| THE saint of Hajwir was venerated by the peoples, |
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| And Pir-i-Sanjar visited his tomb as a pilgrim,88 |
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| With ease he broke down the mountain barriers |
1085 |
| And sowed the seed of Islam in India. |
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| The age of Omar was restored by his godliness. |
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| The fame of the Truth was exalted by his words. |
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| He was a guardian of the honour of the Koran. |
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| The house of Falsehood fell in ruins at his gaze. |
1090 |
| The dust of the Punjab was brought to life by his breath, |
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| Our dawn was made splendid by his sun |
|
| He was a lover, and withal, a courier of Love: |
|
| The secrets of Love shone forth from his brow. |
|
| I will tell a story of his perfection |
1095 |
| And enclose a whole rose-bed in a single bud. |
|
| A young man, cypress-tall, |
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| Came from the town of Merv to Lahore. |
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| He went to see the venerable saint, |
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| That the sun might dispth is darkness. |
1100 |
| "I am hammed in," he said, "by foes; |
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| I am as a glass in the midst of stones. |
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| Do thou teach me, O sire of heavenly rank, |
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| How to lead my life amongst enemies!" |
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| The wise Director, in whose nature |
1105 |
| Love had allied beauty with majesty, |
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| Answered: "Thou art unread in Life's lore, |
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| Careless of its end and its beginning. |
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| Be without fear of others! |
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| Thou art a sleeping force: awake! |
1110 |
| When the stone thought itself to be glass, |
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| It became glass and got into the way of breaking. |
|
| If the traveller thinks himself weak, |
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| He delivers his soul unto the brigand. |
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| How long wilt thou regard thyself as water and clay? |
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| Create from thy clay a flaming Sinai! |
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| Why be angry with mighty men? |
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| Why complain of enemies? |
|
| I will declare the truth: thine enemy is thy friend: |
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| His existence crowns thee with glory. |
1120 |
| Whosoever knows the states of the Self |
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| Considers a powerful enemy to be a blessing from God. |
|
| To the seed of Man the enemy is -as a rain-cloud: |
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| He awakens its potentialities. |
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| If thy spirit be strong, the stones in thy way are as water: |
1125 |
| What wrecks the torrent of the ups and downs of the road? |
|
| The sword of resolution is whetted by the stones in the way' |
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| And put to proof by traversing stage after stage. |
|
| What is the use of eating and sleeping like a beast? |
|
| What is the use of being, unless thou have strength in thyself? |
1130 |
| When thou mak'st thyself strong with Self, |
|
| Thou wilt destroy the world at thy pleasure. |
|
| If thou wouldst pass away, become free of Self |
|
| If thou wouldst live, become full of Self !89 |
|
| Who is death? To become oblivious to Self. |
1135 |
| Why imagine that it is the parting of soul and body? |
|
| Abide in Self, like Joseph? |
|
| Advance from captivity to empire! |
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| Think of Self and be a man of action |
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| Be a man of God, bear mysteries within!"90 |
1140 |
| I will explain the matter by means of stories, |
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| I will open the bud by the power of my breath. |
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| "'Tis better that a lover's secret |
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| Should be told by the lips of others.'" |
