یا در آن عالم حقت سروی کند ** تا تر و تازه بمانی تا ابد
Or that He (God) should make thee a cypress in yonder world, so that thou wilt remain everlastingly fresh and flourishing?”
گفت آن خواهم که دایم شد بقاش ** بشنو ای غافل کم از چوبی مباش
It replied, “I desire that whereof the life is enduring for ever.” Hearken, O heedless one! Be not thou less than a piece of wood!
آن ستون را دفن کرد اندر زمین ** تا چو مردم حشر گردد یوم دین
He (the Prophet) buried that pillar in the earth, that it may be raised from the dead, like mankind, on the day of Resurrection,
تا بدانی هر که را یزدان بخواند ** از همه کار جهان بیکار ماند2120
That (hence) thou mayst know that every one whom God has called (to Himself) remains disengaged from all the work of this world.
هر که را باشد ز یزدان کار و بار ** یافت بار آن جا و بیرون شد ز کار
Whosoever hath his work and business from God, gains admission there and goes forth from (abandons worldly) work.
آن که او را نبود از اسرار داد ** کی کند تصدیق او نالهی جماد
He that hath no gift (portion) of spiritual mysteries, how should he believe in the complaining of inanimate things?
گوید آری نه ز دل بهر وفاق ** تا نگویندش که هست اهل نفاق
He says “Yes,” not from his heart (but) for agreement's sake, lest people should say that he is a hypocrite (in his religion).
گر نیندی واقفان امر کن ** در جهان رد گشته بودی این سخن
Unless there were knowers of the (Divine) command “Be!”, this doctrine (that inanimate things are capable of speech) would have been rejected in the world.
صد هزاران ز اهل تقلید و نشان ** افکندشان نیم وهمی در گمان2125
Myriads of conformists and legalists are cast into doubt by a half-imagination,
که به ظن تقلید و استدلالشان ** قایم است و جمله پر و بالشان
For their conformity and their drawing evidence from logical proofs and all their wings and wing-feathers (every means which they employ in order to arrive at the truth) depend on opinion.
شبههای انگیزد آن شیطان دون ** در فتند این جمله کوران سر نگون
The vile Devil raises a doubt (in their minds): all these blind ones fall in headlong.
پای استدلالیان چوبین بود ** پای چوبین سخت بیتمکین بود
The leg of the syllogisers is of wood: a wooden leg is very infirm,
غیر آن قطب زمان دیدهور ** کز ثباتش کوه گردد خیرهسر
Unlike the Qutb (supreme saint) of the age, the possessor of (spiritual) vision, by whose steadfastness the mountain is made giddy-headed (amazed).
پای نابینا عصا باشد عصا ** تا نیفتد سر نگون او بر حصا2130
The blind man's leg is a staff, a staff, so that he may not fall headlong on the pebbles.
آن سواری کاو سپه را شد ظفر ** اهل دین را کیست سلطان بصر
The cavalier that became (the cause of) victory for the army, who is he for (the army of) the religious? The Lord of (spiritual) sight.
با عصا کوران اگر ره دیدهاند ** در پناه خلق روشن دیدهاند
If, with (the aid of) a staff, the blind have seen their way, (yet) they are under the protection of the clear-sighted people.
گرنه بینایان بدندی و شهان ** جمله کوران مردهاندی در جهان
Were there no men of vision and (spiritual) kings, all the blind in the world would be dead.
نی ز کوران کشت آید نه درود ** نه عمارت نه تجارتها و سود
From the blind comes neither sowing nor reaping nor cultivation nor tradings and profit.
گر نکردی رحمت و افضالتان ** در شکستی چوب استدلالتان2135
If He (God) did not bestow mercy and grace upon you, the wood of your logical deduction would break.
این عصا چه بود قیاسات و دلیل ** آن عصا کی دادشان بینا جلیل
What is this staff? Inferences and (logical) demonstration. Who gave them (the blind) that staff? The all-seeing and almighty One.
چون عصا شد آلت جنگ و نفیر ** آن عصا را خرد بشکن ای ضریر
Since the staff has become a weapon of quarrel and attack, break that staff to pieces, O blind man!
او عصاتان داد تا پیش آمدید ** آن عصا از خشم هم بر وی زدید
He gave you the staff that ye might approach (Him): with that staff ye struck even at Him in your anger.
حلقهی کوران به چه کار اندرید ** دیدبان را در میانه آورید
O company of the blind, what are ye doing? Bring the seer between (you and God)!
دامن او گیر کاو دادت عصا ** در نگر کادم چها دید از عصی2140
Lay hold of His skirt who gave thee the staff: consider what (dreadful) things Adam suffered from disobedience.
معجزهی موسی و احمد را نگر ** چون عصا شد مار و استن با خبر
Consider the miracles of Moses and Ahmad (Mohammed), how the staff became a serpent and the pillar was endowed with knowledge.