talab kardan-e-ummat-e-'īsā 'alaihissalām az umarā ki valī 'ahad az shumā kudām ast
How the people of Jesus—on him be peace!—
asked the amírs, Which one of you is the successor?
baad maahe guft ḳhalq ai mehtarāñ
az amīrāñ kiist bar jāyash nishāñ
After a month the people said, O chiefs,
which of (the) amírs is designated in his place,
tā bajā-e-ū shanāsimash imaam
dast-o-dāman rā ba-dast-e-ū dahem
That we may acknowledge him as our religious leader instead
of him (the vizier), and give our hands and skirts into his
hand?
chūñki shud kHurshīd-o-mā rā kard daaġh
chāra na-buvad bar maqāmash az charāġh
Since the sun is gone and has branded us (left the brand of sorrow in our hearts),
is not a lamp the (only) resource in his stead?
chūñki shud az pesh-e-dīda vasl-e-yār
nā.ibe bāyad azū maañ yādgār
Since union with the beloved has vanished from before our eyes,
we must needs have a vicar as a memorial of him (i.e. one who will recall him to our memory).
chūñki gul ba-guzasht-o-gul shud ḳharāb
bū-e-gul rā az ki yābam az gulāb
Since the rose is past and the garden ravaged,
from whom shall we get the perfume of the rose? From
rosewater.
chuuñ ḳhudā andar na-yāyad dar 'ayāñ
nā.ib-e-haq and iiñ paiġham-barāñ
In as much as God comes not into sight,
these prophets are the vicars of God.
ne ġhalat guftam ki naa.ib bā-manūb
gar do pindārī qabīh aayad na ḳhuub
Nay, I have said (this) wrongly; for if you suppose that the
vicar and
He who is represented by the vicar are two,
it (such a thought) is bad, not good.
ne do bāshad tā tuī sūrat-parast
pesh-e-ū yak gasht kaz sūrat-barast
Nay; they are two so long as you are a worshipper of form,
(but) they have become one to him who has escaped from (consciousness of) form.
chuuñ ba-sūrat bañgarī chashm-e-tū dust
tū ba-nūrash dar nigar kaz chashm-e-rust
When you look at the form, your eye is two;
look at its (the eye's) light, which grew from the eye.
nūr-e-har do chashm na-tavāñ farq kard
chūñki dar nūrash nazar andāḳht mard
’Tis impossible to distinguish the light of the two eyes,
when a man has cast his look upon their light.
dah charāġh ar hāzir aayad dar makāñ
har yakī bāshad ba-sūrat ġhair-e-āñ
If ten lamps are present in (one) place,
each differs in form from another:
farq na-tavāñ kard nūr-e-har yake
chuuñ ba-nūrash rū-e-ārī be-shake
To distinguish without any doubt the light of each,
when you turn your face towards their light, is impossible.
gar tū sad seb-o-sad aabī ba-shumurī
sad na-mānad yak shavad chuuñ ba-fishurī
If you count a hundred apples or a hundred quinces,
they do not remain a hundred (but) become one, when you crush them (together).
dar ma'ānī qismat-o-ā'dād niist
dar ma'ānī tajziya-o-afrād niist
In things spiritual there is no division and no numbers;
in things spiritual there is no partition and no individuals.
ittihād-e-yār bā-yārāñ ḳhushast
paa.e mā'nī-gīr sūrat sarkashast
Sweet is the oneness of the Friend with His friends:
catch (and cling to) the foot of spirit. Form is headstrong.
sūrat-e-sarkash gudāzāñ kun ba-ranj
tā ba-bīnī zer-e-ū vahdat chu ganj
Make headstrong form waste away with tribulation,
that beneath it you may descry unity, like a (buried) treasure;
var tū na-gudāzī 'ināyat-hā-e-ū
ḳhud gudāzad ai dilam maulā-e-ū
And if you waste it not away, His favours
will waste it—oh, my heart is His vassal.
