Among those innumerable ranks plunged in the light of ‘We are they that stand in line.’”
اندر آن صفها ز اندازه برون ** غرقگان نور نحن الصافون
When the discourse reached the description of this (exalted) state, at once the pen broke and the paper tore.4195
چون سخن در وصف این حالت رسید ** هم قلم بشکست و هم کاغذ درید
Did any saucer measure the sea? Did a lamb ever carry off a lion?
بحر را پیمود هیچ اسکره‌ای ** شیر را برداشت هرگز بره‌ای
If you are veiled, go forth from enveilment, that you may behold the marvellous sovereignty (of God).
گر حجابستت برون رو ز احتجاب ** تا ببینی پادشاهی عجاب
Although the drunken fellows broke Thy cup, (yet) there is an excuse for him that is intoxicated by Thee.
گرچه بشکستند حامت قوم مست ** آنک مست از تو بود عذریش هست
Is not their intoxication with fortune and riches (the result) of Thy wine, O Thou whose actions are sweet?
مستی ایشان به اقبال و به مال ** نه ز باده‌ی تست ای شیرین فعال
O Emperor, they are intoxicated with Thy election (of them): pardon him that is intoxicated with Thee, O Pardoner!4200
ای شهنشه مست تخصیص توند ** عفو کن از مست خود ای عفومند
The delight of being elected (singled out) by Thee at the moment of Thy addressing them has an effect that is not produced by a hundred jars of wine.
لذت تخصیص تو وقت خطاب ** آن کند که ناید از صد خم شراب
Since Thou hast intoxicated me, do not inflict a penalty: the Law does not see fit to inflict a penalty on the intoxicated.
چونک مستم کرده‌ای حدم مزن ** شرع مستان را نبیند حد زدن
Inflict it (only) at the time when I become sober; for indeed I shall never become sober (again).
چون شوم هشیار آنگاهم بزن ** که نخواهم گشت خود هشیار من
Whoso has drunk of Thy cup, O Gracious One, is for ever delivered from self consciousness and from the infliction of penalties.
هرکه از جام تو خورد ای ذوالمنن ** تا ابد رست از هش و از حد زدن
Their intoxication consists in a state of unconsciousness of self (faná), (in which they are) abiding for ever: he that passes away from self in love for Thee will not arise.4205
خالدین فی فناء سکرهم ** من تفانی فی هواکم لم یقم
Thy grace saith to our heart, “Go, O thou who hast become in pawn to the buttermilk of My love.
فضل تو گوید دل ما را که رو ** ای شده در دوغ عشق ما گرو
Thou hast fallen, like a gnat, into My buttermilk: O gnat, thou art not intoxicated, thou art the wine (itself).
چون مگس در دوغ ما افتاده‌ای ** تو نه‌ای مست ای مگس تو باده‌ای
O gnat, the vultures become intoxicated by thee, when thou ridest on the ocean of honey.
کرگسان مست از تو گردند ای مگس ** چونک بر بحر عسل رانی فرس
The mountains are tipsy with thee (and dance) like motes; the point and the compass and the line are in thy hand (control).
کوهها چون ذره‌ها سرمست تو ** نقطه و پرگار و خط در دست تو
The torment at which they tremble is trembling at thee: every costly pearl is cheap to thee.”4210
فتنه که لرزند ازو لرزان تست ** هر گران‌قیمت گهر ارزان تست
If God gave me five hundred mouths, I would sing in description (praise) of thee, O (my) soul and world;
گر خدا دادی مرا پانصد دهان ** گفتمی شرح تو ای جان و جهان
(But) I have (only) one mouth, and even that one is crushed with shame before thee, O knower of the mystery.
یک دهان دارم من آن هم منکسر ** در خجالت از تو ای دانای سر
In sooth I am not more crushed than non-existence, from the mouth of which (all) these peoples have come (forth).
منکسرتر خود نباشم از عدم ** کز دهانش آمدستند این امم
A hundred thousand impressions of the Unseen World are waiting to spring forth graciously and kindly from non-existence.
صد هزار آثار غیبی منتظر ** کز عدم بیرون جهد با لطف و بر
Because of thy urgency my head is reeling: oh, I am dead in the presence of that bounty.4215
از تقاضای تو می‌گردد سرم ** ای ببرده من به پیش آن کرم
Our desire (for thee) arises from thy urgency: wherever there is a wayfarer, ’tis the pull of God (that draws him on).
رغبت ما از تقاضای توست ** جذبه‌ی حقست هر جا ره‌روست
Does the dust leap upward without a wind? Does a ship voyage without the sea?
خاک بی‌بادی به بالا بر جهد ** کشتی بی‌بحر پا در ره نهد
None (ever) died in the presence of the Water of Life: compared with thy water the Water of Life is (mere) dregs.