چونک ریگی آرد شد بهر خلیل ** دانک معزولست گندم ای نبیل
Since sand was turned into flour for the Friend (Abraham), know that the wheat is deposed from its office, O noble one.
صورت از بیصورت آید در وجود ** همچنانک از آتشی زادست دود
Form is brought into existence by the Formless, just as smoke is produced by a fire.
کمترین عیب مصور در خصال ** چون پیاپی بینیش آید ملال
The least blemish in the qualities of that which is endowed with form becomes annoying when you regard it continually;
حیرت محض آردت بیصورتی ** زاده صد گون آلت از بیآلتی
(But) Formlessness throws you into absolute bewilderment: from non-instrumentality a hundred kinds of instruments are born.
بی ز دستی دستها بافد همی ** جان جان سازد مصور آدمی 3715
Handlessness is weaving (fashioning) hands: the Soul of the soul makes a (fully) formed Man.
آنچنان که اندر دل از هجر و وصال ** میشود بافیده گوناگون خیال
’Tis like as (when) from separation and union diverse fancies are woven (conceived) in the heart.
هیچ ماند این مثر با اثر ** هیچ ماند بانگ و نوحه با ضرر
Does this cause ever resemble its effect? Does the cry (of pain) and lamentation ever resemble the loss (that caused it)?
نوحه را صورت ضرر بیصورتست ** دست خایند از ضرر کش نیست دست
The lamentation has a form, the loss is formless: they (the losers) gnaw their hands on account of a loss that has no hand.
این مثل نالایقست ای مستدل ** حیلهی تفهیم را جهد المقل
This comparison, O seeker of guidance, does not fit (the case), (but) ’tis the best effort a poor man can make to explain it.
صنع بیصورت بکارد صورتی ** تن بروید با حواس و آلتی 3720
The formless working (of God) sows (the seed of) a form (idea), (whence) there grows up a body endowed with senses and a (rational) faculty,
تا چه صورت باشد آن بر وفق خود ** اندر آرد جسم را در نیک و بد
So that the form (idea), whatever it be, according to its own nature brings the body into (a state of) good or evil.
صورت نعمت بود شاکر شود ** صورت مهلت بود صابر شود
If it be a form (idea) of beneficence, it (the body) turns to thanksgiving; if it be a form of deferment, it (the body) becomes patient;
صورت رحمی بود بالان شود ** صورت زخمی بود نالان شود
If it be a form of mercy, it (the body) becomes flourishing; if it be a form of repulse, it (the body) becomes full of moans;
صورت شهری بود گیرد سفر ** صورت تیری بود گیرد سپر
If it be the form of a city, it (the body) takes a journey (thither); if it be the form of an arrow, it (the body) takes a shield (in defence);
صورت خوبان بود عشرت کند ** صورت غیبی بود خلوت کند 3725
If it be the form of fair ones, it (the body) indulges in enjoyment; if it be a form of the unseen world, it (the body) practises religious seclusion.
صورت محتاجی آرد سوی کسب ** صورت بازو وری آرد به غصب
The form of want leads (the body) to earn (the means of livelihood); the form of strength of arm leads (the body) to seize (the property of others) by force.
این ز حد و اندازهها باشد برون ** داعی فعل از خیال گونهگون
These (ideas) are boundless and immeasurable (in number): the motive to action (arises) from various sorts of (such) phantasy.
بینهایت کیشها و پیشهها ** جمله ظل صورت اندیشهها
All the infinite ways of life and (all) the crafts are the shadow (reflexion) of the form of thoughts.
بر لب بام ایستاده قوم خوش ** هر یکی را بر زمین بین سایهاش
(For example, when) happy folk (are) standing on the edge of a roof, observe the shadow of each one on the ground.
صورت فکرست بر بام مشید ** وآن عمل چون سایه بر ارکان پدید 3730
The form of thought is on the lofty roof (of the spirit), while the (resultant) action appears, like a shadow, on the pillars (bodily limbs).
فعل بر ارکان و فکرت مکتتم ** لیک در تاثیر و وصلت دو به هم
The action is (manifested) on the pillars, while the thought (that produces it) is concealed; but the two are combined in the correlation of cause and effect.
آن صور در بزم کز جام خوشیست ** فایدهی او بیخودی و بیهشیست
The forms (ideas) that arise at a banquet from the festive cup have as their result unconsciousness and senselessness.
صورت مرد و زن و لعب و جماع ** فایدهش بیهوشی وقت وقاع
The forms (ideas) of man and woman and (amorous) sport and sexual intercourse—hinc nascitur perturbatio animi in coitu. [The forms (ideas) of man and woman and (amorous) sport and sexual intercourse—their result at the time of sexual union (is mental) distraction.]
صورت نان و نمک کان نعمتست ** فایدهش آن قوت بیصورتست
The (material) form of bread and salt, which is a benefit (conferred by God), has as its result (bodily) strength, which is formless.
در مصاف آن صورت تیغ و سپر ** فایدهش بیصورتی یعنی ظفر 3735
On the battle-field the (material) form of sword and shield has as its result a formless thing, i.e. victory.