دیدمش سوی چپ او آذری ** سوی دست راست جوی کوثری

I beheld Him with a fire on His left, and on the right a stream (like) Kawthar:

سوی چپش بس جهان‌سوز آتشی ** سوی دست راستش جوی خوشی

On His left an exceedingly world-consuming fire, on His right hand a sweet river.

سوی آن آتش گروهی برده دست ** بهر آن کوثر گروهی شاد و مست

One party put forth their hands towards the fire, (while) another party were rejoicing and intoxicated (with desire) for that Kawthar.

لیک لعب بازگونه بود سخت ** پیش پای هر شقی و نیکبخت 425

But ’twas a very topsy-turvy (mystifying) game in the path of every one doomed to perdition or blessed with salvation.

هر که در آتش همی رفت و شرر ** از میان آب بر می‌کرد سر

Whoever went into the fire and sparks was emerging from the midst of the water;

هر که سوی آب می‌رفت از میان ** او در آتش یافت می‌شد در زمان

Whoever went from the middle towards the water, he was at once found to be in the fire;

هر که سوی راست شد و آب زلال ** سر ز آتش بر زد از سوی شمال

Whoever went towards the right (hand) and the limpid water would put forth his head from the fire on the left;

وانک شد سوی شمال آتشین ** سر برون می‌کرد از سوی یمین

And he who went towards the fiery left, would emerge on the right.

کم کسی بر سر این مضمر زدی ** لاجرم کم کس در آن آتش شدی 430

Few were they who hit upon (understood) the mystery of this occult (matter); consequently, seldom would any one go into the fire;

جز کسی که بر سرش اقبال ریخت ** کو رها کرد آب و در آتش گریخت

(None would go) except him upon whom felicity was shed, so that he abandoned the water and took refuge in the fire.