Original content

English translation

There was a poor Bedouin without provisions, Who had found a corner in a salt-marsh. His corner was the dwelling of a handful of destitute people, Its water was sometimes bitter and sometimes salty. He spent his days in abject misery, He spent day and night in distress. A drought struck and famine became apparent, The man became restless from weakness. He left the salt-marsh for another place, Until he finally reached a water like sugar. When the simple man saw that pleasant water, He said, 'Without a doubt, this is the water of Paradise. The water of the world appears bitter and foul, Sweet water appears from Paradise. God Most High, after so many afflictions, Has provided me with such water today. It is fitting that from this flowing water, I fill a waterskin and set off running. With the waterskin on my neck, I will take the road out, I will make it a gift and then take it to Mamun. Without a doubt, Mamun, for this delicate water, Will bestow a robe of honor as noble as my water.' When he filled the skin and took to the road forward, He kept going until he came near the king. Mamun had just returned from a hunt; When he saw him, he said, 'Speak, what is your business?' He said, 'I have brought from the highest heaven, A gift for the Commander of the Faithful.' He said, 'What is that excellent gift?' He said, 'Ma'ul-Jannah, a water from heaven.' He said this and brought the waterskin forward again; Instantly, Mamun grasped the secret. Through his insight, he understood his condition, And could not bear to send him away deprived. When he tasted that warm and foul-smelling water, He said, 'Excellent! What beautiful and pure water! This is indeed the water of Paradise; now ask, What do you need from the king?' He said, 'I am from a salty land, Its water is bitter and its air is dust. The scorching wind has taken all freshness from its soil, Its stones have become like wax from the heat. Poverty has fallen upon the tribe, No one has a goat or a camel. A drought has become completely apparent, All the people have become eaters of carrion. I have told you my whole condition truthfully; Since you are aware, now the command is yours.' Mamun immediately poured into his lap, In front of that gathering, a thousand dinars. He said, 'Take the gold on the condition that you take the road, Forward quickly from this very place. You must return without delay at this moment, Because it is not safe for you to remain here.' The man took the gold and immediately returned; A questioner became an intimate confidant with the Caliph. He said, 'Tell me, O Commander of the Faithful, Why did you hasten him away like this?' He said, 'If he had gone further along the road, He would have seen the water in the Euphrates here. He would have instantly become ashamed of his clear water, And would have returned from us with a heavy heart. The reflection of that shame would have reached the moon, And would have blackened the mirror of our bounty. He sought a means to reach us from afar; How could I make him disgusted with himself out of shame? He did his deed according to his capacity; I can show generosity greater than him. When I became aware of his condition, I turned him back from my road. Observe the meaning of bounty and beneficence! Observe both generosity and loyalty!' Such generosity, which is the soul of the universe, Is but a dewdrop, O Lord, compared to Your generosity! Since You gave this generosity to that servant, Out of Your generosity, lift up this fallen one! For I am arriving from the salt-marsh of the world, And I am arriving from the scorching wind of a hundred desires. The time is a drought of obedience; All of this is a matter of time, not this hour. From all the dry and wet, this dervish of Yours, Brings tears as a gift before You. Out of longing for You, with the water of my own tears, Like the Bedouin, I fill my waterskin. Then I place that waterskin on my neck, Hoping You might grant me a reward for these tears. I have come from a distant place, with my heart split in two; I seek the cash of mercy from You, O Generous One! Although through my sins I am deserving of the sword, Do not withhold Your mercy from me. O You, whose soul and heart of the world are amazed by You, A hundred thousand intellects are bewildered by You! It is as if You love bewilderment, For the sky is doubled over from Your turning. O my heart, every moment more drenched because of You, Make me more bewildered at every moment! It is pleasant for intellect and soul to search for You, It is pleasant in both worlds to speak of You. I am left in bewilderment in my own affairs, I am dying from my own abundant sorrow. There is no one in the world more selfless than me, Every moment my self-diminishment is greater. Foot and head have been erased from my path, Sorrow has become vast for my tight heart. One night, more than a hundred gifts arrive to me; One night, if anything arrives, it is blood. Sometimes joy, sometimes cries of 'O Lord' are mine; Look at this difference I have in the nights! Sometimes I flap my wings from a place, Sometimes I frantically move my hands and feet. Sometimes I burn from the fear of Zamharir, Sometimes I am frozen from the dread of Sa'ir. Sometimes I boast from the passion of Paradise, Sometimes I reach out to destiny. Sometimes I become free from the fire, sometimes from the light, Sometimes I become free from the youths, sometimes from the houris. Sometimes both worlds seem insignificant to me, Sometimes I am turned upside down by a single word. Can You, from out of so many twists and turns, Take my hand, and pretend I am nothing?