هیچ عقدی بهر عین خود نبود ** بلک از بهر مقام ربح و سود2990
No contract (of sale) was (ever made) for the sake of itself; nay, but for the sake of (being in) the position of (making) gain and profit.
هیچ نبود منکری گر بنگری ** منکری‌اش بهر عین منکری
There is no disbeliever, if you look (carefully), whose disbelief is for the sake of the disbelief itself;
بل برای قهر خصم اندر حسد ** یا فزونی جستن و اظهار خود
Nay, but (it is) for the purpose of subduing his adversary in envy (of him), or seeking superiority and self-display.
وآن فزونی هم پی طمع دگر ** بی‌معانی چاشنی ندهد صور
And that superiority too is for the sake of some other desire: the forms give no relish without the essential meanings.
زان همی‌پرسی چرا این می‌کنی ** که صور زیتست و معنی روشنی
You ask “Why art thou doing this?” because the forms are (as) the oil, and the essential meaning is (as) the light.
ورنه این گفتن چرا از بهر چیست ** چونک صورت بهر عین صورتیست2995
Otherwise, wherefore is this saying “why”?—since (hypothetically) the form is for the sake of the form itself.
این چرا گفتن سال از فایده‌ست ** جز برای این چرا گفتن بدست
This saying “why” is a question concerning the use (reason): it is bad to say “why” for any cause but this.
از چه رو فایده‌ی جویی ای امین ** چون بود فایده این خود همین
Wherefore, O trusty one, should you desire (to know) the use (reason)?—since (hypothetically) the use of this (form) is only this (form itself).
پس نقوش آسمان و اهل زمین ** نیست حکمت کان بود بهر همین
Hence it is not (in accordance with) wisdom that the forms of heaven and (those of) the people of the earth should be (created) for this only.
گر حکیمی نیست این ترتیب چیست ** ور حکیمی هست چون فعلش تهیست
If there is no Wise (Creator), what is (the reason of) this orderly arrangement (the cosmos)? And if there is a Wise (Creator), how is His action devoid (of meaning)?