He has ruined it in order that He may make it more flourishing: my kinsfolk were numerous and the house was (too) small.
کرد ویران تا کند معمورتر ** قومم انبه بود و خانه مختصر
The (Divine) wisdom in ruining the body by death.
حکمت ویران شدن تن به مرگ
Formerly, like Adam, I was imprisoned in grief; now East and West are filled with my spirit's progeny.3535
من چو آدم بودم اول حبس کرب ** پر شد اکنون نسل جانم شرق و غرب
I was a beggar in this dungeon-like house; (now) I have become a king: a palace is needed for a king.”
من گدا بودم درین خانه چو چاه ** شاه گشتم قصر باید بهر شاه
Truly, palaces are the place for (spiritual) kings to take their pleasure in; for him that is (spiritually) dead a grave is a sufficient house and dwelling.
قصرها خود مر شهان را مانسست ** مرده را خانه و مکان گوری بسست
To the prophets this world seemed narrow: like kings, they went into (the world of) spacelessness.
انبیا را تنگ آمد این جهان ** چون شهان رفتند اندر لامکان
To the (spiritually) dead this world appears splendid: its external (aspect) is large, but in reality it is narrow.
مردگان را این جهان بنمود فر ** ظاهرش زفت و به معنی تنگ بر
If it were not narrow, for what reason is this lamentation? Why has every one become (more) doubled (bowed with affliction) the more he lived in it?3540
گر نبودی تنگ این افغان ز چیست ** چون دو تا شد هر که در وی بیش زیست
When during the time of sleep the spirit is freed (from this world), behold how it rejoices in that place (to which it goes)!
در زمان خواب چون آزاد شد ** زان مکان بنگر که جان چون شاد شد
The wicked man is (then) delivered from the wickedness of his nature, the prisoner escapes from thoughts of confinement.
ظالم از ظلم طبیعت باز رست ** مرد زندانی ز فکر حبس جست
This very wide earth and heaven becomes exceedingly narrow at the time of lying down (to sleep).
این زمین و آسمان بس فراخ ** سخت تنگ آمد به هنگام مناخ
It (the world) is an eye-bandage (a spell that blinds the eye): (it is) wide (in appearance), and (in reality) mighty narrow: its laughter is weeping, its glory is entirely shame.
جسم بند آمد فراخ وسخت تنگ ** خندهی او گریه فخرش جمله ننگ
Comparison of this world, which is wide in appearance and narrow in reality, (to a bathroom), and comparison (of the next world) to sleep, which is the (means of) release from this narrowness.
تشبیه دنیا کی بظاهر فراخست و بمعنی تنگ و تشبیه خواب کی خلاص است ازین تنگی
(This world is) like a bath-room which is very hot, (so that) you are distressed and your soul is melted (with anguish).3545
همچو گرمابه که تفسیده بود ** تنگ آیی جانت پخسیده شود
Although the bath-room is broad and long, your soul is distressed and fatigued by the heat.
گرچه گرمابه عریضست و طویل ** زان تبش تنگ آیدت جان و کلیل
Your heart does not expand (you feel no relief) till you come out: what advantage, then, is the spaciousness of the room to you?
تا برون نایی بنگشاید دلت ** پس چه سود آمد فراخی منزلت
Or (it is) as though you should put on tight shoes, O misguided one, and go into a wide desert.
یا که کفش تنگ پوشی ای غوی ** در بیابان فراخی میروی
The spaciousness of the desert becomes narrow (distressing); that desert and plain becomes a prison to you.
آن فراخی بیابان تنگ گشت ** بر تو زندان آمد آن صحرا و دشت
Whoever sees you from afar says, “He blooms like a fresh anemone (he is cheerful and happy) in that desert”;3550
هر که دید او مر ترا از دور گفت ** کو در آن صحرا چو لاله تر شکفت
He does not know that you, like the wicked, are outwardly in the rose-garden, (while) your soul is in lamentation.
او نداند که تو همچون ظالمان ** از برون در گلشنی جان در فغان
Your sleep is to put those shoes off, for (then) your soul is free from the body for a while.
خواب تو آن کفش بیرون کردنست ** که زمانی جانت آزاد از تنست
To the saints, O reader, sleep is a kingdom, as (it was to) the Men of the Cave in this world.
اولیا را خواب ملکست ای فلان ** همچو آن اصحاب کهف اندر جهان
They (sleep and) dream, and no (physical) sleep is there; they go into nonexistence, and no (material) door (is there).
خواب میبینند و آنجا خواب نه ** در عدم در میروند و باب نه
“(The body is) a narrow house, and the soul within is cramped: He (God) ruined it in order that He might make a royal palace.3555
خانهی تنگ و درون جان چنگلوک ** کرد ویران تا کند قصر ملوک
I am cramped like the embryo in the womb: I have become nine months old: this migration has become urgent.
چنگلوکم چون جنین اندر رحم ** نهمهه گشتم شد این نقلان مهم
Unless the throes of childbirth overtake my mother, (what should I do?): in this prison I am amidst the fire.
گر نباشد درد زه بر مادرم ** من درین زندان میان آذرم
My mother, namely, my nature (natural body), in consequence of its death-throes, is giving birth (to the spirit), to the end that the lamb (the spirit) may be released from the ewe,
مادر طبعم ز درد مرگ خویش ** میکند ره تا رهد بره ز میش