- (They are) like folk trying to find (the direction of the Ka‘ba) and (each) turning in a certain direction which they fancy is the qibla:
- همچو قومی که تحری میکنند ** بر خیال قبله سویی میتنند
- When at dawn the Ka‘ba appears, it is discovered who has lost the (right) way; 330
- چونک کعبه رو نماید صبحگاه ** کشف گردد که کی گم کردست راه
- Or like divers under the depth of the (sea)-water, every one (of whom) picks up something in haste:
- یا چو غواصان به زیر قعر آب ** هر کسی چیزی همیچیند شتاب
- In hope of (getting) precious jewels and pearls, they fill their bags with that and this;
- بر امید گوهر و در ثمین ** توبره پر میکنند از آن و این
- When they come up from the floor of the deep sea, the possessor of the great pearls is discovered,
- چون بر آیند از تگ دریای ژرف ** کشف گردد صاحب در شگرف
- And (also) the other who got the small pearls, and the other who got (only) pebbles and worthless shells.
- وآن دگر که برد مروارید خرد ** وآن دگر که سنگریزه و شبه برد
- Even thus in the Sáhira (place of Judgement) a shameful overwhelming tribulation will afflict them (the followers of phantasy). 335
- هکذی یبلوهم بالساهره ** فتنة ذات افتضاح قاهره
- Similarly, every class of people in the world are fluttering like moths round a candle.
- همچنین هر قوم چون پروانگان ** گرد شمعی پرزنان اندر جهان
- They attach themselves to a fire and circle round their own candle
- خویشتن بر آتشی برمیزنند ** گرد شمع خود طوافی میکنند
- In the hope of (gaining) the blessed fire of Moses, by the flame whereof the tree is made more green (flourishing).
- بر امید آتش موسی بخت ** کز لهیبش سبزتر گردد درخت
- Every troop (of them) has heard of the excellence of that fire, and all imagine that any spark is that (same fire).
- فضل آن آتش شنیده هر رمه ** هر شرر را آن گمان برده همه
- When the Light of Everlastingness rises at dawn, each (candle) reveals what (manner of) candle it was. 340
- چون برآید صبحدم نور خلود ** وا نماید هر یکی چه شمع بود
- Whosoever's wings were burnt by the candle of victory, that goodly candle bestows on him eighty wings;
- هر کرا پر سوخت زان شمع ظفر ** بدهدش آن شمع خوش هشتاد پر
- (But) beneath the bad candle many a moth, whose eyes were sealed, is left (lying) with burnt wings,
- جوق پروانهی دو دیده دوخته ** مانده زیر شمع بد پر سوخته
- Quivering in sorrow and anguish, lamenting the vain desire that seals the eyes.
- میطپد اندر پشیمانی و سوز ** میکند آه از هوای چشمدوز
- Its candle says (to it), “Since I am burnt, how should I deliver thee from burning (grief) and oppression?”
- شمع او گوید که چون من سوختم ** کی ترا برهانم از سوز و ستم
- Its candle weeps, saying, “My head is consumed: how should I make another resplendent?” 345
- شمع او گریان که من سرسوخته ** چون کنم مر غیر را افروخته
- [Explanation of “Alas for the servants (of God)!”]
- تفسیر یا حسرة علی العباد
- It (the moth) says, “I was deceived by thy (outward) features and (too) late did I regard thy (inward) condition.”
- او همی گوید که از اشکال تو ** غره گشتم دیر دیدم حال تو
- The candle is extinguished, the wine is gone, and the Beloved has withdrawn himself from the disgrace of our squintness.
- شمع مرده باده رفته دلربا ** غوطه خورد از ننگ کژبینی ما
- Thy profits have become a loss and penalty: thou complainest bitterly to God of thy blindness.
- ظلت الارباح خسرا مغرما ** نشتکی شکوی الی الله العمی
- How excellent are the spirits of brethren trustworthy, self-surrendering, believing, obeying!
- حبذا ارواح اخوان ثقات ** مسلمات مومنات قانتات
- Every one (else) has turned his face in some direction, but those holy ones have turned towards that which transcends direction. 350
- هر کسی رویی به سویی بردهاند ** وان عزیزان رو به بیسو کردهاند
- Every (other) pigeon flies on some course, but this pigeon (flies) in a region where no region is.
- هر کبوتر میپرد در مذهبی ** وین کبوتر جانب بیجانبی
- We are neither birds of the air nor domestic (fowls): our grain is the grain of grainlessness.
- ما نه مرغان هوا نه خانگی ** دانهی ما دانهی بیدانگی
- Our daily bread is so ample because our stitching the coat (of bodily existence) has become the tearing (of it to pieces).
- زان فراخ آمد چنین روزی ما ** که دریدن شد قبادوزی ما
- The reason why the name farají was first given to the garment known by that name.
- سبب آنک فرجی را نام فرجی نهادند از اول