Inasmuch as the infinite has not (these) two limits, how should the mean be applicable to it?
بینهایت چون ندارد دو طرف ** کی بود او را میانه منصرف
No one has shown it to have beginning or end. He (God) said, ‘If the sea were to become ink for it (the Word of God)…’
اول و آخر نشانش کس نداد ** گفت لو کان له البحر مداد
If the Seven Seas should become entirely ink, (still) there is no hope of coming to an end.
هفت دریا گر شود کلی مداد ** نیست مر پایان شدن را هیچ امید
If orchards and forests should become pens altogether, there would never be any decrease in this Word.3545
باغ و بیشه گر بود یک سر قلم ** زین سخن هرگز نگردد هیچ کم
All that ink and (all those) pens pass away, and this numberless Word is everlasting.
آن همه حبر و قلم فانی شود ** وین حدیث بیعدد باقی بود
At times my state resembles sleep: a misguided person may think it is sleep.
حالت من خواب را ماند گهی ** خواب پندارد مر آن را گمرهی
Know that my eyes are asleep, (but) my heart is awake: know that my (seemingly) inactive form is (really) in action.
چشم من خفته دلم بیدار دان ** شکل بیکار مرا بر کار دان
The Prophet said, ‘My eyes sleep, (but) my heart is not asleep to the Lord of created beings.’
گفت پیغمبر که عینای تنام ** لا ینام قلبی عن رب الأنام
Your eyes are awake, and your heart is sunk in slumber; my eyes are asleep, (but) my heart is in (contemplation of) the opening of the door (of Divine grace).3550
چشم تو بیدار و دل خفته به خواب ** چشم من خفته دلم در فتح باب
My heart hath five senses other (than the physical): both the worlds (external and spiritual) are the stage (theatre) for the senses of the heart.
مر دلم را پنج حس دیگر است ** حس دل را هر دو عالم منظر است
Do not regard me from (the standpoint of) your infirmity: to you ’tis night, to me that same night is morningtide.
تو ز ضعف خود مکن در من نگاه ** بر تو شب بر من همان شب چاشتگاه
To you ’tis prison, to me that prison is like a garden: to me the most absolute state of occupation (with the world) has become (a state of spiritual) freedom.
بر تو زندان بر من آن زندان چو باغ ** عین مشغولی مرا گشته فراغ
Your feet are in the mud; to me the mud has become roses. You have mourning; I have feasting and drums.
پای تو در گل مرا گل گشته گل ** مر ترا ماتم مرا سور و دهل
(Whilst) I am dwelling with you in some place on the earth, I am coursing over the seventh sphere (of Heaven), like Saturn.3555
در زمینم با تو ساکن در محل ** میدوم بر چرخ هفتم چون زحل
’Tis not I that am seated beside you, ’tis my shadow: my rank is higher than (the reach of) thoughts,
همنشینت من نیم سایهی من است ** برتر از اندیشهها پایهی من است
Because I have passed beyond (all) thoughts, and have become a swift traveler outside (the region of) thought.
ز انکه من ز اندیشهها بگذشتهام ** خارج اندیشه پویان گشتهام
I am the ruler of thought, not ruled (by it), because the builder is ruler over the building.
حاکم اندیشهام محکوم نی ** ز انکه بنا حاکم آمد بر بنا
All creatures are subjugated to thought; for that reason they are sore in heart and practised in sorrow.
جمله خلقان سخرهی اندیشهاند ** ز آن سبب خسته دل و غم پیشهاند
I yield myself to thought purposely, (but) when I will I spring up from the midst of them (that are under its sway).3560
قاصدا خود را به اندیشه دهم ** چون بخواهم از میانشان بر جهم
I am as a bird of the zenith, thought is a gnat: how should a gnat have power over me?
من چو مرغ اوجم اندیشه مگس ** کی بود بر من مگس را دسترس
Purposely I come down from the lofty zenith, that those of base degree may attain to me.
قاصدا زیر آیم از اوج بلند ** تا شکسته پایگان بر من تنند
When disgust at the qualities of the low (world) seizes me, I soar up like the birds which spread their pinions.
چون ملالم گیرد از سفلی صفات ** بر پرم همچون طیور الصافات
My wings have grown out of my very essence: I do not stick two wings on with glue.
پر من رسته ست هم از ذات خویش ** بر نچسبانم دو پر من با سریش
The wings of Ja‘far-i Tayyár are permanent; the wings of Ja‘far-i Tarrár are borrowed (unreal and transitory).3565
جعفر طیار را پر جاریه ست ** جعفر عیار را پر عاریه ست
In the view of him that has not experienced (it), this is (mere) pretension; in the view of the inhabitants of the (spiritual) horizon, this is the reality.
نزد آن که لم یذق دعوی است این ** نزد سکان افق معنی است این