A hundred worlds like ours He displays to the sight, when He makes your eye seeing by (the light of) Himself.
صد چو عالم در نظر پیدا کند ** چون که چشمت را به خود بینا کند
If the world appears to you vast and bottomless, know that to Omnipotence it is not (so much as) an atom.
گر جهان پیشت بزرگ و بیبنی است ** پیش قدرت ذره ای میدان که نیست
This world, indeed, is the prison of your souls: oh, go in yonder direction, for there lies your open country.525
این جهان خود حبس جانهای شماست ** هین روید آن سو که صحرای شماست
This world is finite, and truly that (other) is infinite: image and form are a barrier to that Reality.
این جهان محدود و آن خود بیحد است ** نقش و صورت پیش آن معنی سد است.
The myriads of Pharaoh's lances were shattered by (the hand of) Moses (armed) with a single staff.
صد هزاران نیزهی فرعون را ** در شکست از موسیی با یک عصا
Myriads were the therapeutic arts of Galen: before Jesus and his (life-giving) breath they were a laughing-stock.
صد هزاران طب جالینوس بود ** پیش عیسی و دمش افسوس بود
Myriads were the books of (pre-Islamic) poems: at the word of an illiterate (prophet) they were (put to) shame.
صد هزاران دفتر اشعار بود ** پیش حرف امیی آن عار بود
(Confronted) with such an all-conquering Lord, how should any one not die (to self), unless he be a vile wretch?530
با چنین غالب خداوندی کسی ** چون نمیرد گر نباشد او خسی
Many a mind (strong and firm) as a mountain did He uproot; the cunning bird He hung up by its two feet.
بس دل چون کوه را انگیخت او ** مرغ زیرک با دو پا آویخت او
To sharpen the intelligence and wits is not the (right) way: none but the broken (in spirit) wins the favour of the King.
فهم و خاطر تیز کردن نیست راه ** جز شکسته مینگیرد فضل شاه
Oh, many the amassers of treasure, digging holes (in search of treasure), who became an ox's beard (dupe) to that vain schemer (the vizier)!
ای بسا گنج آگنان کنج کاو ** کان خیال اندیش را شد ریش گاو
Who is the ox that you should become his beard? What is earth that you should become its stubble?
گاو که بود تا تو ریش او شوی ** خاک چه بود تا حشیش او شوی
When a woman became pale-faced (ashamed) of (her) wickedness, God metamorphosed her and made her Zuhra (the planet Venus).535
چون زنی از کار بد شد روی زرد ** مسخ کرد او را خدا و زهره کرد
To make a woman Zuhra was metamorphosis: is it not metamorphosis to become earth and clay, O contumacious one?
عورتی را زهره کردن مسخ بود ** خاک و گل گشتن نه مسخ است ای عنود
Your spirit was bearing you towards the highest sphere (of heaven): you went towards the water and the clay amongst the lowest (of the low).
روح میبردت سوی چرخ برین ** سوی آب و گل شدی در اسفلین
By this fall you metamorphosed yourself from that (state of) existence which was the envy of the (spiritual) intelligences.
خویشتن را مسخ کردی زین سفول ** ز آن وجودی که بد آن رشک عقول
Consider, then, how is (what is the character of) this metamorphosis: compared with that metamorphosis (of the woman) this (which you have suffered) is exceedingly vile.
پس ببین کین مسخ کردن چون بود ** پیش آن مسخ این به غایت دون بود
You urged the steed of ambition towards the stars: you did not acknowledge Adam who was worshipped (by the angels).540
اسب همت سوی اختر تاختی ** آدم مسجود را نشناختی
After all, you are a son of Adam. O degenerate! how long will you regard lowness as nobility?
آخر آدم زادهای ای ناخلف ** چند پنداری تو پستی را شرف
How long will you say, “I will conquer a whole world, I will make this world full of myself”?
چند گویی من بگیرم عالمی ** این جهان را پر کنم از خود همی
If the world should be filled with snow from end to end, the glow of the sun would melt it with a single look.
گر جهان پر برف گردد سربهسر ** تاب خور بگدازدش با یک نظر
God by a single spark (of His mercy) maketh naught his (the vizier's) burden (of sin) and (the burden) of a hundred viziers and a hundred thousand.
وزر او و صد وزیر و صد هزار ** نیست گرداند خدا از یک شرار
He maketh the essence of that (false) imagination to be wisdom; He maketh the essence of that poisoned water to be a (wholesome) drink.545
عین آن تخییل را حکمت کند ** عین آن زهر آب را شربت کند
That which raises doubt He turneth into certainty; He maketh loving kindnesses grow from the causes of hatred.
آن گمان انگیز را سازد یقین ** مهرها رویاند از اسباب کین
He cherisheth Abraham in the fire; He turneth fear into security of spirit.