When the rod drank water (was imbued with the influence of the Light) from the hand of Moses, it made one mouthful of Pharaoh's empire.
چون عصا از دست موسی آب خورد ** ملکت فرعون را یک لقمه کرد
When Jesus, the son of Mary, found its ladder, he sped to the topmost height of the Fourth Dome (of Heaven).920
نردبانش عیسی مریم چو یافت ** بر فراز گنبد چارم شتافت
When Mohammed gained that Kingdom and Felicity, he in a moment clave the disk of the moon in two halves.
چون محمد یافت آن ملک و نعیم ** قرص مه را کرد او در دم دو نیم
When Abú Bakr became a signal example of (God's) favour, he became the Companion of such a King (as Mohammed) and (received the name) Siddíq.
چون ابو بکر آیت توفیق شد ** با چنان شه صاحب و صدیق شد
When ‘Umar became distraught with that Beloved, he became a Fárúq (discerner), like the heart, between truth and falsehood.
چون عمر شیدای آن معشوق شد ** حق و باطل را چو دل فاروق شد
When ‘Uthmán became the fountain of that clear (Essence), he was light overflowing and became Dhu ’l-Núrayn (Lord of the Two Lights).
چون که عثمان آن عیان را عین گشت ** نور فایض بود و ذی النورین گشت
When at (the sight of) its countenance Murtazá (‘Alí) began to scatter pearls (of spiritual truth), he became the Lion of God in the pasture of the soul.925
چون ز رویش مرتضی شد در فشان ** گشت او شیر خدا درمرج جان
When Junayd received that support (which he received) from its army, his maqámát (stages of progress in the mystical life) became innumerable.
چون جنید از جند او دید آن مدد ** خود مقاماتش فزون شد از عدد
Báyazíd saw the way into its superabundance, and heard from God (heard God bestow upon him) the name, “Pole of the Gnostics.”
بایزید اندر مزیدش راه دید ** نام قطب العارفین از حق شنید
When Karkhí became the guard of its city, he became the vicar of (Divine) love and inspired by the Divine breath.
چون که کرخی کرخ او را شد حرص ** شد خلیفهی عشق و ربانی نفس
The son of Adham joyously rode his steed towards it, and became the supreme sovereign of justice.
پور ادهم مرکب آن سو راند شاد ** گشت او سلطان سلطانان داد
And that (famous) Shaqíq by cleaving (traversing) that venerable Way became a sun of (clear) judgement and keen-sighted.930
و آن شقیق از شق آن راه شگرف ** گشت او خورشید رای و تیز طرف
Hundreds of thousands of hidden (spiritual) kings are holding their heads high (in the region) beyond this world;
صد هزاران پادشاهان نهان ** سر فرازانند ز آن سوی جهان
Because of God's jealousy their names remained hidden: every beggar did not pronounce their names.
نامشان از رشک حق پنهان بماند ** هر گدایی نامشان را بر نخواند
By the truth of that Light and by the truth of those illumined ones who are as fishes in that Sea—
حق آن نور و حق نورانیان ** کاندر آن بحرند همچون ماهیان
’Tis not fitting if I call it the Sea of the Soul and the Soul of the Sea: I am seeking a new name for it;—
بحر جان و جان بحر ار گویمش ** نیست لایق نام نو میجویمش
By the truth of that That from which this and that are (derived), and in relation to which (all) kernels are (as) rinds,935
حق آن آنی که این و آن از اوست ** مغزها نسبت بدو باشد چو پوست
(I swear) that the (good) qualities of my fellow-servant and friend exceed my description (of them) a hundredfold.
که صفات خواجهتاش و یار من ** هست صد چندان که این گفتار من
That which I know of the (spiritual) endowments of that comrade (of mine) would not be believed by thee: what shall I say, O noble (king)?”
آن چه میدانم ز وصف آن ندیم ** باورت ناید چه گویم ای کریم
The King said, “Now speak of your own (case); how long will you speak of what concerns this or that one?
شاه گفت اکنون از آن خود بگو ** چند گویی آن این و آن او
What do you possess and what have you gained? What pearls have you fetched from the bottom of the Sea?
تو چه داری و چه حاصل کردهای ** از تگ دریا چه در آوردهای
On the day of death this sense-perception of yours will vanish: have you the spiritual light that should be the companion of your heart?940
روز مرگ این حس تو باطل شود ** نور جان داری که یار دل شود
When dust shall fill these eyes in the tomb, have you that which will make the grave bright?
در لحد کاین چشم را خاک آگند ** هستت آن چه گور را روشن کند
At the time when your hands and feet shall be torn in shreds, have you wings and plumes that your spirit may fly aloft?
آن زمان که دست و پایت بر درد ** پر و بالت هست تا جان بر پرد
At the time when this animal soul is no more, it behoves you to set the everlasting spirit in its place.
