Since (’twas for us that) He was producing the sky from non-existence and spreading this carpet of earth,3135
چون همی کرد از عدم گردون پدید ** وین بساط خاک را می‌گسترید
And making lamps of the stars, and of the (four) natural properties a lock together with the keys (to open it).
ز اختران می‌ساخت او مصباح‌ها ** وز طبایع قفل با مفتاح‌ها
Oh, how many structures hidden (from sight) and plain to see has He enclosed in this roof (heaven) and this carpet (earth)!
ای بسا بنیادها پنهان و فاش ** مضمر این سقف کرد و این فراش
Adam is the astrolabe of the attributes of (Divine) Sublimity: the nature of Adam is the theatre for His revelations.
آدم اصطرلاب اوصاف علوست ** وصف آدم مظهر آیات اوست
Whatever appears in him (Adam) is the reflexion of Him, just as the moon is reflected in the water of the river.
هرچه در وی می‌نماید عکس اوست ** هم‌چو عکس ماه اندر آب جوست
The figures (cut) on the “spider” (uppermost tablet) on his astrolabe are there for the sake of (typifying) the Eternal Attributes,3140
بر صطرلابش نقوش عنکبوت ** بهر اوصاف ازل دارد ثبوت
In order that its “spider” may give lessons in exposition of the sky of the Unseen and the sun of the Spirit.
تا ز چرخ غیب وز خورشید روح ** عنکبوتش درس گوید از شروح
Without a (spiritual) astronomer (to explain their significance), the “spider” and this astrolabe which guides aright fall (uselessly) into the hands of the vulgar.
عنکبوت و این صطرلاب رشاد ** بی‌منجم در کف عام اوفتاد
God bestowed (knowledge of) this (spiritual) astronomy on the prophets: for (the mysteries of) the Unseen an eye that observes the Unseen is necessary.
انبیا را داد حق تنجیم این ** غیب را چشمی بباید غیب‌بین
These (worldly) generations fell into the well of the present world: every one saw in the well his own reflexion.
در چه دنیا فتادند این قرون ** عکس خود را دید هر یک چه درون
Know that what appears to you in the well is (really) from outside; else you are (like) the lion that plunged into the well (and was drowned).3145
از برون دان آنچ در چاهت نمود ** ورنه آن شیری که در چه شد فرود
A hare led him astray, saying, “O such-and-such, this furious lion (thy rival) is at the bottom of the well.
برد خرگوشیش از ره کای فلان ** در تگ چاهست آن شیر ژیان
Go into the well and wreak vengeance on him: tear off his head, since thou art mightier than he.”
در رو اندر چاه کین از وی بکش ** چون ازو غالب‌تری سر بر کنش
That (blind) follower of authority was subjugated by the hare: he was filled with boiling (fury) by his own fancy.
آن مقلد سخره‌ی خرگوش شد ** از خیال خویشتن پر جوش شد
He did not say, “This image is not produced by the water: this is not (produced) by anything except the changing activity of the (Divine) Changer.”
او نگفت این نقش داد آب نیست ** این به جز تقلیب آن قلاب نیست
So when you, O slave to the six (directions), wreak vengeance on your enemy you are in error concerning all the six.3150
تو هم از دشمن چو کینی می‌کشی ** ای زبون شش غلط در هر ششی
That enmity in him (your enemy) is reflected from God, for it is derived from the (Divine) attributes of Wrath (which are manifested) there;
آن عداوت اندرو عکس حقست ** کز صفات قهر آنجا مشتقست
And that sin in him is homogeneous with your sin: you must wash that (evil) disposition out of your own nature.
وآن گنه در وی ز جنس جرم تست ** باید آن خو را ز طبع خویش شست
Your evil character showed itself to you in him because he was (like) the surface of a mirror to you.
خلق زشتت اندرو رویت نمود ** که ترا او صفحه‌ی آیینه بود
When you have seen your ugliness in the mirror, O Hasan, do not strike (a blow) at the mirror!
چونک قبح خویش دیدی ای حسن ** اندر آیینه بر آیینه مزن
A lofty star is reflected in the water, and you cast earth on the star's reflexion,3155
می‌زند بر آب استاره‌ی سنی ** خاک تو بر عکس اختر می‌زنی
Saying, “This unlucky star has come into the water to overthrow my good luck.”
کین ستاره‌ی نحس در آب آمدست ** تا کند او سعد ما را زیردست
You pour upon it the earth of subjection, because on account of the resemblance you deem it to be the star (itself).
