agar tu aashiq-e-ishqi-o-ishq ra juya
agar tū āshiq-e-ishqī-o-ishq rā juuyā
ba-gīr ḳhanjar-e-tez-o-ba-bur gulū-e-hayā
If thou art Love’s lover and seekest love,
Take a keen poniard and cut the throat of bashfulness.
badāñk sadd-e-azīm ast dar ravish-e-nāmūs
hadīs-e-be-ġharaz ast iiñ qabūl kun bā-safā
Know that reputation is a great hindrance in the path;
This saying is disinterested: receive it with pure mind.
hazār guuna junūñ az che kard aañ majnūñ
hazār shaid bar āvurd aañ gazīñ shaidā
Wherefore did that madman in a thousand forms,
That chosen wild one display a thousand wiles?
gahe qabāsh ba-darīd va gahe ba-koh davīd
gahe ze-zahr chashīd va gahe guzīd fanā
Now he rent robe, and now sped o’er mountain,
Now sipped poison, now chose death.
chū ankabūt chunīñ said-hā-e-zaft giraft
ba-bīñ ki tā che kunad dāman-e-rabbī-al-a.alā
Since the spider seized prey so large,
Behold what the snare of My Lord the Supreme will do!
chū ishq-e-chehra-e-lailā hamī badāñ arzīd
che guuna bāshad asrā be-abdehī-laila
Since the love of Laila’s face had such value,
How will it be with “He took His servant by night”?
na-dīda.ī tū davāvīn-e-vaisa-o-rāmīn
na-ḳhvānda-e-tū hikāyat-e-vāmiq-o-azrā
Hast thou not seen the divans of Waisa and Ramin?
Hast thou not read the tales of Wamiq and ‘Adra?
tū jaama gird kunī tā ze-āb tar na-shavad
hazār ġhota tu rā ḳhurdanest dar dariyā
Thou gatherest up by thy garment lest the water should wet it:
Needs must thou plunge a thousand times in the sea.
tarīq-e-ishq hama pastī aamad va mastī
ki sail past ravad kai ravad ba-sū-e-alā
Love’s way is all lowliness and drunkenness:
For the torrent runs down : how should it runs upward?
miyān-e-halqa-e-ushshāq chuuñ nagīñ bāshī
agar tū halqa-ba-gosha takīnī ai maulā
Thou wilt be as the bezel in the ring of lovers
If thou art the bezel’s thrall , O master.
chunāñ ki halqa-ba-gosh ast charḳh rā iiñ ḳhaak
chunāñ ki halqa-ba-gosh ast ruuh rā a.azā
Even as this earth to the sky is thrall,
Even as the body to the spirit is thrall.
bayā bago che ziyāñ kard ḳhaak aziiñ paivand
che lutf-hā ki na-kardast aql bā ajzā
Come, say, what did the earth lose by this connexion?
What kindnesses has not the reason done to the limbs?
duhul ba-zer-e-galīm ai pisar na-shāyad zad
alam bazan chū dilerāñ miyān-e-sahrā
It behoves not, son, to beat a drum under a quilt;
Plant, like brave men, thy banner in the midst of the desert.
ba-gosh-e-jāñ ba-shino az girvī-e-mushtāqāñ
hazār ġhalġhala dar jau gumbad-e-ḳhazrā
Hark with the soul’s ear to the sounds innumerable
In the hollow of the green dome, rising from lovers’ passionate cry.
chū bar kushāyad band-e-qabā ze-mastī-e-ishq
tū hā.e-o-hūe malak-bīñ va hairat-e-hūrā
When the strings of thy robe are loosed by the intoxication of love,
Behold heaven’s triumph and Orion’s bewilderment!
che iztirāb ki baalā va zer-e-a.alam raast
ze-ishq kuust munazzah ze-zer-o-az-bālā
How the world, high and low, is troubled
By love which is purified from high and low!
chū āftāb bar aayad kujā ba-māñd shab
rasīd jaish-e-ināyat kujā ba-māñd anā
When the sun goes up, where stayeth night?
When the joy of bounty came, where lagged affliction?
