شمع بود آن مسجد و پروانه او ** خویشتن در باخت آن پروانه‌خو4365
That mosque was the candle, and he (the guest) was the moth: that man of moth-like nature gambled himself away (sacrificed himself).
پر بسوخت او را ولیکن ساختش ** بس مبارک آمد آن انداختش
It burnt his wings, but it complied with him (granted his desire): his throwing (himself into the flame) was very blessed.
همچو موسی بود آن مسعودبخت ** کاتشی دید او به سوی آن درخت
That man of happy fortune was like Moses who beheld a fire in the direction of the tree.
چون عنایتها برو موفور بود ** نار می‌پنداشت و خود آن نور بود
Since the (Divine) favours were plenteously bestowed on him, he (only) fancied it was fire, and really it was the Light.
مرد حق را چون ببینی ای پسر ** تو گمان داری برو نار بشر
O son, when you see a man of God, you suppose (that you see) in him the fire of human nature.
تو ز خود می‌آیی و آن در تو است ** نار و خار ظن باطل این سو است4370
You are coming (to that conclusion) from yourself, and that (human nature) is in you (not in him): the fire and thorns of vain opinion are in this quarter.
او درخت موسی است و پر ضیا ** نور خوان نارش مخوان باری بیا
He is the tree of Moses and filled with radiance: come, now, call him the Light, do not call him fire.
نه فطام این جهان ناری نمود ** سالکان رفتند و آن خود نور بود
Did not the weaning from this world seem (as) a fire? The pilgrims went (on their way), and that (weaning) was really the Light.
پس بدان که شمع دین بر می‌شود ** این نه همچون شمع آتشها بود
Know, then, that the Candle of Religion is always mounting (shining more and more): this is not like the candle of flames.
این نماید نور و سوزد یار را ** و آن بصورت نار و گل زوار را
This (flaming candle) seems to be Light, (but) it burns its friend, while that (Candle of Religion) is fire in appearance, but is (delicious as) roses to (its) visitors.
این چو سازنده ولی سوزنده‌ای ** و آن گه وصلت دل افروزنده‌ای4375
The former is like a complaisant (friend), but it is a burner, while that (other) is an illuminator of the heart at the moment of union.
شکل شعله‌ی نور پاک سازوار ** حاضران را نور و دوران را چو نار
To those present (with God) the appearance of the spark of pure and worthy Light is luminous, while to those far (from God) it is like fire.
ملاقات آن عاشق با صدر جهان
The meeting of the lover with the Sadr-i Jahán.
آن بخاری نیز خود بر شمع زد ** گشته بود از عشقش آسان آن کبد
The man of Bukhárá also cast himself upon candle: because of his passion that suffering had become easy to him.
آه سوزانش سوی گردون شده ** در دل صدر جهان مهر آمده
His burning sighs went up to heaven: kindness (for him) came into the heart of the Sadr-i Jahán,
گفته با خود در سحرگه کای احد ** حال آن آواره‌ی ما چون بود
(Who) said, (communing) with himself at dawn, “O (Thou who art) One, how fareth that distraught wanderer of Ours?
او گناهی کرد و ما دیدیم لیک ** رحمت ما را نمی‌دانست نیک4380
He committed a sin, and We saw (it), but he was not well acquainted with Our mercy.
خاطر مجرم ز ما ترسان شود ** لیک صد اومید در ترسش بود
The sinner’s heart becomes afraid of Us, but in his fear there are a hundred hopes.
من بترسانم وقیح یاوه را ** آنک ترسد من چه ترسانم ورا
I frighten the impudent man who has lost the (right) way: why should I frighten him who is afraid?
بهر دیگ سرد آذر می‌رود ** نه بدان کز جوش از سر می‌رود
Fire is used for the cold pot, not for that (pot) which is boiling over.
آمنان را من بترسانم به علم ** خایفان را ترس بردارم به حلم
I frighten the unafraid by (My) knowledge; I take away the fear of the afraid by (My) clemency.
پاره‌دوزم پاره در موضع نهم ** هر کسی را شربت اندر خور دهم4385
I am a patcher: I put the patch in (its proper) place; I give drink to every one in due measure.”
هست سر مرد چون بیخ درخت ** زان بروید برگهاش از چوب سخت
A man’s inmost consciousness is like the root of a tree; hence his leaves grow from the hard wood.
درخور آن بیخ رسته برگها ** در درخت و در نفوس و در نهی
The leaves grow according to the root, in the tree and in souls and in minds.
برفلک پرهاست ز اشجار وفا ** اصلها ثابت و فرعه فی السما
From the trees of faithfulness there are wings (that soar) to heaven its root is fast (in the earth), and its branch is in the sky.
چون برست از عشق پر بر آسمان ** چون نروید در دل صدر جهان
Since through love grew the wing (that soars) to heaven, how should it not grow in the heart of the Sadr-i Jahán?