That “I am the vat” is the (same as) saying “I am God”: he has the colour of the fire, albeit he is iron.
آن منم خم خود انا الحق گفتن است ** رنگ آتش دارد الا آهن است
The colour of the iron is naughted in the colour of the fire: it (the iron) boasts of (its) fieriness, though (actually) it is like one who keeps silence.
رنگ آهن محو رنگ آتش است ** ز آتشی میلافد و خامشوش است
When it has become like gold of the mine in redness, then without tongue its boast is “I am the fire.”
چون به سرخی گشت همچون زر کان ** پس انا النار است لافش بیزبان
It has become glorified by the colour and nature of the fire: it says, “I am the fire, I am the fire.1350
شد ز رنگ و طبع آتش محتشم ** گوید او من آتشم من آتشم
I am the fire; if thou have doubt and suspicion, make trial, put thy hand upon me.
آتشم من گر ترا شک است و ظن ** آزمون کن دست را بر من بزن
I am the fire; if it seem dubious to thee, lay thy face upon my face for one moment.”
آتشم من بر تو گر شد مشتبه ** روی خود بر روی من یک دم بنه
When Man receives light from God, he is worshipped by the angels because of his being chosen (by God).
آدمی چون نور گیرد از خدا ** هست مسجود ملایک ز اجتبا
Also, (he is) worshipped by that one whose spirit, like the angel, has been freed from contumacy and doubt.
نیز مسجود کسی کاو چون ملک ** رسته باشد جانش از طغیان و شک
What fire? What iron? Close your lips: do not laugh at the beard of the assimilator's simile.1355
آتش چه آهن چه لب ببند ** ریش تشبیه مشبه را مخند
Do not set foot in the Sea, speak not of It: on the shore of the Sea keep silence, biting your lips (in amazement).
پای در دریا منه کم گوی از آن ** بر لب دریا خمش کن لب گزان
Though (one equal to) a hundred like me would not have the strength to bear the Sea, yet I cannot refrain from the drowning waters of the Sea.
گر چه صد چون من ندارد تاب بحر ** لیک مینشکیبم از غرقاب بحر
May my soul and mind be a sacrifice to the Sea: this Sea has paid the blood-price of mind and soul.
جان و عقل من فدای بحر باد ** خونبهای عقل و جان این بحر داد
I will march in It as long as my feet move; when feet remain not, I am (plunged) in It, like ducks.
تا که پایم میرود رانم در او ** چون نماند پا چو بطانم در او
An unrespectful person present is better than one absent: though the ring be crooked, is it not on the door?1360
بیادب حاضر ز غایب خوشتر است ** حلقه گر چه کژ بود نه بر در است
O defiled in body, frequent the tank: outside of the tank, how shall a man be cleansed?
ای تن آلوده به گرد حوض گرد ** پاک کی گردد برون حوض مرد
The pure one who has been banished from the tank becomes far also from his purity.
پاک کاو از حوض مهجور اوفتاد ** او ز پاکی خویش هم دور اوفتاد
The purity of this tank is infinite; the purity of bodies is of little weight,
پاکی این حوض بیپایان بود ** پاکی اجسام کم میزان بود
Because the heart (though it) is a tank, yet in ambush (out of sight) it has a hidden channel to the Sea.
ز انکه دل حوض است لیکن در کمین ** سوی دریا راه پنهان دارد این
Your finite purity wants reinforcement; otherwise, number is diminished in (the course of) expenditure.1365
پاکی محدود تو خواهد مدد ** ور نه اندر خرج کم گردد عدد
The water said to the defiled one, “Hasten (to come) into me.” The defiled one said, “I feel shame before the water.”
آب گفت آلوده را در من شتاب ** گفت آلوده که دارم شرم از آب
Said the water, “Without me how shall this shame go? Without me how shall this defilement be removed?”
گفت آب این شرم بیمن کی رود ** بیمن این آلوده زایل کی شود
Every defiled one who hides from the water is (an example of the saying that) “Shame hinders Faith.”
ز آب هر آلوده کاو پنهان شود ** الحیاء یمنع الإیمان بود
The heart is muddied by the steps of the body's tank; the body is cleansed by the water of the heart's tanks.
دل ز پایهی حوض تن گلناک شد ** تن ز آب حوض دلها پاک شد
Haunt the steps of the heart's tank, O son; take heed and always beware of the steps of the body's tank.1370
گرد پایهی حوض دل گرد ای پسر ** هان ز پایهی حوض تن میکن حذر
The sea of the body is dashing against the sea of the heart, (but) between them is a barrier which they shall not cross.
بحر تن بر بحر دل بر هم زنان ** در میانشان برزخ لا یبغیان