You pour upon it the earth of subjection, because on account of the resemblance you deem it to be the star (itself).
عکس پنهان گشت و اندر غیب راند ** تو گمان بردی که آن اختر نماند
(When) the reflexion becomes hidden (from sight) and disappears, you think that the star is no more;
آن ستاره‌ی نحس هست اندر سما ** هم بدان سو بایدش کردن دوا
(But) the unlucky star is in the sky: ’tis in that quarter it must be cured (of its ill-luck);
بلک باید دل سوی بی‌سوی بست ** نحس این سو عکس نحس بی‌سو است 3160
Nay, you must fix your heart on that which is quarterless (illimitable); the ill-luck in this quarter is (only) the reflexion of the ill-luck in the realm where no quarters exist.
داد داد حق شناس و بخششش ** عکس آن دادست اندر پنج و شش
Know that (all) gifts are the gift of God and are His bounty: ’tis the reflexion of those gifts that appears in (the world of) the five (senses) and the six (directions).
گر بود داد خسان افزون ز ریگ ** تو بمیری وآن بماند مردریگ
Though the gifts of the base (worldlings) be more (in number) than the sands, (yet) you will die and they will be left behind as an inheritance.
عکس آخر چند پاید در نظر ** اصل بینی پیشه کن ای کژنگر
After all, how long does a reflexion remain in view? Make a practice of contemplating the origin (of the reflexion), O you who look awry.
حق چو بخشش کرد بر اهل نیاز ** با عطا بخشیدشان عمر دراز
When God bestows bounty on those who supplicate Him in their need, together with His gift He bestows on them a long life.
خالدین شد نعمت و منعم علیه ** محیی الموتاست فاجتازوا الیه 3165
(Both) the benefit and the beneficiary are made enduring for ever. ’Tis He that brings the dead to life, so repair unto Him.
داد حق با تو در آمیزد چو جان ** آنچنان که آن تو باشی و تو آن
The gifts of God are mingled with you like the spirit, in such wise that you are they and they are you.
گر نماند اشتهای نان و آب ** بدهدت بی این دو قوت مستطاب
If you have no more appetite for bread and water, He will give you goodly nourishment without these twain.
فربهی گر رفت حق در لاغری ** فربهی پنهانت بخشد آن سری
If your fatness is gone, God will give you from yonder a (spiritual) fatness concealed in (bodily) leanness.
چون پری را قوت از بو می‌دهد ** هر ملک را قوت جان او می‌دهد
Since He gives the peri nourishment from scent and gives every angel nourishment from spirit,
جان چه باشد که تو سازی زو سند ** حق به عشق خویش زنده‌ت می‌کند 3170
What is the (animal) soul that you should make a support of (should rely upon) it? God will make you living by His love.
زو حیات عشق خواه و جان مخواه ** تو ازو آن رزق خواه و نان مخواه
Ask of Him the life of love and do not ask for the (animal) soul: ask of Him that (spiritual) provision and do not ask for bread.
خلق را چون آب دان صاف و زلال ** اندر آن تابان صفات ذوالجلال
Know that (the world of) created beings is like pure and limpid water in which the attributes of the Almighty are shining.
علمشان و عدلشان و لطفشان ** چون ستاره‌ی چرخ در آب روان
Their knowledge and their justice and their clemency are like a star of heaven (reflected) in running water.
پادشاهان مظهر شاهی حق ** فاضلان مرآت آگاهی حق
Kings are the theatre for the manifestation of God's kingship; the learned (divines) are the mirrors for God's wisdom.
قرنها بگذشت و این قرن نویست ** ماه آن ماهست آب آن آب نیست 3175
Generations have passed away, and this is a new generation: the moon is the same moon, the water is not the same water.
عدل آن عدلست و فضل آن فضل هم ** لیک مستبدل شد آن قرن و امم
The justice is the same justice, and the learning is the same learning too; but those generations and peoples have been changed (supplanted by others).
قرنها بر قرنها رفت ای همام ** وین معانی بر قرار و بر دوام
Generations on generations have gone, O sire, but these Ideas (Divine attributes) are permanent and everlasting.
آن مبدل شد درین جو چند بار ** عکس ماه و عکس اختر بر قرار
The water in this channel has been changed many times: the reflexion of the moon and of the stars remains unaltered.
پس بنااش نیست بر آب روان ** بلک بر اقطار عرض آسمان
Therefore its foundation is not in the running water; nay, but in the regions of the breadth (wide expanse) of Heaven.