Mountain on mountain, beyond count and number: the snow comes continually to replenish them.
کوه بر که بی‌شمار و بی‌عدد ** می‌رسد در هر زمان برفش مدد
One snow-mountain is being piled on another: the snow brings coldness to the earth.
کوه برفی می‌زند بر دیگری ** می‌رساند برف سردی تا ثری
At every moment snow-mountain is being piled on snow-mountain from the illimitable and vast storehouse.
کوه برفی می‌زند بر کوه برف ** دم به دم ز انبار بی‌حد و شگرف
O king, if there were not a valley (of snow) like this, the glowing heat of Hell would annihilate me.”
گر نبودی این چنین وادی شها ** تف دوزخ محو کردی مر مرا
Know that (in this world) the heedless are (like) snow-mountains, to the end that the veils of the intelligent may not be consumed.3740
غافلان را کوههای برف دان ** تا نسوزد پرده‌های عاقلان
Were it not for the reflexion (effect) of snow-weaving (chilling) ignorance, that Mount Qáf would be consumed by the fire of longing.
گر نبودی عکس جهل برف‌باف ** سوختی از نار شوق آن کوه قاف
The Fire (of Hell) in sooth is (only) an atom of God's wrath; it is (only) a whip to threaten the base.
آتش از قهر خدا خود ذره‌ایست ** بهر تهدید لیمان دره‌ایست
Notwithstanding such a wrath, which is mighty and surpassing all, observe that the coolness of His clemency is prior to it.
با چنین قهری که زفت و فایق است ** برد لطفش بین که بر وی سابق است
(’Tis) a spiritual priority, unqualified and unconditioned. Have you seen the prior and the posterior without duality (have you seen them to be one)?
سبق بی‌چون و چگونه‌ی معنوی ** سابق و مسبوق دیدی بی‌دوی
If you have not seen them (as one), that is because of feeble understanding; for the minds of God's creatures are (but) a single grain of that mine.3745
گر ندیدی آن بود از فهم پست ** که عقول خلق زان کان یک جوست