Such is His work, and my work is the same: the Lord of all created beings is the beautifier of the world.”
کار او اینست و کار من همین ** عالم‌آرایست رب العالمین
Were it not for these impurities of ours, how would the water have this glory?
گر نبودی این پلیدیهای ما ** کی بدی این بارنامه آب را
It stole purses of gold from a certain One: (then) it runs in every direction, crying, “Where is an insolvent?”210
کیسه‌های زر بدزدید از کسی ** می‌رود هر سو که هین کو مفلسی
Either it sheds (the treasure) on a blade of grass that has grown, or it washes the face of one whose face is unwashed,
یا بریزد بر گیاه رسته‌ای ** یا بشوید روی رو ناشسته‌ای
Or, porter-like, it takes on its head (surface) the ship that is without hand or foot (helplessly tossing) in the seas.
یا بگیرد بر سر او حمال‌وار ** کشتی بی‌دست و پا را در بحار
Hidden in it are myriads of salves, because every salve derives from it its nature and property.
صد هزاران دارو اندر وی نهان ** زانک هر دارو بروید زو چنان
The soul of every pearl, the heart of every grain, goes into the river (for healing) as (into) a shop of salves.
جان هر دری دل هر دانه‌ای ** می‌رود در جو چو داروخانه‌ای
From it (comes) nourishment to the orphans of the earth; from it (comes) movement (growth) to them that are tied fast, the parched ones.215
زو یتیمان زمین را پرورش ** بستگان خشک را از وی روش
When its stock (of spiritual grace) is exhausted, it becomes turbid: it becomes abject on the earth, as we are.
چون نماند مایه‌اش تیره شود ** هم‌چو ما اندر زمین خیره شود
How the water, after becoming turbid, entreats God Almighty to succour it.
استعانت آب از حق جل جلاله بعد از تیره شدن
(Then) from its interior it raises cries of lamentation, saying, “O God, that which Thou gavest (me) I have given (to others) and am left a beggar.
ناله از باطن برآرد کای خدا ** آنچ دادی دادم و ماندم گدا
I poured the (whole) capital over pure and impure (alike): O King who givest the capital, is there any more?”
ریختم سرمایه بر پاک و پلید ** ای شه سرمایه‌ده هل من مزید
He (God) saith to the cloud, “Bear it (the water) to the delectable place; and thou too, O sun, draw it up aloft.”
ابر را گوید ببر جای خوشش ** هم تو خورشیدا به بالا بر کشش
He maketh it to go diverse ways, that He may bring it unto the boundless sea.220
راههای مختلف می‌راندش ** تا رساند سوی بحر بی‌حدش
Verily, what is meant by this water is the spirit of the saints, which washes away your dark stains.
خود غرض زین آب جان اولیاست ** کو غسول تیرگیهای شماست
When it is stained dark by (washing) the treason of the inhabitants of the earth, it returns to Him who endows Heaven with purity.
چون شود تیره ز غدر اهل فرش ** باز گردد سوی پاکی بخش عرش
From yonder, trailing the skirt (of glory), it brings back to them lessons concerning the purities of the All-encompassing (God).
باز آرد زان طرف دامن کشان ** از طهارات محیط او درسشان
Through mingling with the people (of the world) it falls sick and desires (to make) that journey, saying, “Revive us, O Bilál!
ز اختلاط خلق یاید اعتدال ** آن اسفر جوید که ارحنا یا بلال
O melodious sweet-voiced Bilál, go up into the minaret, beat the drum of departure.”225
ای بلال خوش نوای خوش صهیل ** میذنه بر رو بزن طبل رحیل
Whilst the body is standing (in the ritual prayer), the spirit is gone on its journey: hence at the moment of return it says, “Salám!”
جان سفر رفت و بددن اندر قیام ** وقت رجعت زین سبب گوید سلام
(On its return to the world) it liberates all from performing the ablution with sand, and seekers of the qibla from endeavouring to ascertain the proper direction.
از تیمم وا رهاند جمله را ** وز تحری طالبان قبله را
This parable is like an intermediary in the discourse: an intermediary is required for the apprehension of the vulgar.
این مثل چون واسطه‌ست اندر کلام ** واسطه شرطست بهر فهم عام
Without an intermediary, how should any one go into the fire, except (one like) the salamander?—for he is independent of the connecting link.
اندر آتش کی رود بی‌واسطه ** جز سمندر کو رهید از رابطه
You need the hot bath as an intermediary, so that you may refresh your constitution by (the heat of) the fire.230
واسطه‌ی حمام باید مر ترا ** تا ز آتش خوش کنی تو طبع را
Since you cannot go into the fire, like Khalíl (Abraham), the hot bath has become your Apostle, and the water your guide.
چون نتانی شد در آتش چون خلیل ** گشت حمامت رسول آبت دلیل
Satiety is from God, but how should the unclean attain unto satiety without the mediation of bread?
سیری از حقست لیک اهل طبع ** کی رسد بی‌واسطه‌ی نان در شبع