You regard (only) the branch, you are unaware of the root: we are the branch, the ordinances of the (Divine) decree are the root.”
ناظر فرعی ز اصلی بیخبر ** فرع ماییم اصل احکام قدر
The (Divine) destiny causes the rolling sphere (of heaven) to lose its way; the (Divine) destiny makes a hundred Mercuries to be ignorant;
چرخ گردان را قضا گمره کند ** صدعطارد را قضا ابله کند
It makes the world of (our) contrivance to be straitened; it makes iron and hard rock to be (unresisting as) water.
تنگ گرداند جهان چاره را ** آب گرداند حدید و خاره را
O thou who hast resolved upon the way (thou wilt go), step by step, thou art the rawest of the raw, the rawest of the raw, the rawest of the raw.
ای قراری داده ره را گام گام ** خام خامی خام خامی خام خام
Since thou hast seen the revolution of the millstone, come now, see also the water of the river.2900
چون بدیدی گردش سنگ آسیا ** آب جو را هم ببین آخر بیا
Thou hast seen the dust rise into the air: amidst the dust see the wind.
خاک را دیدی برآمد در هوا ** در میان خاک بنگر باد را
Thou seest the kettles of thought boiling: look with intelligence on the fire too.
دیگهای فکر میبینی به جوش ** اندر آتش هم نظر میکن به هوش
God said to Job, “I have graciously bestowed a (gift of) patience upon every hair of thee.
گفت حق ایوب را در مکرمت ** من بهر موییت صبری دادمت
Hark, do not pay so much regard to thy patience: thou hast seen (thy) patience, (now) look at (My) giving (thee) patience.”
هین به صبر خود مکن چندین نظر ** صبر دیدی صبر دادن را نگر
How long wilt thou behold the revolution of the water-wheel? Put forth thy head and behold the rapid water (that turns it).2905
چند بینی گردش دولاب را ** سر برون کن هم ببین تیز آب را
Thou wilt say, “I am beholding it”; but there are many good signs of (really) beholding it.
تو همیگویی که میبینم ولیک ** دید آن را بس علامتهاست نیک
When thou hast taken a summary view of the circling movement of the foam, look upon the Sea if thou wantest (to feel) bewilderment.
گردش کف را چو دیدی مختصر ** حیرتت باید به دریا در نگر
He that regards the foam tells of the mystery, while he that regards the Sea is bewildered.
آنک کف را دید سر گویان بود ** وانک دریا دید او حیران بود
He that regards the foam forms intentions, while he that regards the Sea makes his heart (one with) the Sea.
آنک کف را دید نیتها کند ** وانک دریا دید دل دریا کند
He that regards the foam-flakes is (engaged) in reckoning (and calculation), while he that regards the Sea is without (conscious) volition.2910
آنک کفها دید باشد در شمار ** و آنک دریا دید شد بیاختیار
He that regards the foam is in (continual) movement, while he that regards the Sea is devoid of hypocrisy.
آنک او کف دید در گردش بود ** وانک دریا دید او بیغش بود
How a Moslem called a Magian (to accept Islam).
دعوت کردن مسلمان مغ را
A certain man said to a Magian, “O such-and-such, hark, become a Moslem, be one of the true believers!”
مر مغی را گفت مردی کای فلان ** هین مسلمان شو بباش از مومنان
He replied, “If God will, I shall become a true believer; and if He increase His grace, I shall become possessed of intuitive faith.”
گفت اگر خواهد خدا مومن شوم ** ور فزاید فضل هم موقن شوم
He (the Moslem) said, “God wills thy true belief, in order that thy spirit may be delivered from the hand (power) of Hell;
گفت میخواهد خدا ایمان تو ** تا رهد از دست دوزخ جان تو
But thy ill-omened carnal soul and the wicked Devil are dragging thee towards infidelity and the fire-temple.”2915
لیک نفس نحس و آن شیطان زشت ** میکشندت سوی کفران و کنشت
He replied, “O reasonable man, since they are predominant I shall (necessarily) be on the side of the stronger.
گفت ای منصف چو ایشان غالباند ** یار او باشم که باشد زورمند
I can side (only) with him who is predominant: I (must) fall in the direction to which the predominant one is pulling (me).
یار آن تانم بدن کو غالبست ** آن طرف افتم که غالب جاذبست
Since (according to thy assertion) God was desiring of me a firm belief (in Islam), what is the use of His desire when He does not succeed (in attaining His object)?
چون خدا میخواست از من صدق زفت ** خواست او چه سود چون پیشش نرفت
The carnal soul and the Devil have carried their will to success, while that act of (Divine) favour has been defeated and pulverised.
نفس و شیطان خواست خود را پیش برد ** وآن عنایت قهر گشت و خرد و مرد
(’Tis as if) thou hadst built a palace and pavilion and erected therein a hundred beautiful (ornamental) designs,2920
تو یکی قصر و سرایی ساختی ** اندرو صد نقش خوش افراختی