زهر خواری را چو شکر می‌خورند ** خار غمها را چو اشتر می‌چرند

They eat the poison of abasement, like sugar; they feed, like camels, on the thistle of sorrows.

بهر عین غم نه از بهر فرج ** این تسافل پیش ایشان چون درج

(This they do) for the sake of the sorrow itself, not for the sake of relief (from sorrow): in their eyes this lowliness is as a ladder.

آنچنان شادند اندر قعر چاه ** که همی‌ترسند از تخت و کلاه 4510

So glad are they at the bottom of the pit that they are afraid of the throne and the tiara.

هر کجا دلبر بود خود همنشین ** فوق گردونست نه زیر زمین

Every place where the Beloved himself is their companion is above the sky, not below the earth.

تفسیر این خبر کی مصطفی علیه السلام فرمود لا تفضلونی علی یونس بن متی

Commentary on the Tradition that Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, said, “Do not declare me to be more excellent than Yúnus ibn Mattá.”

گفت پیغامبر که معراج مرا ** نیست بر معراج یونس اجتبا

The Prophet said, “No preference is (to be given) to my ascension as being superior to the ascension of Yúnus (Jonah).

آن من بر چرخ و آن او نشیب ** زانک قرب حق برونست از حساب

Mine was up to heaven, and his was down below (in the belly of the Fish), because nighness unto God is beyond calculation.”

قرب نه بالا نه پستی رفتنست ** قرب حق از حبس هستی رستنست

To be nigh (unto God) is not to go up or down: to be nigh unto God is to escape from the prison of existence.

نیست را چه جای بالا است و زیر ** نیست را نه زود و نه دورست و دیر 4515

What room hath non-existence for “up” and “down”? Non-existence hath no “soon” or “far” or “late.”

کارگاه و گنج حق در نیستیست ** غره‌ی هستی چه دانی نیست چیست

The laboratory and treasure of God is in non-existence. Thou art deluded by existence: how shouldst thou know what non-existence is?

حاصل این اشکست ایشان ای کیا ** می‌نماند هیچ با اشکست ما

The sum of the matter (is that) this defeat of theirs, O sire, does not resemble our defeat at all.