uu numāyad ham ba-dilhā ḳhvesh rā
uu ba-dozad kHirqa-e-darvesh rā
He even showeth Himself to (our) hearts,
He seweth the tattered frock of the dervish.
munbasit būdem-o-yak jauhar hama
be-sar-o-be-pā budem aañ sar hama
Simple were we and all one substance;
we were all without head and without foot yonder.
yak guhar būdem ham chuuñ āftāb
be-girah būdem-o-sāfī ham-chu aab
We were one substance, like the Sun;
we were knotless and pure, like water.
chuuñ ba-sūrat āmadāñ nūr-e-sarah
shud 'adad chuuñ sāya-hā-e-kuñgrah
When that goodly Light took form, it became
(many in) number like the shadows of a battlement.
kuñgarah vīrāñ kunīd az minjanīq
tā ravad farq az miyān-e-īñ farīq
Rase ye the battlement with the manjaníq (mangonel),
that difference may vanish from amidst this company (of shadows).
sharh-e-īñ rā guftame man az mare
laik tarsam tā na-laġhzad kHātire
I would have explained this (matter) with (eager) contention,
but I fear lest some (weak) mind may stumble.
nukta-hā chuuñ teġh-e-polādast tez
gar na-dārī tū sipar vāpas gurez
The points (involved in it) are sharp as a sword of steel;
if you have not the shield (of capacity to understand), turn
back and flee!
pesh-e-īñ ilmās be-ispar miyā
kaz burīdan teġh rā na-buvad hayā
Do not come without shield against this adamant (keen blade),
for the sword is not ashamed of cutting.
ziiñ sabab man teġh kardam dar ġhilāf
tā ki kazh ḳhvānī na-kHvānad bar ḳhilāf
For this cause I have put the sword in sheath,
that none who misreads may read contrariwise (in a sense contrary to the true meaning of my words).
āmadem andar tamāmī dāstāñ
vaz vafādārī-e-jam'-e-rāstāñ
We come (now) to complete the tale and (speak)
of the loyalty of the multitude of the righteous,
kaz pas-e-īñ peshvā barkHāstand
bar maqāmash nā.ibe-mī kHvāstand
Who rose up after (the death of) this leader,
demanding a vicar in his place.
talab kardan-e-ummat-e-'isa 'alaihissalam az umara ki wali 'ahad az shuma kudam ast
How the people of Jesus—on him be peace!—
asked the amírs, Which one of you is the successor?
baad mahe guft KHalq ai mehtaran
az amiran kist bar jayash nishan
After a month the people said, O chiefs,
which of (the) amírs is designated in his place,
ta baja-e-u shanasimash imam
dast-o-daman ra ba-dast-e-u dahem
That we may acknowledge him as our religious leader instead
of him (the vizier), and give our hands and skirts into his
hand?
chunki shud kHurshid-o-ma ra kard dagh
chaara na-buwad bar maqamash az charagh
Since the sun is gone and has branded us (left the brand of sorrow in our hearts),
is not a lamp the (only) resource in his stead?
chunki shud az pesh-e-dida wasl-e-yar
naibe bayad azu man yaadgar
Since union with the beloved has vanished from before our eyes,
we must needs have a vicar as a memorial of him (i.e. one who will recall him to our memory).
chunki gul ba-guzasht-o-gul shud KHarab
bu-e-gul ra az ki yabam az gulab
Since the rose is past and the garden ravaged,
from whom shall we get the perfume of the rose? From
rosewater.
chun KHuda andar na-yayad dar 'ayan
naib-e-haq and in paigham-baran
In as much as God comes not into sight,
these prophets are the vicars of God.
ne ghalat guftam ki naib ba-manub
gar do pindari qabih aayad na KHub
Nay, I have said (this) wrongly; for if you suppose that the
vicar and
He who is represented by the vicar are two,
it (such a thought) is bad, not good.
