تا چو بجهند از چنین خواب این رده ** شمع مرده باشد و ساقی شده
So that, when this troop (of asses) shall start up from suchlike slumber, the candle will have been extinguished and the cup-bearer will have gone.
داشت طغیانشان ترا در حیرتی ** پس بنوشند از جزا هم حسرتی3675
Their rebellious disobedience kept thee in a (great) perplexity: therefore they shall suffer in retribution a (great) sorrow,
تا که عدل ما قدم بیرون نهد ** در جزا هر زشت را درخور دهد
To the end that Our justice may step forth and bestow in retribution what is appropriate to every evil-doer;
که آن شهی که می‌ندیدندیش فاش ** بود با ایشان نهان اندر معاش
For the King, whom they were not seeing openly, was (always) with them secretly in their lives.”
چون خرد با تست مشرف بر تنت ** گر چه زو قاصر بود این دیدنت
Inasmuch as the intellect is with thee, overseeing thy body, and though this perception of thine is unable to apprehend it,
نیست قاصر دیدن او ای فلان ** از سکون و جنبشت در امتحان
(Yet) its perception, O such and such, is not unable to apprehend thy motion and rest when it tries,
چه عجب گر خالق آن عقل نیز ** با تو باشد چون نه‌ای تو مستجیز3680
What wonder if the Creator of that intellect too is with thee? How art thou not conceding (the truth of that)?
از خرد غافل شود بر بد تند ** بعد آن عقلش ملامت می‌کند
He (some one) pays no heed to his intellect and embarks on evil; afterwards his intellect rebukes him.
تو شدی غافل ز عقلت عقل نی ** کز حضورستش ملامت کردنی
You forgot your intellect, your intellect did not (forget you), since that act of rebuke is the result of its presence (attention).
گر نبودی حاضر و غافل بدی ** در ملامت کی ترا سیلی زدی
If it had not been present (attentive) and had been heedless, how should it have slapped you in rebuke?
ور ازو غافل نبودی نفس تو ** کی چنان کردی جنون و تفس تو
And if your carnal soul had not been inattentive to it, how should your madness and heat have acted thus?
پس تو و عقلت چو اصطرلاب بود ** زین بدانی قرب خورشید وجود3685
Hence you and your intellect are like the astrolabe: by this means you may know the nearness of the Sun of existence.
قرب بی‌چونست عقلت را به تو ** نیست چپ و راست و پس یا پیش رو
Your intellect is indescribably near to you: it is neither to the left nor to the right nor behind nor in front.
قرب بی‌چون چون نباشد شاه را ** که نیابد بحث عقل آن راه را
How (then) should not the King be indescribably near? for intellectual search cannot find the way (to Him).
نیست آن جنبش که در اصبع تراست ** پیش اصبع یا پسش یا چپ و راست
The motion that you have in your finger is not in front of your finger or behind it or to the left or to the right.
وقت خواب و مرگ از وی می‌رود ** وقت بیداری قرینش می‌شود
At the time of sleep and death it (the motion) goes from it (the finger); at the time of waking it rejoins it.
از چه ره می‌آید اندر اصبعت ** که اصبعت بی او ندارد منفعت3690
By what way doth it come into your finger, (that motion) without which your finger hath no use?
نور چشم و مردمک در دیده‌ات ** از چه ره آمد به غیر شش جهت
The light of the eye and pupil, by what other way than the six directions doth it come into your eye?
عالم خلقست با سوی و جهات ** بی‌جهت دان عالم امر و صفات
The world of creation is endued with (diverse) quarters and directions, (but) know that the world of the (Divine) Command and Attributes is without (beyond) direction.
بی‌جهت دان عالم امر ای صنم ** بی‌جهت‌تر باشد آمر لاجرم
Know, O beloved, that the world of the Command is without direction: of necessity the Commander is (even) more without direction.
بی‌جهت بد عقل و علام البیان ** عقل‌تر از عقل و جان‌تر هم ز جان
The intellect was (ever) without direction, and the Knower of the exposition is more intelligent than intellect and more spiritual even than spirit.
بی‌تعلق نیست مخلوقی بدو ** آن تعلق هست بی‌چون ای عمو3695
No created being is unconnected with Him: that connexion, O uncle, is indescribable,
زانک فصل و وصل نبود در روان ** غیر فصل و وصل نندیشد گمان
Because in the spirit there is no separating and uniting, while (our) thought cannot think except of separating and uniting.
غیر فصل و وصل پی بر از دلیل ** لیک پی بردن بننشاند غلیل
Pursue that which is without separation and union by (aid of) a spiritual guide; but the pursuit will not allay your thirst.
پی پیاپی می‌بر ار دوری ز اصل ** تا رگ مردیت آرد سوی وصل
(Yet) pursue incessantly, if you are far from the Source, that the vein of (true) manhood (in you) may bring you to the attainment (of your desire).