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
Beauty is from God, but the corporealist does not feel (the charm of) beauty without the veil (medium) of the garden.
لطف از حقست لیکن اهل تن ** درنیابد لطف بیپردهی چمن
When the bodily medium is removed, (then) he (who is disembodied) perceives without (any) screen, like Moses, the light of the Moon (shining) from (his own) bosom.
چون نماند واسطهی تن بیحجاب ** همچو موسی نور مه یابد ز جیب
These virtues possessed by the water bear witness likewise that its interior is filled with the grace of God.235
این هنرها آب را هم شاهدست ** که اندرونش پر ز لطف ایزدست
The testimony of external acts and words to the hidden mind and the inner light.
گواهی فعل و قول بیرونی بر ضمیر و نور اندرونی
Act and word are witnesses to the hidden mind: from these twain infer the inward state.
فعل و قول آمد گواهان ضمیر ** زین دو بر باطن تو استدلال گیر
When your thought does not penetrate within, inspect the patient's urine from without.
چون ندارد سیر سرت در درون ** بنگر اندر بول رنجور از برون
Act and word are (as) the urine of the sick, which is clear evidence for the physician of the body.
فعل و قول آن بول رنجوران بود ** که طبیب جسم را برهان بود
But the spiritual physician enters into his (patient's) soul and by the spiritual way penetrates into his (inmost) belief.
وآن طبیب روح در جانش رود ** وز ره جان اندر ایمانش رود
He hath no need of fine acts and words: “beware of them (the spiritual physicians), they are spies on (men's) hearts.”240
حاجتش ناید به فعل و قول خوب ** احذروهم هم جواسیس القلوب
Demand this testimony of acts and words from him (only) who is not united with the Sea like a river.
این گواه فعل و قول از وی بجو ** کو به دریا نیست واصل همچو جو
Explaining that the light itself from within the illumined person bears witness to his light, without any act or word declaring it.
در بیان آنک نور خود از اندرون شخص منور بیآنک فعلی و قولی بیان کند گواهی دهد بر نور وی در بیان آنک آننور خود را از اندرون سر عارف ظاهر کند بر خلقان بیفعل عارف و بیقول عارف افزون از آنک به قول و فعل او ظاهر شود چنانک آفتاب بلند شود بانگ خروس و اعلام مذن و علامات دیگر حاجت نیاید
But the (inner) light of the traveller (mystic) who has passed beyond the pale (of selfhood)—the deserts and plains are filled with his radiance.
لیک نور سالکی کز حد گذشت ** نور او پر شد بیابانها و دشت
(The fact of) his being a witness (to God) is independent of witnesses and works of supererogation and of self-devotion and self-sacrifice.
شاهدیاش فارغ آمد از شهود ** وز تکلفها و جانبازی و جود
Since the light of that (spiritual) substance has shone forth, he has gained independence of these hypocrisies.
نور آن گوهر چو بیرون تافتست ** زین تسلسها فراغت یافتست
Therefore do not demand of him the testimony of act and speech, for through him both the worlds have blossomed like a rose.245
پس مجو از وی گواه فعل و گفت ** که ازو هر دو جهان چون گل شکفت
What is this testimony? The making manifest of that which is hidden, whether (by) word or act or something else;
این گواهی چیست اظهار نهان ** خواه قول و خواه فعل و غیر آن
For its object is to make manifest the inward nature of the spiritual substance: the attributes (of that substance) are permanent, though these accidents (such as acts and words) are fleeting.
که عرض اظهار سر جوهرست ** وصف باقی وین عرض بر معبرست
The mark of the gold on the touchstone does not remain, (but) the gold (itself) remains—of good renown and undoubted.
این نشان زر نماند بر محک ** زر بماند نیک نام و بی ز شک
Similarly, (all) this ritual prayer and holy war and fasting does not remain, but the spirit remains in good renown (for ever).
این صلات و این جهاد و این صیام ** هم نماند جان بماند نیکنام
The spirit produced certain acts and words of this kind (as proofs): it rubbed its substance on the touchstone of the (Divine) command,250
جان چنین افعال و اقوالی نمود ** بر محک امر جوهر را بسود
As though to say, “My belief is perfect: here is the witness!” (Yes), but there is doubt as regards the witnesses.