چون ز رویش مرتضی شد در فشان ** گشت او شیر خدا درمرج جان925
When at (the sight of) its countenance Murtazá (‘Alí) began to scatter pearls (of spiritual truth), he became the Lion of God in the pasture of the soul.
چون جنید از جند او دید آن مدد ** خود مقاماتش فزون شد از عدد
When Junayd received that support (which he received) from its army, his maqámát (stages of progress in the mystical life) became innumerable.
بایزید اندر مزیدش راه دید ** نام قطب العارفین از حق شنید
Báyazíd saw the way into its superabundance, and heard from God (heard God bestow upon him) the name, “Pole of the Gnostics.”
چون که کرخی کرخ او را شد حرص ** شد خلیفهی عشق و ربانی نفس
When Karkhí became the guard of its city, he became the vicar of (Divine) love and inspired by the Divine breath.
پور ادهم مرکب آن سو راند شاد ** گشت او سلطان سلطانان داد
The son of Adham joyously rode his steed towards it, and became the supreme sovereign of justice.
و آن شقیق از شق آن راه شگرف ** گشت او خورشید رای و تیز طرف930
And that (famous) Shaqíq by cleaving (traversing) that venerable Way became a sun of (clear) judgement and keen-sighted.
صد هزاران پادشاهان نهان ** سر فرازانند ز آن سوی جهان
Hundreds of thousands of hidden (spiritual) kings are holding their heads high (in the region) beyond this world;
نامشان از رشک حق پنهان بماند ** هر گدایی نامشان را بر نخواند
Because of God's jealousy their names remained hidden: every beggar did not pronounce their names.
حق آن نور و حق نورانیان ** کاندر آن بحرند همچون ماهیان
By the truth of that Light and by the truth of those illumined ones who are as fishes in that Sea—
بحر جان و جان بحر ار گویمش ** نیست لایق نام نو میجویمش
’Tis not fitting if I call it the Sea of the Soul and the Soul of the Sea: I am seeking a new name for it;—