این چگونه شمعها افروختست ** کین دو دیده‌ی خلق ازینها دوختست
(I thought), ‘What kind of candles are these (that) He hath lighted, so that the eyes of His creatures are screened from them?’
خلق جویان چراغی گشته بود ** پیش آن شمعی که بر مه می‌فزود
The people had gone to seek a lamp in the presence of that (sevenfold) candle which was surpassing the moon (in splendour).
چشم‌بندی بد عجب بر دیده‌ها ** بندشان می‌کرد یهدی من یشا1990
Wonderful! There was a bandage over their eyes: they were bound by (the Divine destiny implied in the text) He guideth aright those whom He will.
شدن آن هفت شمع بر مثال یک شمع
How the seven candles became what seemed like one candle.
باز می‌دیدم که می‌شد هفت یک ** می‌شکافد نور او جیب فلک
Then I saw the seven (candles) become one, its light cleaving the bosom (rim) of the sky.
باز آن یک بار دیگر هفت شد ** مستی و حیرانی من زفت شد
Then again that one became seven once more: my intoxication and bewilderment waxed mighty.
اتصالاتی میان شمعها ** که نیاید بر زبان و گفت ما
(There were) such connexions between the candles as may not come (may not be uttered) on my tongue and (in) my speech.
آنک یک دیدن کند ادارک آن ** سالها نتوان نمودن از زبان
That which one look perceives, ’tis impossible during years to show it forth by the tongue.
آنک یک دم بیندش ادراک هوش ** سالها نتوان شنودن آن بگوش1995
That which intellectual apprehension sees in one moment, ’tis impossible during years to hear it by the ear.
چونک پایانی ندارد رو الیک ** زانک لا احصی ثناء ما علیک
Since it hath no end, go (back) to thyself, for (as the Prophet aid), ‘I cannot reckon (worthy) any praise of Thee.’
پیشتر رفتم دوان کان شمعها ** تا چه چیزست از نشان کبریا
I advanced farther, running (and marvelling) what thing those candles are (which are one) of the signs of the Divine Majesty.
می‌شدم بی خویش و مدهوش و خراب ** تا بیفتادم ز تعجیل و شتاب
(Thus) I was going, beside myself and dumbfounded and deranged, till I fell down from making haste and speed.
ساعتی بی‌هوش و بی‌عقل اندرین ** اوفتادم بر سر خاک زمین
In this (state), senseless and witless, I lay fallen awhile upon the dust of the earth.
باز با هوش آمدم برخاستم ** در روش گویی نه سر نه پاستم2000
Then I came back to my senses and rose up: you would say that in my faring I had neither head nor foot.
نمودن آن شمعها در نظر هفت مرد
How those candles appeared to the eye as seven men.
هفت شمع اندر نظر شد هفت مرد ** نورشان می‌شد به سقف لاژورد
The seven candles appeared to the eye as seven men: their light was mounting to the azure vault.
پیش آن انوار نور روز درد ** از صلابت نورها را می‌سترد
Beside those lights the daylight was (murky as) dregs: by their intensity they were obliterating (all other) lights.
باز شدن آن شمعها هفت درخت
How those candles now became seven trees.
باز هر یک مرد شد شکل درخت ** چشمم از سبزی ایشان نیکبخت
Then each man assumed the shape of a tree: my eye was happy in their greenery.
زانبهی برگ پیدا نیست شاخ ** برگ هم گم گشته از میوه‌ی فراخ
On account of the denseness of the leaves no boughs were visible; the leaves too had become scant (had almost vanished) on account of the plenteous fruit.
هر درختی شاخ بر سدره زده ** سدره چه بود از خلا بیرون شده2005
Every tree had thrown its boughs above the Sidra: what of the Sidra? They had reached beyond the Void.
بیخ هر یک رفته در قعر زمین ** زیرتر از گاو و ماهی بد یقین
The root of each (tree) had gone (down) into the bottom of the earth: assuredly it was lower than the Ox and the Fish.
بیخشان از شاخ خندان‌روی‌تر ** عقل از آن اشکالشان زیر و زبر
Their roots were more smiling of face than the boughs: the intellect (was turned) upside down (confused and bewildered) by their shapes.
میوه‌ای که بر شکافیدی ز زور ** همچو آب از میوه جستی برق نور
From the fruit that was bursting forcibly flashes of light would spurt forth, like juice.
مخفی بودن آن درختان ازچشم خلق
How those trees were invisible to the people.
این عجب‌تر که بریشان می‌گذشت ** صد هزاران خلق از صحرا و دشت
More wondrous (than all else) was this, that hundreds of thousands of people were passing through the desert and plain beside them,
ز آرزوی سایه جان می‌باختند ** از گلیمی سایه‌بان می‌ساختند2010
Hazarding their lives (ready to sacrifice everything) in desire for shade, and making a parasol out of a woollen garment,
سایه‌ی آن را نمی‌دیدند هیچ ** صد تفو بر دیده‌های پیچ پیچ
And not seeing the shade of those (trees) at all. A hundred spittings on (such) distorted eyes!
