لیک در وقت مثال ای خوش‌نظر ** اتحاد از روی جانبازی نگر
But at the moment of (making) the comparison consider, O thou who hast good insight, their oneness in respect of hazarding their lives;
کان دلیر آخر مثال شیر بود ** نیست مثل شیر در جمله‌ی حدود
For, after all, the courageous man did resemble the lion, (though) he is not like the lion in all points of the definition.
متحد نقشی ندارد این سرا ** تا که مثلی وا نمایم من ترا
This abode (the world) does not contain any form (that is) one (with any other form), so that I might show forth to thee a (complete) similitude.
هم مثال ناقصی دست آورم ** تا ز حیرانی خرد را وا خرم
Still, I will bring to hand an imperfect comparison, that I may redeem thy mind from confusion.
شب بهر خانه چراغی می‌نهند ** تا به نور آن ز ظلمت می‌رهند425
At night a lamp is placed in every house, in order that by its light they (the inmates) may be delivered from darkness.
آن چراغ این تن بود نورش چو جان ** هست محتاج فتیل و این و آن
That lamp is (like) this body, its light like the (animal) soul; it requires a wick and this and that.
آن چراغ شش فتیله‌ی این حواس ** جملگی بر خواب و خور دارد اساس
That lamp with six wicks, namely, these senses, is based entirely upon sleep and food.
بی‌خور و بی‌خواب نزید نیم دم ** با خور و با خواب نزید نیز هم
Without food and sleep it would not live half a moment; nor even with food and sleep does it live either.
بی‌فتیل و روغنش نبود بقا ** با فتیل و روغن او هم بی‌وفا
Without wick and oil it has no duration, and with wick and oil it is also faithless (transient),
زانک نور علتی‌اش مرگ‌جوست ** چون زید که روز روشن مرگ اوست430
Inasmuch as its light, (being) related to (secondary) causes, is seeking death: how should it live when bright day is the death of it?
جمله حسهای بشر هم بی‌بقاست ** زانک پیش نور روز حشر لاست
Likewise all the human senses are impermanent, because they are naught in the presence of the Day of Resurrection.
نور حس و جان بابایان ما ** نیست کلی فانی و لا چون گیا
The light of the senses and spirits of our fathers is not wholly perishable and naught, like the grass;
لیک مانند ستاره و ماهتاب ** جمله محوند از شعاع آفتاب
But, like the stars and moonbeams, they all vanish in the radiance of the Sun.
آنچنان که سوز و درد زخم کیک ** محو گردد چون در آید مار الیک
’Tis just as the smart and pain of the flea's bite disappears when the snake comes in to you (and bites you).
آنچنان که عور اندر آب جست ** تا در آب از زخم زنبوران برست435
’Tis just as the naked man jumped into the water, that in the water he might escape from the sting of the hornets:
می‌کند زنبور بر بالا طواف ** چون بر آرد سر ندارندش معاف
The hornets circle above (him), and when he puts out his head they do not spare him.
آب ذکر حق و زنبور این زمان ** هست یاد آن فلانه وان فلان
The water is recollection (dhikr) of God, and the hornet is the remembrance, during this time, of such-and-such a woman or such-and-such a man.
دم بخور در آب ذکر و صبر کن ** تا رهی از فکر و وسواس کهن
Swallow (hold) your breath in the water of recollection and show fortitude, that you may be freed from the old thought and temptation.
بعد از آن تو طبع آن آب صفا ** خود بگیری جملگی سر تا به پا
After that, you yourself will assume the nature of that pure water entirely from head to foot.
آنچنان که از آب آن زنبور شر ** می‌گریزد از تو هم گیرد حذر440
As the noxious hornet flees from the water, so will it be afraid of (approaching) you.
بعد از آن خواهی تو دور از آب باش ** که بسر هم‌طبع آبی خواجه‌تاش
After that, be far from the water, if you wish; for in your inmost soul you are of the same nature as the water, O fellow-servant.
بس کسانی کز جهان بگذشته‌اند ** لا نیند و در صفات آغشته‌اند
Those persons, then, who have passed from the world are not naught (nonexistent), but they are steeped in the (Divine) Attributes.
