آن گهی بینید مرکبهای خویش ** مرکبی سازیده‌‌اید از پای خویش‌‌

At that time (when the spirit returns to God) behold your steeds! Ye have made a steed of your own foot.

وهم و فکر و حس و ادراک شما ** همچو نی دان مرکب کودک هلا 3445

Come, recognise that your imagination and reflection and sense-perception and apprehension are like the reed-cane on which children ride.

علمهای اهل دل حمالشان ** علمهای اهل تن احمالشان‌‌

The sciences of the mystics bear them (aloft); the sciences of sensual men are burdens to them.

علم چون بر دل زند یاری شود ** علم چون بر تن زند باری شود

When knowledge strikes on the heart (is acquired through mystical experience), it becomes a helper (yárí); when knowledge strikes on the body (is acquired through the senses), it becomes a burden (bárí).

گفت ایزد یحمل اسفاره ** بار باشد علم کان نبود ز هو

God hath said, “(Like an ass) laden with his books”: burdensome is the knowledge that is not from Himself.

علم کان نبود ز هو بی‌‌واسطه ** آن نپاید همچو رنگ ماشطه‌‌

The knowledge that is not immediately from Himself does not endure, (it is) like the tire woman's paint.

لیک چون این بار را نیکو کشی ** بار بر گیرند و بخشندت خوشی‌‌ 3450

But when you carry this burden well, the burden will be removed and you will be given (spiritual) joy.

هین مکش بهر هوا آن بار علم ** تا ببینی در درون انبار علم‌‌

Beware! Do not carry that burden of knowledge for the sake of selfish desire (but mortify yourself), so that you may behold the barn (store-house) of knowledge within (you),

تا که بر رهوار علم آیی سوار ** بعد از آن افتد ترا از دوش بار

So that you may mount the smooth-paced steed of knowledge, (and that) afterwards the burden may fall from your shoulder.

از هواها کی رهی بی‌‌جام هو ** ای ز هو قانع شده با نام هو

How wilt thou be freed from selfish desires without the cup of Hú (Him), O thou who hast become content with no more of Hú than the name of Hú?

از صفت و ز نام چه زاید خیال ** و آن خیالش هست دلال وصال‌‌

From attribute and name what comes to birth? Phantasy; and that phantasy shows the way to union with Him.

دیده‌‌ای دلال بی‌‌مدلول هیچ ** تا نباشد جاده نبود غول هیچ‌‌ 3455

Hast thou ever seen a subject that shows without (the existence of) an object that is shown: unless there is the road, there can never be the ghoul (which entices travelers to stray from the road).

هیچ نامی بی‌‌حقیقت دیده‌‌ای ** یا ز گاف و لام گل گل چیده‌‌ای‌‌

Hast thou ever seen a name without the reality (denoted by the name)? Or hast thou plucked a rose (gul) from the (letters) gáf and lám of (the word) gul?

اسم خواندی رو مسمی را بجو ** مه به بالا دان نه اندر آب جو

Thou hast pronounced the name: go, seek the thing named. Know that the moon is on high, not in the water of the stream.

گر ز نام و حرف خواهی بگذری ** پاک کن خود را ز خود هین یک سری‌‌

If thou wouldst pass beyond name and letter, oh, make thyself wholly purged of self.

همچو آهن ز آهنی بی‌‌رنگ شو ** در ریاضت آینه‌‌ی بی‌‌زنگ شو

Like (polished) iron, lose the ferruginous colour; become in thy ascetic discipline (like) a mirror without rust.

خویش را صافی کن از اوصاف خود ** تا ببینی ذات پاک صاف خود 3460

Make thyself pure from the attributes of self, that thou mayst behold thine own pure untarnished essence,

بینی اندر دل علوم انبیا ** بی‌‌کتاب و بی‌‌معید و اوستا

And behold within thy heart (all) the sciences of the prophets, without book and without preceptor and master.

گفت پیغمبر که هست از امتم ** کاو بود هم گوهر و هم همتم‌‌

The Prophet said, “Amongst my people are some who are one with me in nature and aspiration:

مر مرا ز آن نور بیند جانشان ** که من ایشان را همی‌‌بینم بدان‌‌

Their spirits behold me by the same light by which I am beholding them.”

بی‌‌صحیحین و احادیث و رواه ** بلکه اندر مشرب آب حیات‌‌

Without the two Sahíhs and Traditions and Traditionists; nay, (they behold him) in the place where they drink the Water of Life.

سر امسینا لکردیا بدان ** راز اصبحنا عرابیا بخوان‌‌ 3465

Know the secret of “In the evening I was a Kurd”; read the mystery of “In the morning I was an Arab.”

ور مثالی خواهی از علم نهان ** قصه گو از رومیان و چینیان‌‌

And if you desire a parable of the hidden knowledge, relate the story of the Greeks and the Chinese.

قصه‌‌ی مری کردن رومیان و چینیان در علم نقاشی و صورتگری‌‌

The story of the contention between the Greeks and the Chinese in the art of painting and picturing.

چینیان گفتند ما نقاش‌‌تر ** رومیان گفتند ما را کر و فر

The Chinese said, “We are the better artists”; the Greeks said, “The (superiority in) power and excellence belongs to us.”

گفت سلطان امتحان خواهم در این ** کز شماها کیست در دعوی گزین‌‌

“I will put you to the test in this matter,” said the Sultan, “(and see) which of you are approved in your claim.”