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.
بی‌خودی بی‌ابریست ای نیک‌خواه ** باشی اندر بی‌خودی چون قرص ماه
Selflessness is cloudlessness, O well-disposed one: in (the state of) selflessness thou wilt be like the orb of the moon.
باز چون ابری بیاید رانده ** رفت نور از مه خیالی مانده 685
Again, when a cloud comes, driven along, the light goes: of the moon there remains (only) a phantom.
از حجاب ابر نورش شد ضعیف ** کم ز ماه نو شد آن بدر شریف
Its light is made feeble by the cloud-veil: that noble full-moon becomes less than the new moon.
مه خیالی می‌نماید ز ابر و گرد ** ابر تن ما را خیال‌اندیش کرد
The moon is made to appear a phantom by clouds and dust: the cloud, (which is) the body, has caused us to conceive phantasies.
لطف مه بنگر که این هم لطف اوست ** که بگفت او ابرها ما را عدوست
Behold the kindness of the (Divine) Moon; for this too is His kindness, that He hath said, ‘The clouds are enemies to Us.’
مه فراغت دارد از ابر و غبار ** بر فراز چرخ دارد مه مدار
The Moon is independent of clouds and dust: the Moon hath His orbit aloft in the (spiritual) sky.
ابر ما را شد عدو و خصم جان ** که کند مه را ز چشم ما نهان 690
The cloud is our mortal enemy and adversary because it hides the Moon from our eyes.
حور را این پرده زالی می‌کند ** بدر را کم از هلالی می‌کند
This veil makes the houri (to appear as) a hag: it makes the full-moon less than a new moon.
ماه ما را در کنار عز نشاند ** دشمن ما را عدوی خویش خواند
The Moon hath seated us in the lap of glory: He hath called our foe His enemy.
تاب ابر و آب او خود زین مهست ** هر که مه خواند ابر را بس گمرهست
The splendour and beauty of the cloud is (derived) from the Moon, (but) whoever calls the cloud the Moon is much astray.
نور مه بر ابر چون منزل شدست ** روی تاریکش ز مه مبدل شدست
Since the light of the Moon has been poured down upon the cloud, its (the cloud's) dark face has been transfigured by the Moon.
گرچه همرنگ مهست و دولتیست ** اندر ابر آن نور مه عاریتیست 695
Although it is of the same colour as the Moon and is associated with (the Moon's) empire, (yet) in the cloud the light of the Moon is (only) borrowed (impermanent).
در قیامت شمس و مه معزول شد ** چشم در اصل ضیا مشغول شد
At the Resurrection the sun and moon are discharged (from their office): the eye is occupied in (contemplating) the Source of (their) radiance,
تا بداند ملک را از مستعار ** وین رباط فانی از دارالقرار
In order that it may know (distinguish) the (permanent) possession from the (temporary) loan, and this perishable caravanseray from the everlasting abode.
دایه عاریه بود روزی سه چار ** مادرا ما را تو گیر اندر کنار
The nurse is borrowed for three or four days: do thou, O Mother, take us into thy bosom!
پر من ابرست و پرده‌ست و کثیف ** ز انعکاس لطف حق شد او لطیف
My feathers are (like) the cloud and are a veil and gross: (only) by the reflexion of God's loveliness are they made lovely.