- Know that when the whole of a thing is unattainable the whole of it is not (therefore to be) relinquished.
- ان شیا کله لا یدرک ** اعلموا ان کله لا یترک
- If you cannot drink (all) the flood-rain of the clouds, (yet) how can you give up water-drinking?
- گر نتانی خورد طوفان سحاب ** کی توان کردن بترک خورد آب
- If thou wilt not communicate the mystery, (at least) refresh (our) apprehensions with the husk thereof.
- راز را گر مینیاری در میان ** درکها را تازه کن از قشر آن
- (My) spoken words are (only) a husk in relation to thee, but they are a good kernel for other understandings. 20
- نطقها نسبت به تو قشرست لیک ** پیش دیگر فهمها مغزست نیک
- The sky is low in relation to the empyrean; else, in respect of the earth-mound, it is exceedingly high.
- آسمان نسبت به عرش آمد فرود ** ورنه بس عالیست سوی خاکتود
- I will tell thy description in order that they (my hearers) may take their way (towards thee) ere they grieve at the loss of that (opportunity).
- من بگویم وصف تو تا ره برند ** پیش از آن کز فوت آن حسرت خورند
- Thou art the Light of God and a mighty drawer of the soul to God. His creatures are in the darkness of vain imagination and opinion.
- نور حقی و به حق جذاب جان ** خلق در ظلمات وهماند و گمان
- Reverence is the necessary condition for this goodly Light to bestow a salve on these sightless ones.
- شرط تعظیمست تا این نور خوش ** گردد این بیدیدگان را سرمهکش
- The ready sharp-eared man gains the Light—he who is not in love with darkness like a mouse. 25
- نور یابد مستعد تیزگوش ** کو نباشد عاشق ظلمت چو موش
- The weak-eyed (bat-like) ones that go about at night, how shall they make a circuit round the Cresset of the Faith?
- سستچشمانی که شب جولان کنند ** کی طواف مشعلهی ایمان کنند