خوردن تن مانع این خوردنست ** جان چو بازرگان و تن چون ره‌زنست
Bodily eating and drinking is the obstacle to this (spiritual) eating and drinking: the spirit is like a merchant, while the body is like a highwayman.
شمع تاجر آنگهست افروخته ** که بود ره‌زن چو هیزم سوخته3610
(Only) at the time when the highwayman is consumed like firewood is the candle of the spirit resplendent;
که تو آن هوشی و باقی هوش‌پوش ** خویشتن را گم مکن یاوه مکوش
For thou art (in reality) that (spiritual) intelligence, and (all) the rest (of thee) is a mask concealing the intelligence. Do not lose thy (real) self, do not strive in vain!
دانک هر شهوت چو خمرست و چو بنگ ** پرده‌ی هوشست وعاقل زوست دنگ
Know that every sensual desire is like wine and beng: it is a veil over the intelligence, and thereby the rational man is stupefied.
خمر تنها نیست سرمستی هوش ** هر چه شهوانیست بندد چشم و گوش
The intoxication of the intelligence is not (caused by) wine alone: whatsoever is sensual shuts the (spiritual) eye and ear.
آن بلیس از خمر خوردن دور بود ** مست بود او از تکبر وز جحود
Iblís was far removed from wine-drinking: he was drunken with pride and unbelief.
مست آن باشد که آن بیند که نیست ** زر نماید آنچ مس و آهنیست3615
The drunken man is he who sees that which is not: (to him) what is (really) a piece of copper or iron appears to be gold.
این سخن پایان ندارد موسیا ** لب بجنبان تا برون روژد گیا
This discourse hath no end. (God said), “O Moses, move thy lips, that the herbage may spring forth.”
هم‌چنان کرد و هم اندر دم زمین ** سبز گشت از سنبل و حب ثمین
He (Moses) did so, and immediately the earth became green with hyacinths and costly grains.
اندر افتادند در لوت آن نفر ** قحط دیده مرده از جوع البقر
That folk fell to (eating) the food, since they had suffered famine and were (almost) dead from ravenous hunger.
چند روزی سیر خوردند از عطا ** آن دمی و آدمی و چارپا
For several days they ate their fill of the gift, (both) those who were inspired by that breath (of Moses) and the (other) human beings and the quadrupeds.
چون شکم پر گشت و بر نعمت زدند ** وآن ضرورت رفت پس طاغی شدند3620
When their bellies were filled and they grasped the (Divine) bounty and the necessity was gone, then they waxed insolent (in disobedience).
نفس فرعونیست هان سیرش مکن ** تا نیارد یاد از آن کفر کهن
The carnal soul is a follower of Pharaoh: beware, do not satisfy it, lest it remember its ancient infidelity.
بی تف آتش نگردد نفس خوب ** تا نشد آهن چو اخگر هین مکوب
Without the glowing heat of the fire (of mortification) the carnal soul will never become goodly: hark, do not beat the iron till it has become like live coals.