آن زمان کاین جان حیوانی نماند ** جان باقی بایدت بر جا نشاند
The stipulation of (implied in) he that comes with good (shall be rewarded tenfold) does not consist in doing (good); it consists in bringing this good to the presence of God.
شرط من جا بالحسن نه کردن است ** این حسن را سوی حضرت بردن است
You have a substance (essence) human or asinine (bestial): (bring that to God): how can you bring (to Him) these accidents (of word or deed) which have passed away?945
جوهری داری ز انسان یا خری ** این عرضها که فنا شد چون بری
As regards these accidents of prayer and fasting—since (that which) does not endure for two moments becomes naught—
این عرضهای نماز و روزه را ** چون که لا یبقی زمانین انتفی
’Tis impossible to carry over the accidents (into another state); but they (may) take away diseases (defects) from the substance,
نقل نتوان کرد مر اعراض را ** لیک از جوهر برند امراض را
So that the substance becomes changed by means of this accident, as when disease is removed by abstinence.
تا مبدل گشت جوهر زین عرض ** چون ز پرهیزی که زایل شد مرض
By exertion abstinence, (which is) the accident, becomes the substance: through abstinence the acrid mouth becomes (sweet as) honey.
گشت پرهیز عرض جوهر به جهد ** شد دهان تلخ از پرهیز شهد
Land, through sowing, is turned into ears of corn; remedies for the hair turn the hair into chains (make it long and curly).950
از زراعت خاکها شد سنبله ** داروی مو کرد مو را سلسله
Conjugal intercourse was the accident; it passed away, and the substance, (which is) the child, was produced from us.
آن نکاح زن عرض بد شد فنا ** جوهر فرزند حاصل شد ز ما
The mating of horse or camel is the accident; the object is the birth of the colt, (which is) the substance.
جفت کردن اسب و اشتر را عرض ** جوهر کره بزاییدن غرض
Similarly, the planting of the garden is the accident; the produce (of the garden) became the substance: take ( it and) behold the object!
هست آن بستان نشاندن هم عرض ** گشت جوهر کشت بستان نک غرض
Regard, also, the practice of alchemy as the accident; if a substance is produced by that alchemy, bring (it into view).
هم عرض دان کیمیا بردن بکار ** جوهری ز آن کیمیا گر شد بیار
Burnishing is the accident, O prince; from this accident is born the substance, purity.955
صیقلی کردن عرض باشد شها ** زین عرض جوهر همیزاید صفا
Do not say, then, ‘I have done deeds’; show the income (fruit) of those accidents, do not evade (my request).
پس مگو که من عملها کردهام ** دخل آن اعراض را بنما مرم
This attribution of qualities is (only) an accident. Be silent: do not kill for sacrifice the goat's shadow!”
این صفت کردن عرض باشد خمش ** سایهی بز را پی قربان مکش
The slave said, “O King, the mind cannot but despair if you say that accidents are not carried over.
گفت شاها بیقنوط عقل نیست ** گر تو فرمایی عرض را نقل نیست
O King, there is nothing but despair for the servant (of God), if the accident that has gone is not coming back.
پادشاها جز که یاس بنده نیست ** گر عرض کان رفت باز آینده نیست
If there were no carrying over and resurrection of accidents, action would be vain and words (mere) babble.960
گر نبودی مر عرض را نقل و حشر ** فعل بودی باطل و اقوال فشر
These accidents are carried over in another guise: the resurrection of everything mortal is another (mode of) existence.
این عرضها نقل شد لونی دگر ** حشر هر فانی بود کونی دگر
The carrying over of everything is just as befits it: what befits the herd is its drover.
نقل هر چیزی بود هم لایقش ** لایق گله بود هم سایقش
At the time of the Resurrection every accident has a (particular) form, and the form of every accident has a turn (of appearing before God).
وقت محشر هر عرض را صورتی است ** صورت هر یک عرض را نوبتی است
Look on thyself. Wert not thou an accident—the movement of copulation, and copulation with a purpose?
بنگر اندر خود نه تو بودی عرض ** جنبش جفتی و جفتی با غرض
Look on houses and edifices: they were as tales in the (mind of) the architect.965
بنگر اندر خانه و کاشانهها ** در مهندس بود چون افسانهها
Such-and-such a house, which seemed to us beautiful, of which the hall, roof, and door were well-proportioned—
آن فلان خانه که ما دیدیم خوش ** بود موزون صفه و سقف و درش
(’Twas) the accident (design) and ideas (proceeding) from the architect (that) brought the tools (into existence) and the pillars (which come) from the forests.
از مهندس آن عرض و اندیشهها ** آلت آورد و ستون از بیشهها
What but some fancy and accident and idea is the origin and source of every handicraft?
چیست اصل و مایهی هر پیشهای ** جز خیال و جز عرض و اندیشهای