اغلب الظنین فی ترجیح ذا ** لا تماری الشمس فی توضیحها

While preferring (in case of doubt) the stronger of the two (alternative) opinions, do not doubt whether you see the sun when it is shining!

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.”

اهل چین و روم چون حاضر شدند ** رومیان از بحث در مکث آمدند

When the Chinese and the Greeks presented themselves, the Greeks were more skilled in the knowledge (of the art of painting).

چینیان گفتند یک خانه به ما ** خاص بسپارید و یک آن شما 3470

(Then) the Chinese said, “Hand over to us a particular room, and (let there be) one for you (as well).”

بود دو خانه مقابل دربدر ** ز آن یکی چینی ستد رومی دگر

There were two rooms with door facing door: the Chinese took one, the Greeks the other.

چینیان صد رنگ از شه خواستند ** پس خزینه باز کرد آن ارجمند

The Chinese requested the King to give them a hundred colours: then that excellent (king) opened the treasury.

هر صباحی از خزینه رنگها ** چینیان را راتبه بود از عطا

Every morning, by (his) bounty, the colours were dispensed from the treasury to the Chinese.

رومیان گفتند نی نقش و نه رنگ ** در خور آید کار را جز دفع زنگ‌‌

The Greeks said, “No tints and pictures are proper for our work, (nothing is needed) except to remove the rust.”

در فرو بستند و صیقل می‌‌زدند ** همچو گردون ساده و صافی شدند 3475

They shut the door and went on burnishing: they became clear and pure like the sky.

از دو صد رنگی به بی‌‌رنگی رهی است ** رنگ چون ابر است و بی‌‌رنگی مهی است‌‌

There is a way from many-colouredness to colourlessness: colour is like the clouds, and colourlessness is a moon.

هر چه اندر ابر ضو بینی و تاب ** آن ز اختر دان و ماه و آفتاب‌‌

Whatsoever light and splendour you see in the clouds, know that it comes from the stars and the moon and the sun.

چینیان چون از عمل فارغ شدند ** از پی شادی دهلها می‌‌زدند

When the Chinese had finished their work, they were beating drums for joy.

شه در آمد دید آن جا نقشها ** می‌‌ربود آن عقل را و فهم را

The King entered and saw the pictures there: that (sight) was robbing him of his wits and understanding.

بعد از آن آمد به سوی رومیان ** پرده را بالا کشیدند از میان‌‌ 3480

After that, he came towards the Greeks: they drew up the intervening curtain.

عکس آن تصویر و آن کردارها ** زد بر این صافی شده دیوارها

The reflexion of those (Chinese) pictures and works (of art) struck upon these walls which had been made pure (from stain).

هر چه آن جا دید اینجا به نمود ** دیده را از دیده خانه می‌‌ربود

All that he had seen there (in the Chinese room) seemed more beautiful here: ’twas snatching the eye from the socket.

رومیان آن صوفیانند ای پدر ** بی‌‌ز تکرار و کتاب و بی‌‌هنر

The Greeks, O father, are the Súfís: (they are) without (independent of) study and books and erudition,

لیک صیقل کرده‌‌اند آن سینه‌‌ها ** پاک از آز و حرص و بخل و کینه‌‌ها

But they have burnished their breasts (and made them) pure from greed and cupidity and avarice and hatreds.

آن صفای آینه وصف دل است ** کاو نقوش بی‌‌عدد را قابل است‌‌ 3485

That purity of the mirror is the attribute of the heart (which) receives the infinite form.

صورت بی‌‌صورت بی‌‌حد غیب ** ز آینه‌‌ی دل تافت بر موسی ز جیب‌‌

That Moses (the perfect saint) holds in his bosom the formless infinite form of the Unseen (reflected) from the mirror of his heart.

گر چه آن صورت نگنجد در فلک ** نه به عرش و فرش و دریا و سمک‌‌

Although that form is not contained in Heaven, nor in the empyrean nor the earth nor the sea nor the Fish,

ز آن که محدود است و معدود است آن ** آینه‌‌ی دل را نباشد حد بدان‌‌

Because (all) those are bounded and numbered—(yet is it contained in the heart): know that the mirror of the heart hath no bound.

عقل اینجا ساکت آمد یا مضل ** ز آنکه دل با اوست یا خود اوست دل‌‌

Here the understanding becomes silent or (else) it leads into error, because the heart is with Him (God), or indeed the heart is He.

عکس هر نقشی نتابد تا ابد ** جز ز دل هم با عدد هم بی‌‌عدد 3490

The reflexion of every image shines unto everlasting from the heart alone, both with plurality and without.

تا ابد هر نقش نو کاید بر او ** می‌‌نماید بی‌‌حجابی اندر او

Unto everlasting every new image that falls on it (the heart) is appearing therein without any veil.

اهل صیقل رسته‌‌اند از بوی و رنگ ** هر دمی بینند خوبی بی‌‌درنگ‌‌

They that burnish (their hearts) have escaped from (mere) scent and colour: they behold Beauty at every moment without tarrying.