I called a “mouse,” because his place is in the earth (of the body): earth is the place of living for the mouse.
موش گفتم ز انکه در خاک است جاش ** خاک باشد موش را جای معاش
He knows (many) ways, but (only) underground: he has pierced the earth in every direction.
راهها داند ولی در زیر خاک ** هر طرف او خاک را کرده ست چاک
The mouse-soul is naught but a nibbler: to the mouse is given a mind proportionate to its need,
نفس موشی نیست الا لقمه رند ** قدر حاجت موش را عقلی دهند
Because without need the Almighty God does not give anything to any one.
ز انکه بیحاجت خداوند عزیز ** مینبخشد هیچ کس را هیچ چیز
If the earth had not been needed by the (inhabitants of the) world, the Lord of all beings would not have created any (earth);3275
گر نبودی حاجت عالم زمین ** نافریدی هیچ رب العالمین
And if this quaking earth had not needed mountains, He would not have created them sublime (as they are);
وین زمین مضطرب محتاج کوه ** گر نبودی نافریدی پر شکوه
And if there had not been need of the heavenly spheres also, He would not have created from non-existence the Seven Skies.
ور نبودی حاجت افلاک هم ** هفت گردون نافریدی از عدم
The sun and moon and these stars—how did they come plain into view except through need?
آفتاب و ماه و این استارگان ** جز به حاجت کی پدید آمد عیان
Need, then is the noose for (all) things that exsist: He (God) gives to Man instruments in proportion to his need.
پس کمند هستها حاجت بود ** قدر حاجت مرد را آلت دهد
Therefore quickly augment thy need, O needy one, in order that the Sea of Bounty may surge up in loving kindness.3280
پس بیفزا حاجت ای محتاج زود ** تا بجوشد در کرم دریای جود
These beggars (are) on the (public) road, and every sufferer (among them) is displaying his need to the people—
این گدایان بر ره و هر مبتلا ** حاجت خود مینماید خلق را
Blindness and palsy and sickness and pain—that men's pity may be aroused by this need.
کوری و شلی و بیماری و درد ** تا از این حاجت بجنبد رحم مرد
Does he (any one) ever say, “Give bread, O people, for I have riches and granaries and trays (of viands)?”
هیچ گوید نان دهید ای مردمان ** که مرا مال است و انبار است و خوان
God has not put eyes in the mole, because it does not need eyes for (getting) food.
چشم ننهادهست حق در کور موش ** ز انکه حاجت نیست چشمش بهر نوش
It is able to live without eyes and sight: in the dank earth it is independent of eyes.3285
میتواند زیست بیچشم و بصر ** فارغ است از چشم او در خاک تر
It never comes out from the earth but for theft, to the end that the Creator may purge it of that thievishness.
جز به دزدی او برون ناید ز خاک ** تا کند خالق از آن دزدیش پاک
After that (purification), it will get wings and become a bird, like the angels, it will go towards heaven.
بعد از آن پر یابد و مرغی شود ** چون ملایک جانب گردون رود
Every moment, in the rose-garden of thanksgiving to God, it will produce a hundred (sweet) notes, like the nightingale,
هر زمان در گلشن شکر خدا ** او بر آرد همچو بلبل صد نوا
Singing, “O Thou that deliverest me from evil qualities! O Thou that makest a hell Paradise!
کای رهاننده مرا از وصف زشت ** ای کننده دوزخی را تو بهشت
Thou puttest light in a piece of fat; Thou, O Self-sufficing One, givest (the sense of) hearing to a bone.”3290
در یکی پیهی نهی تو روشنی ** استخوانی را دهی سمع ای غنی
What connexion have those concepts (e.g. sight and hearing) with the body? What connexion has the apprehension of things with (their) names?
چه تعلق آن معانی را به جسم ** چه تعلق فهم اشیا را به اسم
The word is like the nest, and the meaning is the bird: the body is the riverbed, and the spirit is the rolling water.
لفظ چون وکرست و معنی طایر است ** جسم جوی و روح آب سایر است
It is moving, and you say it is standing: it is running, and you say it is keeping still.
او روان است و تو گویی واقف است ** او دوان است و تو گویی عاکف است
If you see not the movement of the water through the fissures (channels) of earth—(yet it is moving): what are the sticks and straws (ever appearing) anew on it?
گر نبینی سیر آب از خاکها ** چیست بر وی نو به نو خاشاکها
Your sticks and straws are the forms (ideas) of thought: (these) virgin forms are always coming on anew.3295
هست خاشاک تو صورتهای فکر ** نو به نو در میرسد اشکال بکر