شمع جمله شد زبانه پا و سر ** سایه را نبود بگرد او گذر
(When) the candle has become entirely flame from head to foot, the shadow hath no passage (way of approach) around it.
موم از خویش و ز سایه در گریخت ** در شعاع از بهر او کی شمع ریخت 675
The wax (candle) fled from itself and from the shadow into the radiance for the sake of Him who moulded the candle.
گفت او بهر فنایت ریختم ** گفت من هم در فنا بگریختم
He said, ‘I moulded thee for the sake of faná (self-naughting).’ It replied, ‘I accordingly took refuge in faná.’
این شعاع باقی آمد مفترض ** نه شعاع شمع فانی عرض
This is the necessary everlasting radiance, not the radiance of the perishable accidental candle.
شمع چون در نار شد کلی فنا ** نه اثر بینی ز شمع و نه ضیا
When the candle is wholly naughted in the fire (of Divine illumination), you will not see any trace of the candle or rays (of its light).
هست اندر دفع ظلمت آشکار ** آتش صورت به مومی پایدار
Manifestly, in dispelling the darkness, the external (material) flame is maintained by a wax candle;
برخلاف موم شمع جسم کان ** تا شود کم گردد افزون نور جان 680
(But) the candle (which is) the body is contrary to the wax candle, since in proportion as that (the body) dwindles, the light of the spirit is increased.
این شعاع باقی و آن فانیست ** شمع جان را شعله‌ی ربانیست
This is the everlasting radiance, and that (bodily candle) is perishable: the candle of the spirit hath a Divine flame.
این زبانه‌ی آتشی چون نور بود ** سایه‌ی فانی شدن زو دور بود
Since this tongue of fire was (really) light, ’twas far from it to become a perishable shadow.
ابر را سایه بیفتد در زمین ** ماه را سایه نباشد همنشین
The cloud's shadow falls on the earth: the shadow never consorts with the moon.