I have told you the purpose of this lamp of animal sense-perception. Beware of seeking to become one (with it in spirit).
زین چراغ حس حیوان المراد ** گفتمت هان تا نجویی اتحاد
Make your spirit, O such-and-such, to be united speedily with the holy spirits of the Travellers (on the mystic Way).
روح خود را متصل کن ای فلان ** زود با ارواح قدس سالکان
Your hundred lamps, then, whether they die (are extinguished) or whether they stand (and burn), are separate (from each other) and are not single.
صد چراغت ار مرند ار بیستند ** پس جدا اند و یگانه نیستند
On that account these companions of ours are all at war, (but) no one (ever) heard of war amongst the prophets,450
زان همه جنگند این اصحاب ما ** جنگ کس نشنید اندر انبیا
Because the light of the prophets was the Sun, (while) the light of our senses is lamp and candle and smoke.
زانک نور انبیا خورشید بود ** نور حس ما چراغ و شمع و دود
One (of these lamps) dies, one lasts till daybreak; one is dim, another bright.
یک بمیرد یک بماند تا به روز ** یک بود پژمرده دیگر با فروز
The animal soul is (kept) alive by nutriment; however good or bad its state may be, it dies all the same.
جان حیوانی بود حی از غذا ** هم بمیرد او بهر نیک و بذی
If this lamp dies and is extinguished, (yet) how should the neighbour's house become dark?
گر بمیرد این چراغ و طی شود ** خانه‌ی همسایه مظلم کی شود
Inasmuch as without this (lamp) the light in that house is still maintained, hence (it follows that) the lamp of sense-perception is different in every house.455
نور آن خانه چو بی این هم به پاست ** پس چراغ حس هر خانه جداست
This is a parable of the animal soul, not a parable of the divine soul.