1Cademy - دفتر دوم - بخش ۱۱۱ - شرح کردن شیخ سِرّ آن درخت با آن طالب مقلد / Book Two - Section 111 - The Sheikh Explaining the Secret of That Tree to That Imitative Seeker

Learn Before

مثنوی معنوی: دفتر دوم / Masnavi: Book Two
دفتر دوم - بخش ۱۱۰ - جستن آن درخت کی هر که میوهٔ آن درخت خورد نمیرد / Book Two - Section 110 - Seeking the tree whose fruit whoever eats will not die

Poem

دفتر دوم - بخش ۱۱۱ - شرح کردن شیخ سِرّ آن درخت با آن طالب مقلد / Book Two - Section 111 - The Sheikh Explaining the Secret of That Tree to That Imitative Seeker

Original content

بود شیخی عالمی قطبی کریم
اندر آن منزل که آیس شد ندیم

گفت من نومید پیش او روم
ز آستان او به راه اندر شوم

تا دعای او بود همراه من
چونک نومیدم من از دلخواه من

رفت پیش شیخ با چشم پر آب
اشک می بارید مانند سحاب

گفت شیخا وقت رحم و رقتست
ناامیدم وقت لطف این ساعتست

گفت واگو کز چه نومیدیستت
چیست مطلوب تو رو با چیستت

گفت شاهنشاه کردم اختیار
از برای جستن یک شاخسار

که درختی هست نادر در جهات
میوهٔ او مایهٔ آب حیات

سالها جستم ندیدم یک نشان
جز که طنز و تسخر این سرخوشان

شیخ خندید و بگفتش ای سلیم
این درخت علم باشد در علیم

بس بلند و بس شگرف و بس بسیط
آب حیوانی ز دریای محیط

تو بصورت رفته ای ای بی خبر
زان ز شاخ معنیی بی بار و بر

گه درختش نام شد گه آفتاب
گاه بحرش نام گشت و گه سحاب

آن یکی کش صد هزار آثار خاست
کمترین آثار او عمر بقاست

گرچه فردست او اثر دارد هزار
آن یکی را نام شاید بی شمار

آن یکی شخصی تو را باشد پدر
در حق شخصی دگر باشد پسر

در حق دیگر بود قهر و عدو
در حق دیگر بود لطف و نکو

صد هزاران نام و او یک آدمی
صاحب هر وصفش از وصفی عمی

هر که جوید نام گر صاحب ثقه ست
همچو تو نومید و اندر تفرقه ست

تو چه بر چفسی برین نام درخت
تا بمانی تلخ کام و شوربخت

در گذر از نام و بنگر در صفات
تا صفاتت ره نماید سوی ذات

اختلاف خلق از نام اوفتاد
چون به معنی رفت آرام اوفتاد

English translation

There was a learned, generous sheikh, a spiritual pole, in that station where the companion had lost hope.

He said, 'I will go before him in despair, and set out on the road from his threshold,

So that his prayer may be my companion, since I am without hope of attaining my heart's desire.'

He went to the sheikh with eyes full of tears, raining down tears like a cloud.

He said, 'O Sheikh, it is the time for mercy and compassion; I am in despair, this is the hour for grace.'

He said, 'Tell me, what is the cause of your despair? What is your quest, and what are you dealing with?'

He said, 'The king of kings chose me to search for a certain branch.

For there is a rare tree in the world, whose fruit is the source of the water of life.

For years I searched but saw no sign, save the mockery and ridicule of these merrymakers.'

The sheikh laughed and said to him, 'O simple-hearted one, this is the tree of knowledge in the sage.

Very high, very tremendous, and very vast; a water of life from the encompassing ocean.

You have followed the form, O unaware one, therefore you are fruitless and barren regarding the branch of meaning.

Sometimes it is named a tree, sometimes the sun; sometimes it is named a sea, and sometimes a cloud.

It is that one thing from which a hundred thousand effects arose; its least effect is everlasting life.

Although it is single, it has a thousand effects; countless names may befit that single thing.

That single person may be a father to you; in relation to another person, he may be a son.

In relation to another, he may be wrath and an enemy; in relation to another, he may be grace and goodness.

He has a hundred thousand names, yet he is one man; he who perceives only one description of him is blind to the others.

Whoever seeks the name, even if he is a trustworthy person, is hopeless and in a state of distraction like you.

Why do you cling to this name 'tree', so that you remain bitter and unfortunate?

Pass beyond the name and look at the attributes, so that the attributes may guide you to the Essence.

The disagreement of people arises from the name; when they proceed to the meaning, peace is established.

Updated 2026-06-25

Contributors are:

Who are from:

References

Ganjoor

Learn Before

Original content

English translation

Related

Learn After