سرکه را گر راه باید در جگر ** گو بشو سرکنگبین او از شکر
If vinegar wants (to find) the way to the liver, let it become oxymel by (being mixed with) sugar.
معنی اندر شعر جز با خبط نیست ** چون قلاسنگ است اندر ضبط نیست
The meaning in poetry has no sureness of direction: it is like the sling, it is not under control.
در معنی آن که من أراد أن یجلس مع الله فلیجلس مع أهل التصوف
On the inner sense of “Let him who desires to sit with God sit with the Súfís.”
آن رسول از خود بشد زین یک دو جام ** نه رسالت یاد ماندش نه پیام
The ambassador became beside himself from these one or two cups (of spiritual discourse): neither embassage nor message remained in his memory.
واله اندر قدرت الله شد ** آن رسول اینجا رسید و شاه شد1530
He became distraught at the power of God. The ambassador arrived at this place (state) and became a king.
سیل چون آمد به دریا بحر گشت ** دانه چون آمد به مزرع گشت کشت
When the torrent reached the sea, it became the sea; when the seed reached the cornland, it became the crop of corn.
چون تعلق یافت نان با بو البشر ** نان مرده زنده گشت و با خبر
When the bread attained to connexion with Man, the dead bread became living and endowed with knowledge.
موم و هیزم چون فدای نار شد ** ذات ظلمانی او انوار شد
When the wax and firewood were devoted to the fire, their dark essence became (filled with) light.
سنگ سرمه چون که شد در دیده‌‌گان ** گشت بینایی شد آن جا دیدبان
When the (powdered) stone of antimony went into the eyes, it turned to sight and there became a scout (one who observes the enemy from some point of vantage).
ای خنک آن مرد کز خود رسته شد ** در وجود زنده‌‌ای پیوسته شد1535
Oh, happy is the man who was freed from himself and united with the existence of a living one!
وای آن زنده که با مرده نشست ** مرده گشت و زندگی از وی بجست
Alas for the living one who consorted with the dead! He became dead, and life sped away from him.