بخش 160 - خبر کردن خروس از مرگ خواجه

“But to-morrow he will certainly die: his heir, in mourning (for him), will slaughter a cow.

The owner of the house will die (and) depart (from this world): lo, to-morrow a great deal of food will reach you.

High and low will get pieces of bread and dainty morsels and viands in the midst of the street.

(The flesh of) the sacrificed cow and thin loaves of bread will be scattered quickly over the dogs and the beggars.”

The death of the horse and mule and the death of the slave were bringing round the doom of this foolish deluded man.

He fled (escaped) from the loss of wealth and from grief thereat: he increased his wealth and shed his own blood.

These austerities of dervishes—what are they for? (The reason is) that that tribulation (imposed) on the body is (in effect) the everlasting life of spirits.

Unless a (mystic) traveller gains the everlasting life of his (spiritual) self, how should he make his body a sick and perishing (thing)?

How should he move his hand to (acts of) altruism and (devotional) work unless he sees (the salvation of) his soul in exchange for what is given (by him)?

That one who gives without expectation of (any) gains—that one is God, is God, is God,

Or the friend of God (the saint), who has assumed the nature of God and has become luminous and has received the Absolute Radiance;

For He is rich, while all except Him are poor: how should a poor man say “Take” without compensation?

Till a child sees that the apple is there, it will not give up from its hand the stinking onion.

All these market-folk, for the sake of this (worldly) object, are seated on the benches (in the shops) in the hope of (receiving) compensation:

They offer a hundred fine articles of merchandise, and within their hearts they are intent on compensations.

O man of the (true) Religion, you will not hear a single salaam (blessing) whereof the end will not pluck your sleeve (and demand something of you).

I have never heard a disinterested salaam from high or low, O brother—and (I give) the salaam (to thee)—

Except the salaam of God. Come, seek that (salaam) from house to house, from place to place, and from street to street!

From the mouth of the man who has a good scent (for spiritual things) I heard both the message and the salaam of God;

And in the hope of that (salaam) I am listening with my heart to the salaams of (all) the rest (as though they were) sweeter than life.

His (the saint's) salaam has become the salaam of God because he has set fire to the household of self.

He has died to self and become living through the Lord: hence the mysteries of God are on his lips.

The death of the body in self-discipline is life: the sufferings of this body are (the cause of) everlastingness to the spirit.

That wicked man had lent ear: he was hearing from his cock the news (of his death).