Water in front; and behind, too, an unfailing supply of water; (but) before thine eyes is a barrier and behind them a barrier.
پیش آب و پس هم آب با مدد ** چشمها را پیش سد و خلف سد
The horse is under the (rider's) thigh, and the rider is seeking the horse. (When asked), “What is this?” he says, “A horse, but where is the horse?”
اسپ زیر ران و فارس اسپ‌جو ** چیست این گفت اسپ لیکن اسپ کو
“Eh, is not this a horse under thee, plain to see?” “Yes,” says he, “but who ever saw a horse?”
هی نه اسپست این به زیر تو پدید ** گفت آری لیک خود اسپی که دید
He (such a one) is mad with thirst for the water, and it (the water) is before his face: he is in the water and unconscious of the running water.
مست آب و پیش روی اوست آن ** اندر آب و بی‌خبر ز آب روان
Like the pearl in the sea, he says, “Where is the sea?” and that shell-like phantasy is his wall.1080
چون گهر در بحر گوید بحر کو ** وآن خیال چون صدف دیوار او
His saying “Where?” becomes for him a screen: it becomes for him a cloud over the radiance of the sun.
گفتن آن کو حجابش می‌شود ** ابر تاب آفتابش می‌شود
His bad (sensual) eye is a bandage on his (inward) eye: his very (awareness of) removing the barrier has become a barrier for him.
بند چشم اوست هم چشم بدش ** عین رفع سد او گشته سدش
His (self-)consciousness has become the plug of his (inward) ear: keep thy consciousness (directed) towards God (alone), O thou who art bewildered in Him.
بند گوش او شده هم هوش او ** هوش با حق دار ای مدهوش او
Commentary on the saying of Mustafá (Mohammed), on whom be peace, “Whosoever shall make his cares one care, God will relieve him of all his cares; and whosoever is distracted by his cares, God will not care in what valley He destroys him.”
در تفسیر قول مصطفی علیه‌السلام من جعل الهموم هما واحدا کفاه الله سائر همومه و من تفرقت به الهموم لا یبالی الله فی ای واد اهلکه
Thou hast distributed thy consciousness in (all) directions: those vanities are not worth a cress.
هوش را توزیع کردی بر جهات ** می‌نیرزد تره‌ای آن ترهات
Every thorn-root draws the water of thy consciousness (towards itself): how should the water of thy consciousness reach the fruit?1085
آب هش را می‌کشد هر بیخ خار ** آب هوشت چون رسد سوی ثمار