ḳhamosh kardam ai jān-e-jān-e-jān-e-tū ba-go
zarra zarra ze-shauq-e-ruḳh-e-tū shud goyā
I am silent. Speak thou, O soul of soul of soul,
From desire of whose face every atom grew articulate.
agar tu aashiq-e-ishqi-o-ishq ra juya
ba-gir KHanjar-e-tez-o-ba-bur gulu-e-haya
If thou art Love’s lover and seekest love,
Take a keen poniard and cut the throat of bashfulness.
badank sadd-e-azim ast dar rawish-e-namus
hadis-e-be-gharaz ast in qabul kun ba-safa
Know that reputation is a great hindrance in the path;
This saying is disinterested: receive it with pure mind.
hazar guna junun az che kard aan majnun
hazar shaid bar aawurd aan gazin shaida
Wherefore did that madman in a thousand forms,
That chosen wild one display a thousand wiles?
gahe qabash ba-darid wa gahe ba-koh dawid
gahe ze-zahr chashid wa gahe guzid fana
Now he rent robe, and now sped o’er mountain,
Now sipped poison, now chose death.
chu ankabut chunin said-ha-e-zaft giraft
ba-bin ki ta che kunad daman-e-rabbi-al-ala
Since the spider seized prey so large,
Behold what the snare of My Lord the Supreme will do!
chu ishq-e-chehra-e-laila hami badan arzid
che guna bashad asra be-abdehi-laila
Since the love of Laila’s face had such value,
How will it be with “He took His servant by night”?
na-didai tu dawawin-e-waisa-o-ramin
na-KHwanda-e-tu hikayat-e-wamiq-o-azra
Hast thou not seen the divans of Waisa and Ramin?
Hast thou not read the tales of Wamiq and ‘Adra?
tu jama gird kuni ta ze-ab tar na-shawad
hazar ghota tu ra KHurdanest dar dariya
Thou gatherest up by thy garment lest the water should wet it:
Needs must thou plunge a thousand times in the sea.
tariq-e-ishq hama pasti aamad wa masti
ki sail past rawad kai rawad ba-su-e-ala
Love’s way is all lowliness and drunkenness:
For the torrent runs down : how should it runs upward?
miyan-e-halqa-e-ushshaq chun nagin bashi
agar tu halqa-ba-gosha takini ai maula
Thou wilt be as the bezel in the ring of lovers
If thou art the bezel’s thrall , O master.
chunan ki halqa-ba-gosh ast charKH ra in KHak
chunan ki halqa-ba-gosh ast ruh ra aaza
Even as this earth to the sky is thrall,
Even as the body to the spirit is thrall.
baya bago che ziyan kard KHak azin paiwand
che lutf-ha ki na-kardast aql ba ajza
Come, say, what did the earth lose by this connexion?
What kindnesses has not the reason done to the limbs?
duhul ba-zer-e-galim ai pisar na-shayad zad
alam bazan chu dileran miyan-e-sahra
It behoves not, son, to beat a drum under a quilt;
Plant, like brave men, thy banner in the midst of the desert.
ba-gosh-e-jaan ba-shino az girwi-e-mushtaqan
hazar ghalghala dar jau gumbad-e-KHazra
Hark with the soul’s ear to the sounds innumerable
In the hollow of the green dome, rising from lovers’ passionate cry.
chu bar kushayad band-e-qaba ze-masti-e-ishq
tu hae-o-hue malak-bin wa hairat-e-hura
When the strings of thy robe are loosed by the intoxication of love,
Behold heaven’s triumph and Orion’s bewilderment!
che iztirab ki baala wa zer-e-alam rast
ze-ishq kust munazzah ze-zer-o-az-baala
How the world, high and low, is troubled
By love which is purified from high and low!
chu aaftab bar aayad kuja ba-mand shab
rasid jaish-e-inayat kuja ba-mand ana
When the sun goes up, where stayeth night?
When the joy of bounty came, where lagged affliction?
KHamosh kardam ai jaan-e-jaan-e-jaan-e-tu ba-go
zarra zarra ze-shauq-e-ruKH-e-tu shud goya
I am silent. Speak thou, O soul of soul of soul,
From desire of whose face every atom grew articulate.
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