You ask “Why art thou doing this?” because the forms are (as) the oil, and the essential meaning is (as) the light.
زان همی‌پرسی چرا این می‌کنی ** که صور زیتست و معنی روشنی
Otherwise, wherefore is this saying “why”?—since (hypothetically) the form is for the sake of the form itself.2995
ورنه این گفتن چرا از بهر چیست ** چونک صورت بهر عین صورتیست
This saying “why” is a question concerning the use (reason): it is bad to say “why” for any cause but this.
این چرا گفتن سال از فایده‌ست ** جز برای این چرا گفتن بدست
Wherefore, O trusty one, should you desire (to know) the use (reason)?—since (hypothetically) the use of this (form) is only this (form itself).
از چه رو فایده‌ی جویی ای امین ** چون بود فایده این خود همین
Hence it is not (in accordance with) wisdom that the forms of heaven and (those of) the people of the earth should be (created) for this only.
پس نقوش آسمان و اهل زمین ** نیست حکمت کان بود بهر همین
If there is no Wise (Creator), what is (the reason of) this orderly arrangement (the cosmos)? And if there is a Wise (Creator), how is His action devoid (of meaning)?
گر حکیمی نیست این ترتیب چیست ** ور حکیمی هست چون فعلش تهیست
No one makes pictures and colouring in a bath-house except for (some) purpose (either) right or wrong.3000
کس نسازد نقش گرمابه و خضاب ** جز پی قصد صواب و ناصواب
How Moses, on whom be peace, besought the Lord, saying, "Thou didst create creatures and destroy them," and how the answer came.
مطالبه کردن موسی علیه‌السلام حضرت را کی خلقت خلقا اهلکتهم و جواب آمدن
Moses said, “O Lord of the Reckoning, Thou didst create the form: how didst Thou destroy it again?”
گفت موسی ای خداوند حساب ** نقش کردی باز چون کردی خراب
Thou hast made the form, male and female, that gives unto the spirit increase (of joy); and then Thou dost ruin it: why?”
نر و ماده نقش کردی جان‌فزا ** وانگهان ویران کنی این را چرا
God said, “I know that this question of thine is not from disbelief and heedlessness and idle fancy;
گفت حق دانم که این پرسش ترا ** نیست از انکار و غفلت وز هوا