There is an intelligence like the orb of the sun; there is an intelligence inferior to (the planet) Venus and the meteor.460
هست عقلی هم‌چو قرص آفتاب ** هست عقلی کمتر از زهره و شهاب
There is an intelligence like a tipsy (flickering) lamp; there is an intelligence like a star of fire,
هست عقلی چون چراغی سرخوشی ** هست عقلی چون ستاره‌ی آتشی
Because, when the cloud is removed from it, it produces intellects that behold the Light of God.
زانک ابر از پیش آن چون وا جهد ** نور یزدان‌بین خردها بر دهد
The particular intelligence has given the (universal) intelligence a bad name: worldly desire has deprived the (worldly) man of his desire (in the world hereafter).
عقل جزوی عقل را بدنام کرد ** کام دنیا مرد را بی‌کام کرد
That (universal intelligence), through being a prey (to God), beheld the beauty of the (Divine) Hunting, while this (particular intelligence), through being a hunter (of worldly goods), suffered the pain of being a prey (to perdition).
آن ز صیدی حسن صیادی بدید ** وین ز صیادی غم صیدی کشید
The former, through service, gained the pride of lordship, while the latter, through lordship, turned from the path of glory.465
آن ز خدمت ناز مخدومی بیافت ** وآن ز مخدومی ز راه عز بتافت
The latter, through being a Pharaoh, was taken captive by the water (of perdition), while the Israelites, through captivity, became (mighty as) a hundred Suhrábs.
آن ز فرعونی اسیر آب شد ** وز اسیری سبط صد سهراب شد
’Tis a topsy-turvy game and a terrible quandary; do not try (to escape by) cunning: ’tis (all) a matter of (Divine) favour and fortune.
لعب معکوسست و فرزین‌بند سخت ** حیله کم کن کار اقبالست و بخت
Do not weave plots in vain imagination and cunning; for the Self-sufficient One does not give way to the contriver.
بر حیال و حیله کم تن تار را ** که غنی ره کم دهد مکار را
Contrive, in the way of (by following the guidance of) one who serves (God) well, that you may gain the position of a prophet in a religious community.
مکر کن در راه نیکو خدمتی ** تا نبوت یابی اندر امتی