ای خران کور این سو دامهاست ** در کمین این سوی خون‌آشامهاست
O blind asses, in this direction there are snares; in this direction there are bloodsheds (concealed) in ambush.
تیرها پران کمان پنهان ز غیب ** بر جوانی می‌رسد صد تیر شیب
The arrows are flying, (but) the bow is hidden: from the Unseen World come upon youth a hundred arrows of hoary eld.
گام در صحرای دل باید نهاد ** زانک در صحرای گل نبود گشاد
You must set foot on the plain of the heart (spirit), because in the plain of (the body’s) clay there is no opening ( for spiritual progress).
ایمن آبادست دل ای دوستان ** چشمه‌ها و گلستان در گلستان515
The heart is the abode of security, O friends; (it has) fountains and rose-gardens within rose-gardens.
عج الی القلب و سر یا ساریه ** فیه اشجار و عین جاریه
Turn towards the heart and journey on, O night-travellers: therein are trees and (many) a flowing spring.
ده مرو ده مرد را احمق کند ** عقل را بی نور و بی رونق کند
Do not go to the country: the country makes a fool of a man, it makes the intellect void of light and splendour.
قول پیغامبر شنو ای مجتبی ** گور عقل آمد وطن در روستا
O chosen one, hear the Prophet’s saying: “To dwell in the country is the grave of the intellect.”
هر که را در رستا بود روزی و شام ** تا بماهی عقل او نبود تمام
If any one stay in the country a single day and evening, his intellect will not be fully restored for a month.
تا بماهی احمقی با او بود ** از حشیش ده جز اینها چه درود520
For a (whole) month foolishness will abide with him: what but these things should he reap from the parched herbage of the country?
وانک ماهی باشد اندر روستا ** روزگاری باشدش جهل و عمی
And he that stays a month in the country, ignorance and blindness will be his (lot) for a long time.
ده چه باشد شیخ واصل ناشده ** دست در تقلید و حجت در زده
What is “the country”? The Shaykh that has not been united (with god), but has become addicted to conventionality and argument.
پیش شهر عقل کلی این حواس ** چون خران چشم‌بسته در خراس
Compared with the town, (which is) Universal Reason, these senses (of ours) are like asses (going round and round) in an ass-mill with their eyes bandaged.
این رها کن صورت افسانه گیر ** هل تو دردانه تو گندم‌دانه گیر
Leave this (inner meaning) and take the outward form of the tale: let the pearlseed alone and take the cornseed.
گر بدر ره نیست هین بر می‌ستان ** گر بدان ره نیستت این سو بران525
If there is no way to the pearl, come, take the wheat; if there is no way for you in that (direction), push on in this direction.
ظاهرش گیر ار چه ظاهر کژ پرد ** عاقبت ظاهر سوی باطن برد
Take its outward (form)! Though the outward (form) fly crookedly (not straight), the outward (form) at last will lead (you) to the inward (meaning).
اول هر آدمی خود صورتست ** بعد از آن جان کو جمال سیرتست
In sooth, the first (stage) of every human being is the form; after that (comes) the spirit, which is beauty of disposition.
اول هر میوه جز صورت کیست ** بعد از آن لذت که معنی ویست
How is the first (stage) of every fruit anything but the form? After that (comes) the delicious taste which is its real meaning.
اولا خرگاه سازند و خرند ** ترک را زان پس به مهمان آورند
First they make or buy a tent; afterwards they bring the Turcoman (their beloved) as a guest.
صورتت خرگاه دان معنیت ترک ** معنیت ملاح دان صورت چو فلک530
Deem your form to be the tent, your real essence the Turcoman, regard your essence as the sailor, your form as the ship.
بهر حق این را رها کن یک نفس ** تا خر خواجه بجنباند جرس
For God’s sake, quit this (topic) for a moment, so that the Khwaja’s ass may shake its bell (proceed on its journey).
رفتن خواجه و قومش به سوی ده
How the Khwaja and his family went to the country.
خواجه و بچگان جهازی ساختند ** بر ستوران جانب ده تاختند
The Khwaja and his children prepared an outfit and galloped on their beasts towards the country.
شادمانه سوی صحرا راندند ** سافروا کی تغنموا بر خواندند
Merrily they rode a field; they chanted, “Travel, that ye may gain advantage”;
کز سفرها ماه کیخسرو شود ** بی سفرها ماه کی خسرو شود
For by traveling the moon becomes (splendid, like) Kay Khusraw: how should it become an emperor (khusraw) without traveling?
از سفر بیدق شود فرزین راد ** وز سفر یابید یوسف صد مراد535
Through travel the pawn becomes a noble queen, and through travel Joseph gained a hundred objects of desire.
روز روی از آفتابی سوختند ** شب ز اختر راه می‌آموختند
By day they scorched their faces in the sun, by night they were learning the away from the stars.