-
اختران بسیار و خورشید ار یکیست ** پیش او بنیاد ایشان مندکیست
- The stars are many; though the sun is one, (yet) on his appearance their foundation is demolished.
-
گر هزاران موش پیش آرند سر ** گربه را نه ترس باشد نه حذر
- If a thousand mice put forth their heads, the cat feels no fear or apprehension of danger.
-
کی به پیش آیند موشان ای فلان ** نیست جمعیت درون جانشان
- How should mice advance (to the attack), O such-and-such? They have no collectedness in their souls.
-
هست جمعیت به صورتها فشار ** جمع معنی خواه هین از کردگار
- The collectedness (that consists) in outward forms is a vain thing: hark, beg from the Creator collectedness of spirit.
-
نیست جمعیت ز بسیاری جسم ** جسم را بر باد قایم دان چو اسم 3045
- Collectedness is not the result of bodily multitude: know that body, like name, is built on (empty) air.
-
در دل موش ار بدی جمعیتی ** جمع گشتی چند موش از حمیتی
- If there were any collectedness in the heart of the mouse, a number of mice would be collected (united) by a feeling of indignation,
-
بر زدندی چون فدایی حملهای ** خویش را بر گربهی بیمهلهای
- And, rushing up like assassins, they would throw themselves on a cat without (giving her) any respite.
-
آن یکی چشمش بکندی از ضراب ** وان دگر گوشش دریدی هم به ناب
- One would tear out her eyes in conflict (with her), while another would rip her ears with its teeth,
-
وان دگر سوراخ کردی پهلوش ** از جماعت گم شدی بیرون شوش
- And another make a hole in her side: there would be no way of escape for her from the united party.
-
لیک جمعیت ندارد جان موش ** بجهد از جانش به بانگ گربه هوش 3050
- But the soul of the mouse has no collectedness: at the miaul of a cat (all) its wits fly out of its soul.
-
خشک گردد موش زان گربهی عیار ** گر بود اعداد موشان صد هزار
- The mouse is paralysed by the wily cat, (even) if the numbers of the mice amount to a hundred thousand.
-
از رمهی انبه چه غم قصاب را ** انبهی هش چه بندد خواب را
- What cares the butcher for the numerous flock (of sheep)? How can abundance of consciousness prevent (the approach of) slumber?
-
مالک الملک است جمعیت دهد ** شیر را تا بر گلهی گوران جهد
- He (God) is the Lord of the kingdom: He gives collectedness to the lion, so that he springs on the herd of onagers.
-
صد هزاران گور دهشاخ و دلیر ** چون عدم باشند پیش صول شیر
- A hundred thousand savage and courageous onagers are as naught before the onset of the lion.
-
مالک الملک است بدهد ملک حسن ** یوسفی را تا بود چون ماء مزن 3055
- He is the Lord of the kingdom: He gives to a Joseph the kingdom of Beauty, so that he is (lovely) as the water of white clouds.
-
در رخی بنهد شعاع اختری ** که شود شاهی غلام دختری
- He bestows upon one face the radiance of a star, so that a king becomes the slave of a girl.
-
بنهد اندر روی دیگر نور خود ** که ببیند نیمشب هر نیک و بد
- He bestows upon another face His own Light, so that at midnight it sees everything good and evil.
-
یوسف و موسی ز حق بردند نور ** در رخ و رخسار و در ذات الصدور
- Joseph and Moses fetched light from God into their cheeks and countenances and into their inmost bosoms.
-
روی موسی بارقی انگیخته ** پیش رو او توبره آویخته
- The face of Moses shot forth a flashing beam: he hung a veil in front of his face.
-
نور رویش آنچنان بردی بصر ** که زمرد از دو دیدهی مار کر 3060
- The splendour of his face would have dazzled (men's) eyes as the emerald (blinds) the eyes of the deaf adder.
-
او ز حق در خواسته تا توبره ** گردد آن نور قوی را ساتره
- He besought God that the veil might become a covering for that powerful Light.
-
توبره گفت از گلیمت ساز هین ** کان لباس عارفی آمد امین
- He (God) said, “Hark, make a veil of thy felt raiment, for the garment of gnosis can be trusted (to keep it safe),
-
کان کسا از نور صبری یافتست ** نور جان در تار و پودش تافتست
- Because that robe has become inured to the Light: the Light of the Spirit shines through its warp and woof.
-
جز چنین خرقه نخواهد شد صوان ** نور ما را بر نتابد غیر آن
- Nothing will be a (safe) repository (for it) except a mantle like this: nothing else can endure Our Light.
-
کوه قاف ار پیش آید بهرسد ** همچو کوه طور نورش بر درد 3065
- If Mt Qáf should come forward as a barrier (to it), the Light would rend it asunder like Mt Sinai.”