در صفات حق صفات جمله‌شان ** هم‌چو اختر پیش آن خور بی‌نشان
All their attributes are (absorbed) in the Attributes of God, even as the star is (left) without trace in the presence of the sun.
گر ز قرآن نقل خواهی ای حرون ** خوان جمیع هم لدینا محضرون
If you demand a citation from the Qur’án, O recalcitrant, recite all of them shall be brought into Our presence.
محضرون معدوم نبود نیک بین ** تا بقای روحها دانی یقین445
(The person denoted by the word) muhdarún (brought into the presence) is not non-existent (ma‘dúm). Consider (this) well, that you may gain certain knowledge of the everlasting life (baqá) of the spirits.
روح محجوب از بقا بس در عذاب ** روح واصل در بقا پاک از حجاب
The spirit debarred from everlasting life is exceedingly tormented; the spirit united (with God) in everlasting life is free from (every) barrier.
زین چراغ حس حیوان المراد ** گفتمت هان تا نجویی اتحاد
I have told you the purpose of this lamp of animal sense-perception. Beware of seeking to become one (with it in spirit).
روح خود را متصل کن ای فلان ** زود با ارواح قدس سالکان
Make your spirit, O such-and-such, to be united speedily with the holy spirits of the Travellers (on the mystic Way).
صد چراغت ار مرند ار بیستند ** پس جدا اند و یگانه نیستند
Your hundred lamps, then, whether they die (are extinguished) or whether they stand (and burn), are separate (from each other) and are not single.
زان همه جنگند این اصحاب ما ** جنگ کس نشنید اندر انبیا450
On that account these companions of ours are all at war, (but) no one (ever) heard of war amongst the prophets,
زانک نور انبیا خورشید بود ** نور حس ما چراغ و شمع و دود
Because the light of the prophets was the Sun, (while) the light of our senses is lamp and candle and smoke.
یک بمیرد یک بماند تا به روز ** یک بود پژمرده دیگر با فروز
One (of these lamps) dies, one lasts till daybreak; one is dim, another bright.
جان حیوانی بود حی از غذا ** هم بمیرد او بهر نیک و بذی
The animal soul is (kept) alive by nutriment; however good or bad its state may be, it dies all the same.
گر بمیرد این چراغ و طی شود ** خانه‌ی همسایه مظلم کی شود
If this lamp dies and is extinguished, (yet) how should the neighbour's house become dark?
نور آن خانه چو بی این هم به پاست ** پس چراغ حس هر خانه جداست455
Inasmuch as without this (lamp) the light in that house is still maintained, hence (it follows that) the lamp of sense-perception is different in every house.
این مثال جان حیوانی بود ** نه مثال جان ربانی بود
This is a parable of the animal soul, not a parable of the divine soul.
باز از هندوی شب چون ماه زاد ** در سر هر روزنی نوری فتاد
Again, when the moon is born from the Hindú, Night, a light falls upon every window.
نور آن صد خانه را تو یک شمر ** که نماند نور این بی آن دگر
Count the light of those hundred houses as one, for the light of this (house) does not remain (in existence) without (the light of) the other.
تا بود خورشید تابان بر افق ** هست در هر خانه نور او قنق
So long as the sun is shining on the horizon, its light is a guest in every house;
باز چون خورشید جان آفل شود ** نور جمله خانه‌ها زایل شود460
Again, when the spiritual Sun sets, the light in all the houses disappears.
این مثال نور آمد مثل نی ** مر ترا هادی عدو را ره‌زنی
This is (only) a parable of the Light, not a (complete) similitude; for you (it is) a true guide, for the enemy (of the Light) a highwayman.
بر مثال عنکبوت آن زشت‌خو ** پرده‌های گنده را بر بافد او
That evil-natured person resembles the spider: he weaves stinking veils (cobwebs).
از لعاب خویش پرده‌ی نور کرد ** دیده‌ی ادراک خود را کور کرد
Of his own gossamer he made a veil over the Light: he made the eye of his apprehension blind.