How the Arab carried a jug of rain-water from the midst of the desert as a gift to the Commander of the Faithful at Baghdád, in the belief that in that town also there was a scarcity of water.
The wifè said, “When people with all their might (endeavour to) rise up entirely purged of self-existence—that is veracity.
We have the rain-water in the jug: ’tis thy property and capital and means.
Take this jug of water and depart, make it a gift and go into the presence of the King of kings.
Say, ‘We have no means except this: in the desert there is nothing better than this water.’
If his treasury is full of gold and jewels, (yet) he does not get water like this: ’tis rare.”
What is that jug? Our confined body: within it is the briny water of our senses.
O Lord, accept this jar and jug of mine by the grace of “God hath purchased (from the believers their lives and wealth in return for Paradise).”
(’Tis) a jug with five spouts, the five senses: keep this water pure (and safe) from every filth,
That there may be from this jug a passage to the sea, and that my jug may assume the nature of the sea,
So that when you carry it as a gift to the King, the King may find it pure and be its purchaser;
(And) after that, its water will become without end: a hundred worlds will be filled from my jug.
Stop up its spouts and keep it filled (with water) from the jar (of Reality): God said, “Close your eyes to vain desire.”
His (the husband's) beard was full of wind (he was puffed up with pride): “Who (thought he) has such a gift as this? This, truly, is worthy of a King like him.”
The wife did not know that in that place (Baghdád) on the thoroughfare there is the great stream (of water) sweet as sugar,
Flowing like a sea through the city, full of boats and fishing-nets.
Go to the Sultan and behold this pomp and state! Behold the senses of (those for whom God hath prepared gardens) beneath which the rivers flow!
Our senses and perceptions, such as they are, are (but) a single drop in those rivers.
