(But) they only find their snare more grievous (to themselves), (for) how can straws show any power (of resistance) against the wind?
دام خود را سختتر یابند و بس ** کی نماید قوتی با باد خس
If you say, “What was the profit of (our created) being?” (I reply), “There is profit in your question, O contumacious one.
گر تو گویی فایدهی هستی چه بود ** در سؤالت فایده هست ای عنود
If this question of yours has no profit, why should we listen to it in vain and fruitlessly?
گر ندارد این سؤالت فایده ** چه شنویم این را عبث بیعایده
And if there are many profits in your question, then why, pray, is the world unprofitable?1070
ور سؤالت را بسی فاییدههاست ** پس جهان بیفایده آخر چراست
And (again), if from one standpoint the world is unprofitable, from other standpoints it is advantageous.
ور جهان از یک جهت بیفایده ست ** از جهتهای دگر پر عایده ست
If your profit is no profit to me, (yet) since it is a profit to you, do not withdraw from it.”
فایدهی تو گر مرا فاییده نیست ** مر ترا چون فایده ست از وی مه ایست
The beauty of Joseph profited a (whole) world (of people), though to his brethren it was a vain superfluity.
حسن یوسف عالمی را فایده ** گر چه بر اخوان عبث بد زایده
The melodies of David were so dear (to the faithful), but to the interdicted (unbeliever) they were (no more than) the noise of wood.
لحن داودی چنان محبوب بود ** لیک بر محروم بانگ چوب بود
The water of the Nile was superior to the Water of Life, but to the interdicted and unbelieving it was blood.1075
آب نیل از آب حیوان بد فزون ** لیک بر محروم و منکر بود خون
To the true believer martyrdom is life; to the hypocrite it is death and corruption.
هست بر مومن شهیدی زندگی ** بر منافق مردن است و ژندگی
Tell (me), what single blessing is there in the world, from which some group of people is not excluded?
چیست در عالم بگو یک نعمتی ** که نه محرومند از وی امتی
What profit have the ox and the ass in sugar? Every soul has a different food;
گاو و خر را فایده چه در شکر ** هست هر جان را یکی قوتی دگر
But if that food is accidental to it (and not according to its real nature), then admonition is the (proper) correction for it.
لیک گر آن قوت بر وی عارضی است ** پس نصیحت کردن او را رایضی است
As (in the case of) one who from disease has become fond of (eating) clay— though he may suppose that that (clay) is indeed his (natural) food,1080
چون کسی کاو از مرض گل داشت دوست ** گر چه پندارد که آن خود قوت اوست
He has (in reality) forgotten his original food and has betaken himself to the food of disease.
قوت اصلی را فرامش کرده است ** روی در قوت مرض آورده است
Having given up honey, he has eaten poison; he has made the food of disease (to be his nourishment) as (though it were) fat.
نوش را بگذاشته سم خورده است ** قوت علت همچو چوبش کرده است
Man's original food is the Light of God: animal food is improper for him;
قوت اصلی بشر نور خداست ** قوت حیوانی مر او را ناسزاست
But, in consequence of disease, his mind has fallen into this (delusion), that day and night he should eat of this water and clay.
لیک از علت در این افتاد دل ** که خورد او روز و شب زین آب و گل
(He is) pale-faced, weak-footed, faint-hearted—where is the food of by Heaven which hath (starry) tracks?1085
روی زرد و پای سست و دل سبک ** کو غذای و السما ذات الحبک
That is the food of the chosen ones of the (Divine) sovereignty; the eating thereof is (done) without throat or instrument.
آن غذای خاصگان دولت است ** خوردن آن بیگلو و آلت است
The food of the (spiritual) sun is (derived) from the light of the (celestial) Throne; (the food that belongs) to the envious and devilish is (derived) from the smoke of the (terrestrial) carpet.
شد غذای آفتاب از نور عرش ** مر حسود و دیو را از دود فرش
God said concerning the martyrs, they are (alive with their Lord) receiving sustenance. For that food there was neither mouth nor dish.
در شهیدان یرزقون فرمود حق ** آن غذا را نه دهان بد نه طبق
The heart is eating a (particular) food from every single companion; the heart is getting a (particular) excellence from every single (piece of) knowledge.
دل ز هر یاری غذایی میخورد ** دل ز هر علمی صفایی میبرد
Every human being's (outer) form is like a cup; (only) the (spiritual) eye is a percipient of his (or her) reality.1090
صورت هر آدمی چون کاسهای است ** چشم از معنی او حساسهای است
You eat (receive) something from meeting with any one, and you carry away something from conjunction with any associate.
از لقای هر کسی چیزی خوری ** و ز قران هر قرین چیزی بری