می‌بیند خواب جانت وصف حال ** که به بیداری نبینی بیست سال
During sleep thy spirit is beholding the representation of a state (of things) which thou wilt not behold, whilst thou art awake, in twenty years,
در پی تعبیر آن تو عمرها ** می‌دوی سوی شهان با دها3065
And thou art running, for (whole) lifetimes, to the sagacious (spiritual) kings in quest of the interpretation thereof,
که بگو آن خواب را تعبیر چیست ** فرع گفتن این چنین سر را سگیست
Saying, “Tell (me), what is the interpretation of that dream?” To call such a mystery a “branch” is currishness.
خواب عامست این و خود خواب خواص ** باشد اصل اجتبا و اختصاص
This is the sleep of the vulgar; but truly the sleep of the elect is the root of (their) privilege and election.
پیل باید تا چو خسپد او ستان ** خواب بیند خطه‌ی هندوستان
There must needs be the elephant, in order that, when he sleeps supinely, he may dream of the land of Hindustán.
خر نبیند هیچ هندستان به خواب ** خر ز هندستان نکردست اغتراب
The ass does not dream of Hindustán at all: the ass has never journeyed from Hindustán to a foreign country.
جان هم‌چون پیل باید نیک زفت ** تا به خواب او هند داند رفت تفت3070
There is need of the elephant-like and very robust spirit, that in sleep it may be able to go speedily to Hindustán.
ذکر هندستان کند پیل از طلب ** پس مصور گردد آن ذکرش به شب
Because of desire the elephant remembers Hindustán; then by night that remembrance of his takes form.
اذکروا الله کار هر اوباش نیست ** ارجعی بر پای هر قلاش نیست
(The worship commanded in the text) Remember ye Allah is not a (devotional) work (that is within the reach) of every rascal; (the command) Return thou is not (a fetter) on the foot of every reprobate.
لیک تو آیس مشو هم پیل باش ** ور نه پیلی در پی تبدیل باش
But still do not thou despair, be an elephant; and if thou art not an elephant, be in quest of transmutation.