من مرورا قبله‌ی خود ساختم ** قبله‌ساز اصل را انداختم
I made him my qibla (object of desire): I let the original qibla-Maker fall (into neglect).”
ما کجا بودیم کان دیان دین ** عقل می‌کارید اندر آب و طین
Where were we when the Judge of Judgement (Day) was sowing reason in the water and clay (of Adam)?—
چون همی کرد از عدم گردون پدید ** وین بساط خاک را می‌گسترید 3135
Since (’twas for us that) He was producing the sky from non-existence and spreading this carpet of earth,
ز اختران می‌ساخت او مصباح‌ها ** وز طبایع قفل با مفتاح‌ها
And making lamps of the stars, and of the (four) natural properties a lock together with the keys (to open it).
ای بسا بنیادها پنهان و فاش ** مضمر این سقف کرد و این فراش
Oh, how many structures hidden (from sight) and plain to see has He enclosed in this roof (heaven) and this carpet (earth)!
آدم اصطرلاب اوصاف علوست ** وصف آدم مظهر آیات اوست
Adam is the astrolabe of the attributes of (Divine) Sublimity: the nature of Adam is the theatre for His revelations.
هرچه در وی می‌نماید عکس اوست ** هم‌چو عکس ماه اندر آب جوست
Whatever appears in him (Adam) is the reflexion of Him, just as the moon is reflected in the water of the river.
بر صطرلابش نقوش عنکبوت ** بهر اوصاف ازل دارد ثبوت 3140
The figures (cut) on the “spider” (uppermost tablet) on his astrolabe are there for the sake of (typifying) the Eternal Attributes,
تا ز چرخ غیب وز خورشید روح ** عنکبوتش درس گوید از شروح
In order that its “spider” may give lessons in exposition of the sky of the Unseen and the sun of the Spirit.
عنکبوت و این صطرلاب رشاد ** بی‌منجم در کف عام اوفتاد
Without a (spiritual) astronomer (to explain their significance), the “spider” and this astrolabe which guides aright fall (uselessly) into the hands of the vulgar.
انبیا را داد حق تنجیم این ** غیب را چشمی بباید غیب‌بین
God bestowed (knowledge of) this (spiritual) astronomy on the prophets: for (the mysteries of) the Unseen an eye that observes the Unseen is necessary.
در چه دنیا فتادند این قرون ** عکس خود را دید هر یک چه درون
These (worldly) generations fell into the well of the present world: every one saw in the well his own reflexion.
از برون دان آنچ در چاهت نمود ** ورنه آن شیری که در چه شد فرود 3145
Know that what appears to you in the well is (really) from outside; else you are (like) the lion that plunged into the well (and was drowned).
برد خرگوشیش از ره کای فلان ** در تگ چاهست آن شیر ژیان
A hare led him astray, saying, “O such-and-such, this furious lion (thy rival) is at the bottom of the well.
در رو اندر چاه کین از وی بکش ** چون ازو غالب‌تری سر بر کنش
Go into the well and wreak vengeance on him: tear off his head, since thou art mightier than he.”
آن مقلد سخره‌ی خرگوش شد ** از خیال خویشتن پر جوش شد
That (blind) follower of authority was subjugated by the hare: he was filled with boiling (fury) by his own fancy.
او نگفت این نقش داد آب نیست ** این به جز تقلیب آن قلاب نیست
He did not say, “This image is not produced by the water: this is not (produced) by anything except the changing activity of the (Divine) Changer.”
تو هم از دشمن چو کینی می‌کشی ** ای زبون شش غلط در هر ششی 3150
So when you, O slave to the six (directions), wreak vengeance on your enemy you are in error concerning all the six.
آن عداوت اندرو عکس حقست ** کز صفات قهر آنجا مشتقست
That enmity in him (your enemy) is reflected from God, for it is derived from the (Divine) attributes of Wrath (which are manifested) there;
وآن گنه در وی ز جنس جرم تست ** باید آن خو را ز طبع خویش شست
And that sin in him is homogeneous with your sin: you must wash that (evil) disposition out of your own nature.
خلق زشتت اندرو رویت نمود ** که ترا او صفحه‌ی آیینه بود
Your evil character showed itself to you in him because he was (like) the surface of a mirror to you.
چونک قبح خویش دیدی ای حسن ** اندر آیینه بر آیینه مزن
When you have seen your ugliness in the mirror, O Hasan, do not strike (a blow) at the mirror!
می‌زند بر آب استاره‌ی سنی ** خاک تو بر عکس اختر می‌زنی 3155
A lofty star is reflected in the water, and you cast earth on the star's reflexion,
کین ستاره‌ی نحس در آب آمدست ** تا کند او سعد ما را زیردست
Saying, “This unlucky star has come into the water to overthrow my good luck.”
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.
این صفتها چون نجوم معنویست ** دانک بر چرخ معانی مستویست 3180
These attributes are like Ideal stars: know that they are stablished in the sphere of the Ideas (Realities).
خوب‌رویان آینه‌ی خوبی او ** عشق ایشان عکس مطلوبی او
The beauteous are the mirror of His beauty: love for them is the reflexion of the desire of which He is the (real) object.
هم به اصل خود رود این خد و خال ** دایما در آب کی ماند خیال
This cheek and mole goes (back) to the Source thereof: how should a phantom continue in the water for ever?