All have become tied (to their business) in the bazaar (this world), to the end that when (the chance of) gain occurs they may give their money.4105
جمله در بازار از آن گشتند بند ** تا چو سود افتاد مال خود دهند
With gold in their money-bags, they are seated expectantly (in the hope) that the gain may come and that he who persists (in waiting) may begin to squander (his gold).
زر در انبانها نشسته منتظر ** تا که سود آید ببذل آید مصر
When he sees a piece of merchandise exceeding (his own) in profit, his fondness for his own goods becomes chilled;
چون ببیند کاله‌ای در ربح بیش ** سرد گردد عشقش از کالای خویش
(For hitherto) he has remained enamoured of those, because he perceived no profit and advantage superior to his own goods.
گرم زان ماندست با آن کو ندید ** کاله‌های خویش را ربح و مزید
Similarly, (in the case of) knowledge and accomplishments and trades: (a man is engrossed with them) since he has not seen (anything) superior to them in excellence.
همچنین علم و هنرها و حرف ** چون بدید افزون از آنها در شرف
Whilst nothing is better than life, life is precious; when a better appears, the name of life becomes a slippery (futile) thing.4110
تا به از جان نیست جان باشد عزیز ** چون به آمد نام جان شد چیز لیز
The lifeless doll is as (dear as) life to the child until he has grown up to manhood.
لعبت مرده بود جان طفل را ** تا نگشت او در بزرگی طفل‌زا
This imagination and fancy are (like) the doll: so long as you are (spiritually) a child, you have need of them;
این تصور وین تخیل لعبتست ** تا تو طفلی پس بدانت حاجتست
(But) when the spirit has escaped from childishness, it is in union (with God): it is done with sense-perception and imagination and fancy.
چون ز طفلی رست جان شد در وصال ** فارغ از حس است و تصویر و خیال
There is no confidant (familiar with this mystery), that I should speak without insincerity (reserve). I will keep silence, and God best knoweth the (true) accord.
نیست محرم تا بگویم بی‌نفاق ** تن زدم والله اعلم بالوفاق
The goods (of this world) and the body are snow melting away to naught; (yet) God is their purchaser, for God hath purchased.4115
مال و تن برف‌اند ریزان فنا ** حق خریدارش که الله اشتری
The snows seem to you better than the price, because you are in doubt: you have no certainty (no sure faith),
برفها زان از ثمن اولیستت ** که هیی در شک یقینی نیستت
And in you, O contemptible man, there is this marvellous opinion that does not fly to the garden of certainty.
وین عجب ظنست در تو ای مهین ** که نمی‌پرد به بستان یقین
O son, every opinion is thirsting for certainty and emulously flapping its wings (in quest thereof).
هر گمان تشنه‌ی یقینست ای پسر ** می‌زند اندر تزاید بال و پر
When it attains to knowledge, then the wing becomes a foot, and its knowledge begins to scent certainty,
چون رسد در علم پس پر پا شود ** مر یقین را علم او بویا شود
For in the tested Way knowledge is inferior to certainty, but above opinion.4120
زانک هست اندر طریق مفتتن ** علم کمتر از یقین و فوق ظن
Know that knowledge is a seeker of certainty, and certainty is a seeker of vision and intuition.
علم جویای یقین باشد بدان ** و آن یقین جویای دیدست و عیان
Seek this (difference between knowledge and intuitive certainty) now, in (the Súra which begins with) Alhákum, after (the word) kallá and after (the words) lau ta‘lamún.
اندر الهیکم بجو این را کنون ** از پس کلا پس لو تعلمون
Knowledge leads to vision, O knowing one: if it (knowledge) became (intuitive) certainty, they would see Hell.