Know death to be (the thing signified by) what the (Mohammedan) community are agreed upon, namely, that the Water of Life is hidden in the (Land of) Darkness.
مرگ دان آنک اتفاق امتست ** کاب حیوانی نهان در ظلمتست
Grow from this river-bank, like the water-lily, greedy and craving for death as the sufferer from dropsy.
همچو نیلوفر برو زین طرف جو ** همچو مستسقی حریص و مرگ‌جو
The water is death to him, and (yet) he is seeking the water and drinking it— and God best knoweth the right course.
مرگ او آبست و او جویای آب ** می‌خورد والله اعلم بالصواب
Oh, the cold lover, clad in the felt (garment) of shame, who from fear of (losing) his life is fleeing from the Beloved!3910
ای فسرده عاشق ننگین نمد ** کو ز بیم جان ز جانان می‌رمد
O thou disgrace (even) to women, behold hundreds of thousands of souls clapping their hands (and rushing) towards the sword of His love!
سوی تیغ عشقش ای ننگ زنان ** صد هزاران جان نگر دستک‌زنان
Thou hast seen the river: spill thy jug in the river: how should the water take flight from the river?
جوی دیدی کوزه اندر جوی ریز ** آب را از جوی کی باشد گریز
When the water in the jug goes into the river-water, it disappears in it, and it becomes the river.
آب کوزه چون در آب جو شود ** محو گردد در وی و جو او شود
His (the lover's) attributes have passed away, and his essence remains: after this, he does not dwindle or become ill-favoured.
وصف او فانی شد و ذاتش بقا ** زین سپس نه کم شود نه بدلقا
I have hanged myself on His palm-tree in excuse for having fled from Him.”3915
خویش را بر نخل او آویختم ** عذر آن را که ازو بگریختم
How that lover reached his Beloved when he washed his hands of (gave up) his life.
رسیدن آن عاشق به معشوق خویش چون دست از جان خود بشست
Prostrating himself on face and head, like a ball, he went with wet eyes towards the Sadr (Prince).
همچو گویی سجده کن بر رو و سر ** جانب آن صدر شد با چشم تر