Even so (proceed), having perceived reasons within reasons, one after the other, in order that you may arrive at victory and checkmate.
همچنین دیده جهات اندر جهات ** در پی هم تا رسی در برد و مات
The first is for the sake of the second, like mounting on the steps of a ladder;
اول از بهر دوم باشد چنان ** که شدن بر پایههای نردبان
And deem the second to be for the sake of the third, (and so on) to the end, in order that you may arrive, step by step, at the roof.
و آن دوم بهر سوم میدان تمام ** تا رسی تو پایه پایه تا به بام
The desire to eat is for the sake of the semen: that semen is for the sake of procreation and the light (which glows in the eyes of parents).
شهوت خوردن ز بهر آن منی ** آن منی از بهر نسل و روشنی
The man of dull sight sees naught but this: his intelligence is without motion, like the plants of the earth.2895
کندبینش مینبیند غیر این ** عقل او بیسیر چون نبت زمین
Whether the plant is summoned (to move) or not summoned, its foot remains stuck fast in the mud.
نبت را چه خوانده چه ناخوانده ** هست پای او به گل در مانده
If its head move with the motion of the wind, go, be not deceived by its moving its head.
گر سرش جنبد پیر باد رو ** تو به سر جنبانیش غره مشو
Its head says, “We obey, O zephyr!” Its foot says, “We refuse to obey: let us alone!”
آن سرش گوید سمعنا ای صبا ** پای او گوید عصینا خلنا
Since he (the man of dull sight) does not know how to move (on the Way to God), he advances like the vulgar, stepping (forward) on trust, like a blind man.
چون ندارد سیر میراند چون عام ** بر توکل مینهد چون کور گام
Consider what comes of acting on trust in warfare: (it is vain) like the trust of dice-players.2900
بر توکل تا چه آید در نبرد ** چون توکل کردن اصحاب نرد
But those insights that are not frozen (dense and dull) are nothing if not piercing and veil-rending.
وآن نظرهایی که آن افسرده نیست ** جز رونده و جز درندهی پرده نیست
He (such a one) sees with his own eye at the present moment that which will come to pass in ten years.
آنچ در ده سال خواهد آمدن ** این زمان بیند به چشم خویشتن
Similarly, every one sees the unseen and the future, (both) good and evil, according to the measure of his insight.
همچنین هر کس به اندازهی نظر ** غیب و مستقبل ببیند خیر وشر
When the barrier in front and the barrier behind are removed, the eye penetrates and reads the tablet of the Unseen.
چونک سد پیش و سد پس نماند ** شد گذاره چشم و لوح غیب خواند
When he (such a one) looks back to the origin of existence, the past circumstances and beginning of existence display themselves (to him)—2905
چون نظر پس کرد تا بدو وجود ** ماجرا و آغاز هستی رو نمود
(Namely), the disputation of the terrestrial angels with the (Divine) Majesty as to making our Father (Adam) the Vicegerent.
بحث املاک زمین با کبریا ** در خلیفه کردن بابای ما
When he casts his eye forward he sees plainly that which shall be (all that shall come to pass) till the (Last) Congregation.
چون نظر در پیش افکند او بدید ** آنچ خواهد بود تا محشر پدید
Therefore he sees back to the root of the root (the primal origin), and he sees forward clairvoyantly to the Day of Decision.
پس ز پس میبیند او تا اصل اصل ** پیش میبیند عیان تا روز فصل
Every one, according to the measure of his spiritual enlightenment, sees the things unseen in proportion to the polishing (of the heart's mirror).
هر کسی اندازهی روشندلی ** غیب را بیند به قدر صیقلی
The more he polishes, the more he sees and the more visible does the form (of things unseen) become to him.2910
هر که صیقل بیش کرد او بیش دید ** بیشتر آمد برو صورت پدید
If you say that that (spiritual) purity is (bestowed by) the grace of God, this success in polishing (the heart) is also (derived) from that (Divine) bounty.
گر تو گویی کان صفا فضل خداست ** نیز این توفیق صیقل زان عطاست
That (devotional) work and prayer is in proportion to the (worshipper's) aspiration: Man hath nothing but what he hath striven after.
قدر همت باشد آن جهد و دعا ** لیس للانسان الا ما سعی
God alone is the giver of aspiration: no base churl aspires to be a king.
واهب همت خداوندست و بس ** همت شاهی ندارد هیچ خس
God's assignment of a particular lot to any one does not hinder (him from exercising) consent and will and choice;
نیست تخصیص خدا کس را به کار ** مانع طوع و مراد و اختیار
But when He brings some trouble on an ill-fated man, he (that man) ungratefully packs off in flight;2915
لیک چون رنجی دهد بدبخت را ** او گریزاند به کفران رخت را