1Cademy - (۶) حکایت پیر خالو سرخسی / (6) The Tale of the Old Man Khalu of Sarakhs

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Elahi Nameh

Poem

(۶) حکایت پیر خالو سرخسی / (6) The Tale of the Old Man Khalu of Sarakhs

Original content

سرخسی بود پیری خالوش نام
بسی بردی بسر با خضر ایام

مگر جائی جوانی گرم رو بود
که او نو بود و جانش نیز نو بود

دلی بود از حقیقت غرق نورش
نبودی هیچ کاری جز حضورش

خضر می شد بر آن پیر درویش
بره بر آن جوان را برد با خویش

جوان بنشست و پیر از بهر یاری
بدو گفت ای جوان تو در چه کاری

جوان گفتش جوان اینجا کدامست
که اکنون قرب ده سال تمامست

که تا من لحظهٔ ز اندیشهٔ دوست
نه از مغزم خبر دارم نه از پوست

چو بشنید این سخن زو پیر دانا
بدو گفت ای جوانمرد توانا

مرا اندیشه کردن زو محالست
من این دانم که اکنون شست سالست

که تا دایم چنان در عیب خویشم
که یکدم نر نمی خیزد ز پیشم

چو خود را جمله ننگ و عیب بینم
چگونه در نجاست غیب بینم

مرا این گر نکو و گر نکو نیست
دمی از ننگ خود پروای او نیست

اگر مبرز بپردازم ز مردار
روا باشد که یار آید پدیدار

ولیکن با چنین مردار در بر
نیاید دولت این کار در بر

اگر پاکیت باید پاک گردی
وگرنه خون خوری در خاک گردی

چه خواهی کرد آخر این ریاست
چو خورشیدی که تابد بر نجاست

نخستین پاک گرد آنگاه بنگر
مرو بر جهل، چاه و راه بنگر

کسی کو در نجاست مشک جوید
میان بحر خاک خشک جوید

جوان را این سخن در دل چنان شد
که گفتی از دلش زان ننگ جان شد

بلرزید و بغرید و نگون گشت
چنان شد کین چنین سرگشته خون گشت

خضر گفتش که ای پیر دلفروز
مزن او را بدین تیغ جگرسوز

که این کار بزرگان جهانست
نه کار نازنینان جوانست

بلا شک مست را باید امان داد
کمان بر قوت بازو توان داد

تو این دم مست عشق دلنوازی
گهی سرمست و گاهی سرفرازی

مئی باید ز مخموران خاصت
که تا از خود دهد کلی خلاصت

همی هرچت کند از خویشتن دور
می تو آن بود نه آب انگور

کسی چون مستئی یابد برو دست
چنانداند که فانی گشت هر هست

چو از مستی فنا بشناختی باز
تو مستی در فنا سر بر میفراز

English translation

There was an old man from Sarakhs named Khalu, Who spent many days with Khidr. It happened that somewhere there was an enthusiastic youth, Who was new [to the path] and whose soul was also new. He had a heart drowned in the light of truth; He had no other occupation but divine presence. Khidr was going to that dervish old man, And he took the youth along with him on the way. The youth sat down, and the old man, out of friendship, Said to him, 'O youth, what state are you in?' The youth said to him, 'Who is the youth here? For it is now nearly ten full years That, for a moment, out of thought for the Friend, I have no awareness of my own core nor my skin.' When the wise old man heard this speech from him, He said to him, 'O capable young man! For me, thinking of Him is impossible; I know this, that it is now sixty years, That I am so constantly occupied with my own faults, That not for a moment does the thought leave my presence. When I see myself entirely as shame and fault, How can I see the Unseen while in impurity? For me, whether this is good or not good, Not for a moment do I have the leisure to attend to Him due to my own shame. If I clear the latrine of the carcass, It would be fitting that the Friend appears. But with such a carcass in my embrace, The fortune of this matter will not come to my embrace. If you seek purity, you must become pure; Otherwise, you will suffer sorrow and turn to dust. What will you do, in the end, with this hypocrisy? Like a sun that shines upon impurity. First become pure, and then look; Do not walk in ignorance, look at the well and the path. One who seeks musk in impurity, Is seeking dry soil in the middle of the sea.' These words sank so deeply into the youth's heart, That you would say his soul departed his heart from that shame. He trembled, cried out, and fell down headlong; It was such that this bewildered one turned to blood. Khidr said to him, 'O heart-illuminating old man! Do not strike him with this heart-burning sword! For this is the work of the elders of the world, Not the work of delicate youths. Without a doubt, one must give quarter to the intoxicated; A bow can only be drawn according to the strength of the arm. You, in this breath, are drunk with the heart-soothing Love; Sometimes intoxicated, and sometimes exultant. You need a wine from the special drunkards, So that it may give you complete release from yourself. Whatever distances you from your self, That is your wine, not the water of the grape. When intoxication gains the upper hand over someone, He thinks that every existing thing has been annihilated. When, out of intoxication, you recognize annihilation again, You are intoxicated in annihilation, do not raise your head.'

Updated 2026-07-03

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