All this conditionality is tossing like foam on the surface of the unconditioned Sea.
این همه چون و چگونه چون زبد ** بر سر دریای بیچون میطپد
In its (the Sea’s) essence and action there is neither opposite nor like: by it (alone) are (all) existences clothed in robes (of existence).
ضد و ندش نیست در ذات و عمل ** زان بپوشیدند هستیها حلل
How should an opposite bestow being and existence on its opposite? Nay, it flees and escapes from it.
ضد ضد را بود و هستی کی دهد ** بلک ازو بگریزد و بیرون جهد
What is (the meaning of) nidd? The like (mithl) of (something) good or bad. How should a like make its own like?1620
ند چه بود مثل مثل نیک و بد ** مثل مثل خویشتن را کی کند
When there are two likes, O God-fearing man, why should this one be more fit than that one for (the purpose of) creating?
چونک دو مثل آمدند ای متقی ** این چه اولیتر از آن در خالقی
Opposites and likes, in number as the leaves of the orchard, are (but) as a flake of foam on the Sea that hath no like or opposite.
بر شمار برگ بستان ند و ضد ** چون کفی بر بحر بیضدست و ند
Perceive that the victory and defeat of the Sea are unconditioned: how, (then), should there be room for conditionality in the essence of the Sea?
بیچگونه بین تو برد و مات بحر ** چون چگونه گنجد اندر ذات بحر
Your soul is the least of its playthings; (yet) how can the quality and description of the soul be ascertained?
کمترین لعبت او جان تست ** این چگونه و چون جان کی شد درست
Such a Sea, then, with every drop whereof the intellect and the spirit are more unfamiliar than the body—1625
پس چنان بحری که در هر قطر آن ** از بدن ناشیتر آمد عقل و جان
How should it be contained in the narrow room of quantity and quality? There (even) Universal Reason is one of the ignorant.
کی بگنجد در مضیق چند و چون ** عقل کل آنجاست از لا یعلمون
Reason says to the body, ‘O lifeless thing, hast thou ever had a scent of the Sea whither all return?’
عقل گوید مر جسد را که ای جماد ** بوی بردی هیچ از آن بحر معاد
The body replies, ‘Assuredly I am thy shadow: who would seek help from a shadow, O soul of thy uncle?’
جسم گوید من یقین سایهی توم ** یاری از سایه که جوید جان عم
Reason says, ‘This is the house of bewilderment, not a house where the worthy is bolder than the unworthy.’
عقل گوید کین نه آن حیرت سراست ** که سزا گستاختر از ناسزاست
Here the resplendent sun pays homage to the mote, like a menial.1630
اندرینجا آفتاب انوری ** خدمت ذره کند چون چاکری
In this quarter the lion lays his head (in submission) before the deer; here the falcon lays (droops) his wings before the partridge.
شیر این سو پیش آهو سر نهد ** باز اینجا نزد تیهو پر نهد
(If) you cannot believe this, (then) how is it that Mustafá (Mohammed) seeks a blessing from the lowly poor?
این ترا باور نیاید مصطفی ** چون ز مسکینان همیجوید دعا
If you reply that it was for the purpose of teaching (his followers) in what respect was his leaving them in absolute ignorance (of the reason for his action) a means of causing them to understand?
گر بگویی از پی تعلیم بود ** عین تجهیل از چه رو تفهیم بود
Nay, but he knows that the King deposits the royal treasure in ruined places.
بلک میداند که گنج شاهوار ** در خرابیها نهد آن شهریار
Evil thought (about the saint) are (due to) his presenting an appearance contrary to the reality, though (in fact) every part of him is his spy (informing him of Divine mysteries).1635
بدگمانی نعل معکوس ویست ** گرچه هر جزویش جاسوس ویست
Nay, the Truth is absorbed in the Truth; hence seventy, nay, a hundred sects have arisen.
بل حقیقت در حقیقت غرقه شد ** زین سبب هفتاد بل صد فرقه شد
(Now) I will talk to you of maters indifferent. Hark, O Súfí, open your spiritual ear very wide
با تو قلماشیت خواهم گفت هان ** صوفیا خوش پهن بگشا گوش جان
Whatever blow may come to you from Heaven, always be expecting (to receive) a gift of honour after it;
مر ترا هم زخم که آید ز آسمان ** منتظر میباش خلعت بعد آن
For He is not the king to slap you and then not give you a crown and a throne on which to recline.
کو نه آن شاهست کت سیلی زند ** پس نبخشد تاج و تخت مستند
The whole world has (but) the value of a gnat’s wing; (but) for one slap there is an infinite reward.1640
جمله دنیا را پر پشه بها ** سیلیی را رشوت بیمنتها
Nimbly slip your neck out of this golden collar, (which is) the world, and take the slaps (that come) from God.
گردنت زین طوق زرین جهان ** چست در دزد و ز حق سیلی ستان