ختم کرده قهر حق بر دیده‌ها ** که نبیند ماه را بیند سها
The wrath of God had sealed their eyes, so that he (such a one) should not see the moon, (but) should see (only) Suhá.
ذره‌ای را بیند و خورشید نه ** لیک از لطف و کرم نومید نه
He sees a mote, (but) not the sun; yet he is not despairing of the grace and loving kindness of God.
کاروانها بی نوا وین میوه‌ها ** پخته می‌ریزد چه سحرست ای خدا
The caravans are without food, and (yet) these fruits are dropping ripe (beside them): O God, what magic is this?
سیب پوسیده همی‌چیدند خلق ** درهم افتاده بیغما خشک‌حلق2015
With parched throats the people, having fallen pell-mell to plunder, were gathering the rotten apples,
گفته هر برگ و شکوفه آن غصون ** دم بدم یا لیت قوم یعلمون
(While) every leaf and bud of those boughs said continually, ‘Oh, would that my people knew!’
بانگ می‌آمد ز سوی هر درخت ** سوی ما آیید خلق شوربخت
From the direction of every tree was coming the cry, ‘Come towards us, O ye folk of evil fortune,’
بانگ می‌آمد ز غیرت بر شجر ** چشمشان بستیم کلا لا وزر
(While) from (the Divine) jealousy there was coming to the trees the cry, ‘We have bandaged their eyes;nay, there is no refuge.’
گر کسی می‌گفتشان کین سو روید ** تا ازین اشجار مستسعد شوید
If any one had said to them ‘Go in this direction, that ye may be made happy by these trees,’
جمله می‌گفتند کین مسکین مست ** از قضاء الله دیوانه شدست2020
They all would have said, ‘By Divine destiny this poor intoxicated wretch has become mad:
مغز این مسکین ز سودای دراز ** وز ریاضت گشت فاسد چون پیاز
Through long melancholy and through austerities the brain of this poor wretch has turned putrid, like an onion.’
او عجب می‌ماند یا رب حال چیست ** خلق را این پرده و اضلال چیست
He would have remained in astonishment, saying, ‘O Lord, what is the matter? What is this veil (blindness) and misguidance that is upon the people?’
خلق گوناگون با صد رای و عقل ** یک قدم آن سو نمی‌آرند نقل
The people of every sort, (though endowed) with manifold discernment and understanding, do not move a foot in that direction.
عاقلان و زیرکانشان ز اتفاق ** گشته منکر زین چنین باغی و عاق
By one consent the intelligent and acute amongst them have become incredulous of such a garden as this and undutiful.
یا منم دیوانه و خیره شده ** دیو چیزی مرا مرا بر سر زده2025
Or have I become mad and crazy? Has the Devil cast something (of delusion) upon my head?
چشم می‌مالم بهر لحظه که من ** خواب می‌بینم خیال اندر زمن
At every moment I rub my eyes, (considering) whether I am dreaming and beholding a phantom in (the world of) time.
خواب چه بود بر درختان می‌روم ** میوه‌هاشان می‌خورم چون نگروم
How can it be a dream? I go up the trees, I eat their fruit: how should I not believe?
باز چون من بنگرم در منکران ** که همی‌گیرند زین بستان کران
(But) again, when I look at the incredulous ones who turn aside from this orchard,
با کمال احتیاج و افتقار ** ز آرزوی نیم غوره جانسپار
Devoting their lives with the utmost indigence and penury because of their desire for half an unripe grape;
ز اشتیاق و حرص یک برگ درخت ** می‌زنند این بی‌نوایان آه سخت2030
(When I see) these destitute folk uttering grievous lamentation in their longing and greed for a single leaf,
در هزیمت زین درخت و زین ثمار ** این خلایق صد هزار اندر هزار
(And when I see) these hundred thousands on thousands of people fleeing from this tree and these fruits—
باز می‌گویم عجب من بی‌خودم ** دست در شاخ خیالی در زدم
Once more I say, ‘Marvellous! Am I beside myself? Have I laid hold of a bough of phantasy?’”
حتی اذا ما استیاس الرسل بگو ** تا بظنوا انهم قد کذبوا
Repeat (the text)until when the Messengers (of God) despaired down to (the words) they thought they had been belied (kudhibú).
این قرائت خوان که تخفیف کذب ** این بود که خویش بیند محتجب
Recite (the verse) with this reading (kudhibú), for the omission of the tashdíd in kudhibú signifies that he (the Messenger) deems himself debarred (from receiving the promised aid from God).
در گمان افتاد جان انبیا ** ز اتفاق منکری اشقیا2035
The souls of the prophets fell into misgiving through the concurrence of disbelief (on the part) of the wicked;
جائهم بعد التشکک نصرنا ** ترکشان گو بر درخت جان بر آ
(But) Our aid came to them after (their) doubting. Take leave of them (the misguided people) and climb the tree of the spirit.
می‌خور و می‌ده بدان کش روزیست ** هر دم و هر لحظه سحرآموزیست
Eat (of the fruit of this tree) and give it to every one that hath an allotted portion (thereof): at each moment and each instant there are lessons in (spiritual) magic (for him).