That which is of the sea is going to the sea: it is going to the same place whence it came—
آن چه از دریا به دریا می‌‌رود ** از همانجا کامد آن جا می‌‌رود
From the mountain-top the swift-rushing torrents, and from our body the soul whose motion is mingled with love.
از سر که سیلهای تیز رو ** وز تن ما جان عشق آمیز رو
How the Jewish king made a fire and placed an idol beside it, saying, “Whoever bows down to this idol shall escape the fire.”
آتش کردن پادشاه جهود و بت نهادن پهلوی آتش که هر که این بت را سجود کند از آتش برست
Now see what a plan this currish Jew contrived! He set up an idol beside the fire,
آن جهود سگ ببین چه رای کرد ** پهلوی آتش بتی بر پای کرد
Saying, “He that bows down to this idol is saved, and if he bow not, he shall sit in the heart of the fire.”770
کان که این بت را سجود آرد برست ** ور نیارد در دل آتش نشست
Inasmuch as he did not give due punishment to this idol of self, from the idol of his self the other idol was born.
چون سزای این بت نفس او نداد ** از بت نفسش بتی دیگر بزاد
The idol of your self is the mother of (all) idols, because that (material) idol is (only) a snake, while this (spiritual) idol is a dragon.
مادر بتها بت نفس شماست ** ز آن که آن بت مار و این بت اژدهاست
The self is (as) iron and stone (whence fire is produced), while the (material) idol is (as) the sparks: those sparks are quieted (quenched) by water.
آهن و سنگ است نفس و بت شرار ** آن شرار از آب می‌‌گیرد قرار
(But) how should the stone and iron be allayed by water? How should a man, having these twain, be secure?
سنگ و آهن ز آب کی ساکن‌‌شود ** آدمی با این دو کی ایمن شود
The idol is the black water hidden in the jug; know that the self is the fountain.775
بت سیاه‌‌آبه‌‌ست در کوزه نهان ** نفس مر آب سیه را چشمه دان
That sculptured idol is like the black torrent; the idol-making self is a fountain (jetting muddy water) on the Water-way (the Way that leads to the Water of Life).
آن بت منحوت چون سیل سیاه ** نفس بتگر چشمه‌‌ای بر آب راه