ne do bashad ta tui surat-parast
pesh-e-u yak gasht kaz surat-barast
Nay; they are two so long as you are a worshipper of form,
(but) they have become one to him who has escaped from (consciousness of) form.
chun ba-surat bangari chashm-e-tu dust
tu ba-nurash dar nigar kaz chashm-e-rust
When you look at the form, your eye is two;
look at its (the eye's) light, which grew from the eye.
nur-e-har do chashm na-tawan farq kard
chunki dar nurash nazar andaKHt mard
’Tis impossible to distinguish the light of the two eyes,
when a man has cast his look upon their light.
dah charagh ar hazir aayad dar makan
har yaki bashad ba-surat ghair-e-an
If ten lamps are present in (one) place,
each differs in form from another:
farq na-tawan kard nur-e-har yake
chun ba-nurash ru-e-ari be-shake
To distinguish without any doubt the light of each,
when you turn your face towards their light, is impossible.
gar tu sad seb-o-sad aabi ba-shumuri
sad na-manad yak shawad chun ba-fishuri
If you count a hundred apples or a hundred quinces,
they do not remain a hundred (but) become one, when you crush them (together).
dar ma'ani qismat-o-a'dad nist
dar ma'ani tajziya-o-afrad nist
In things spiritual there is no division and no numbers;
in things spiritual there is no partition and no individuals.
ittihad-e-yar ba-yaran KHushast
pae ma'ni-gir surat sarkashast
Sweet is the oneness of the Friend with His friends:
catch (and cling to) the foot of spirit. Form is headstrong.
surat-e-sarkash gudazan kun ba-ranj
ta ba-bini zer-e-u wahdat chu ganj
Make headstrong form waste away with tribulation,
that beneath it you may descry unity, like a (buried) treasure;
war tu na-gudazi 'inayat-ha-e-u
KHud gudazad ai dilam maula-e-u
And if you waste it not away, His favours
will waste it—oh, my heart is His vassal.
u numayad hum ba-dilha KHwesh ra
u ba-dozad kHirqa-e-darwesh ra
He even showeth Himself to (our) hearts,
He seweth the tattered frock of the dervish.
munbasit budem-o-yak jauhar hama
be-sar-o-be-pa budem aan sar hama
Simple were we and all one substance;
we were all without head and without foot yonder.
yak guhar budem hum chun aaftab
be-girah budem-o-safi ham-chu aab
We were one substance, like the Sun;
we were knotless and pure, like water.
chun ba-surat aamadan nur-e-sarah
shud 'adad chun saya-ha-e-kungrah
When that goodly Light took form, it became
(many in) number like the shadows of a battlement.
kungarah viran kunid az minjaniq
ta rawad farq az miyan-e-in fariq
Rase ye the battlement with the manjaníq (mangonel),
that difference may vanish from amidst this company (of shadows).
sharh-e-in ra guftame man az mare
laik tarsam ta na-laghzad kHatire
I would have explained this (matter) with (eager) contention,
but I fear lest some (weak) mind may stumble.
nukta-ha chun tegh-e-poladast tez
gar na-dari tu sipar wapas gurez
The points (involved in it) are sharp as a sword of steel;
if you have not the shield (of capacity to understand), turn
back and flee!
pesh-e-in ilmas be-ispar miya
kaz buridan tegh ra na-buwad haya
Do not come without shield against this adamant (keen blade),
for the sword is not ashamed of cutting.
zin sabab man tegh kardam dar ghilaf
ta ki kazh KHwani na-kHwanad bar KHilaf
For this cause I have put the sword in sheath,
that none who misreads may read contrariwise (in a sense contrary to the true meaning of my words).
aamadem andar tamami dastan
waz wafadari-e-jam'-e-rastan
We come (now) to complete the tale and (speak)
of the loyalty of the multitude of the righteous,
kaz pas-e-in peshwa barkHastand
bar maqamash naibe-mi kHwastand
Who rose up after (the death of) this leader,
demanding a vicar in his place.
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