):
companionship with (holy) men makes you one of the (holy) men.
gar tū sañg-e-sakHra-o-mar-mar shavī
chuuñ ba-sāhab dil-rasī gauhar shavī
Though you be rock or marble, you will become
a jewel when you reach the man of heart (the saint).
mehr-e-pākāñ darmiyān-e-jāñ nishāñ
dil ma-deh illā ba-mehr-e-dil ḳhushāñ
Plant the love of the holy ones within your spirit; do not give your heart
(to aught) save to the love of them whose hearts are glad.
kū-e-nau-mīdī marau ummīd-hāst
sū-e-tārīkī ma-rau kHurshīd-hāst
Go not to the neighbourhood of despair: there are hopes.
Go not in the direction of darkness: there are suns.
dil turā dar kū-e-ahl-e-dil kashd
tan turā dar habs-e-āb-o-gil kashd
The heart leads you into the neighbourhood of the men of heart
(the saints); the body leads you into the prison of water and earth.
hiiñ ġhizā-e-dil ba-deh az ham dile
rau ba-jū iqbāl rā az muqbile
Oh, give your heart food from (conversation with) one who is in accord with it; go,
seek (spiritual) advancement from one who is advanced.
munaza'at-e-umara dar wali 'ahadi
The quarrel of the amírs concerning the succession.
yak amire zan amiran pesh raft
pesh-e-an qaum-e-wafa andesh raft
One of those amírs advanced and
went before that loyal-minded people.
guft inak naib-e-an mard man
naib-e-'isa manam andar zaman
Behold, said he, I am that man's vicar:
I am the vicar of Jesus at the present time.
inak in tumar burhan-e-manast
kin niyabat baad azu aan-e-manast
Look, this scroll is my proof that after
him the vicarate belongs to me.
aan amir-e-digar aamad az kamin
da'wa u dar KHilafat bud hamin
Another amír came forth from ambush:
his pretension regarding the vicegerency was the same;
az baghal u niz tumare numud
ta bar aamad har-do ra KHashm-e-jahud
He too produced a scroll from under his arm,
so that in both (amírs) there arose the Jewish anger.
aan amiran-e-digar yak-yak qatar
bar kashida tegh-ha-e-abdar
The rest of the amírs, one after another,
drawing swords of keen mettle,
har yake ra tegh-o-tumare ba-dast
dar hum uftadand chun pilan-e-mast
Each with a sword and a scroll in his hand,
fell to combat like raging elephants.
sad hazaran mard-e-tarsa kushta shud
ta za sar-ha-e-burida pushta shud
Hundreds of thousands of Christians were slain,
so that there were mounds of severed heads;
KHun rawan shud ham-chu sail az chap-o-rast
koh koh andar hawa zin gard KHast
Blood flowed, on left and right, like a torrent;
mountains of this dust (of battle) rose in the air.
tukHm-ha-e-fitna-ha ku kishta bud
aafat-e-sar-ha-e-ishan gashta bud
The seeds of dissension which he (the vizier) had sown
had become a calamity (cause of destruction) to their heads.
jauz-ha ba-shikast-o-an kan maghz dasht
baad-e-kushtan ruh-e-pak-e-naghz dasht
The walnuts (bodies) were broken, and those which had the kernel had,
after being slain, a spirit pure and fair.
kushtan-o-murdan ki bar naqsh-e-tanast
chun anar-o-seb ra ba-shikastanast
Slaughter and death which befalls the bodily
frame is like breaking pomegranates and apples:
aan-che shirinst aan shud nar-e-dang
wan-ki posida-st na-buwad ghair-e-bang
That which is sweet becomes pomegranate-syrup,
and that which is rotten is naught but noise:
aan-che ba-ma'nist KHud paida shawad
wanche posida ast aan ruswa shawad
That which has reality is made manifest (after death),
and that which is rotten is put to shame.
rau ba-ma'ni kosh ai surat parast
zan-ki ma'ni bar tan-e-surat-parast
Go, strive after reality, O worshipper of form,
inasmuch as reality is the wing on form's body.
ham-nashin-e-ahl-e-ma'ni bash ta
hum 'ata yabi-o-ham bashi fata
Consort with the followers of reality, that you may both
win the gift and be generous (in giving yourself up to God).
jaan-e-be-ma'ni dar in tan be-kHilaf
hast ham-chun tegh-e-chobin dar ghilaf
Beyond dispute, in this body the spirit devoid
of reality is even as a wooden sword in the sheath:
ta ghilaf andar buwad ba qimatast
chun barun shud soKHtan ra aalatast
Whilst it remains in the sheath, it is (apparently) valuable,
(but) when it has come forth it is an implement (only fit) for burning.
tegh-e-chobin ra ma-bar dar kar-zar
ba-nigar awwal ta na-gardad kar-zar
Do not take a wooden sword into the battle! First see (whether your sword is a real one),
in order that your plight may not be wretched.
gar buwad chobin ba-rau digar talab
war buwad ilmas pesh aa ba-tarab
If it is made of wood, go, seek another;
and if it is adamant, march forward joyously.
tegh dar zarrad-kHana-e-auliyast
didan-e-ishan shuma ra kimiyast
The sword (of reality) is in the armoury of the saints: to see (and associate with)
them is for you (as precious as) the Elixir.
jumla danayan hamin gufta hamin
hast dana rahamtul-lil-'alamin
All the wise have said this same thing:
the wise man is a (Divine) mercy to created beings.
gar anare mi-KHari KHandan ba-KHar
ta dehad KHanda za dana-e-u KHabar
If you would buy a pomegranate, buy (it when it is) laughing (having its rind cleft open),
so that its laughter (openness) may give information as to its seeds.
ai mubarak kHanda-ash ku az dahan
mi numayad dil chu durr az durj-e-jaan
Oh, blessed is its laughter, for through its mouth it shows the heart,
like a pearl from the casket of the spirit.
na-mubarak kHanda-e-an lala bud
kaz dahan-e-u syahi dil numud
Unblest was the laughter (openness) of the red anemone,
from whose mouth appeared the blackness of its heart.
nar-e-KHandan bagh ra KHandan kunad
sohbat-e-mardanat az mardan kunad
The laughing pomegranate makes the garden laughing (gay and blooming):
companionship with (holy) men makes you one of the (holy) men.
gar tu sang-e-sakHra-o-mar-mar shawi
chun ba-sahab dil-rasi gauhar shawi
Though you be rock or marble, you will become
a jewel when you reach the man of heart (the saint).
mehr-e-pakan darmiyan-e-jaan nishan
dil ma-deh illa ba-mehr-e-dil KHushan
Plant the love of the holy ones within your spirit; do not give your heart
(to aught) save to the love of them whose hearts are glad.
ku-e-nau-midi marau ummid-hast
su-e-tariki ma-rau kHurshid-hast
Go not to the neighbourhood of despair: there are hopes.
Go not in the direction of darkness: there are suns.
dil tura dar ku-e-ahl-e-dil kashd
tan tura dar habs-e-ab-o-gil kashd
The heart leads you into the neighbourhood of the men of heart
(the saints); the body leads you into the prison of water and earth.
hin ghiza-e-dil ba-deh az hum dile
rau ba-ju iqbaal ra az muqbile
Oh, give your heart food from (conversation with) one who is in accord with it; go,
seek (spiritual) advancement from one who is advanced.
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