(When) the reflexion becomes hidden (from sight) and disappears, you think that the star is no more;
عکس پنهان گشت و اندر غیب راند ** تو گمان بردی که آن اختر نماند
(But) the unlucky star is in the sky: ’tis in that quarter it must be cured (of its ill-luck);
آن ستاره‌ی نحس هست اندر سما ** هم بدان سو بایدش کردن دوا
Nay, you must fix your heart on that which is quarterless (illimitable); the ill-luck in this quarter is (only) the reflexion of the ill-luck in the realm where no quarters exist.3160
بلک باید دل سوی بی‌سوی بست ** نحس این سو عکس نحس بی‌سو است
Know that (all) gifts are the gift of God and are His bounty: ’tis the reflexion of those gifts that appears in (the world of) the five (senses) and the six (directions).
داد داد حق شناس و بخششش ** عکس آن دادست اندر پنج و شش
Though the gifts of the base (worldlings) be more (in number) than the sands, (yet) you will die and they will be left behind as an inheritance.
گر بود داد خسان افزون ز ریگ ** تو بمیری وآن بماند مردریگ
After all, how long does a reflexion remain in view? Make a practice of contemplating the origin (of the reflexion), O you who look awry.
عکس آخر چند پاید در نظر ** اصل بینی پیشه کن ای کژنگر
When God bestows bounty on those who supplicate Him in their need, together with His gift He bestows on them a long life.
حق چو بخشش کرد بر اهل نیاز ** با عطا بخشیدشان عمر دراز
(Both) the benefit and the beneficiary are made enduring for ever. ’Tis He that brings the dead to life, so repair unto Him.3165
خالدین شد نعمت و منعم علیه ** محیی الموتاست فاجتازوا الیه
The gifts of God are mingled with you like the spirit, in such wise that you are they and they are you.
داد حق با تو در آمیزد چو جان ** آنچنان که آن تو باشی و تو آن
If you have no more appetite for bread and water, He will give you goodly nourishment without these twain.
گر نماند اشتهای نان و آب ** بدهدت بی این دو قوت مستطاب
If your fatness is gone, God will give you from yonder a (spiritual) fatness concealed in (bodily) leanness.
فربهی گر رفت حق در لاغری ** فربهی پنهانت بخشد آن سری
Since He gives the peri nourishment from scent and gives every angel nourishment from spirit,
چون پری را قوت از بو می‌دهد ** هر ملک را قوت جان او می‌دهد
What is the (animal) soul that you should make a support of (should rely upon) it? God will make you living by His love.3170
جان چه باشد که تو سازی زو سند ** حق به عشق خویش زنده‌ت می‌کند
Ask of Him the life of love and do not ask for the (animal) soul: ask of Him that (spiritual) provision and do not ask for bread.
زو حیات عشق خواه و جان مخواه ** تو ازو آن رزق خواه و نان مخواه
Know that (the world of) created beings is like pure and limpid water in which the attributes of the Almighty are shining.
خلق را چون آب دان صاف و زلال ** اندر آن تابان صفات ذوالجلال
Their knowledge and their justice and their clemency are like a star of heaven (reflected) in running water.
علمشان و عدلشان و لطفشان ** چون ستاره‌ی چرخ در آب روان
Kings are the theatre for the manifestation of God's kingship; the learned (divines) are the mirrors for God's wisdom.
پادشاهان مظهر شاهی حق ** فاضلان مرآت آگاهی حق
Generations have passed away, and this is a new generation: the moon is the same moon, the water is not the same water.3175
قرنها بگذشت و این قرن نویست ** ماه آن ماهست آب آن آب نیست
The justice is the same justice, and the learning is the same learning too; but those generations and peoples have been changed (supplanted by others).
عدل آن عدلست و فضل آن فضل هم ** لیک مستبدل شد آن قرن و امم
Generations on generations have gone, O sire, but these Ideas (Divine attributes) are permanent and everlasting.
قرنها بر قرنها رفت ای همام ** وین معانی بر قرار و بر دوام
The water in this channel has been changed many times: the reflexion of the moon and of the stars remains unaltered.
آن مبدل شد درین جو چند بار ** عکس ماه و عکس اختر بر قرار
Therefore its foundation is not in the running water; nay, but in the regions of the breadth (wide expanse) of Heaven.
پس بنااش نیست بر آب روان ** بلک بر اقطار عرض آسمان
These attributes are like Ideal stars: know that they are stablished in the sphere of the Ideas (Realities).3180
این صفتها چون نجوم معنویست ** دانک بر چرخ معانی مستویست
The beauteous are the mirror of His beauty: love for them is the reflexion of the desire of which He is the (real) object.
خوب‌رویان آینه‌ی خوبی او ** عشق ایشان عکس مطلوبی او
This cheek and mole goes (back) to the Source thereof: how should a phantom continue in the water for ever?
هم به اصل خود رود این خد و خال ** دایما در آب کی ماند خیال
The whole sum of pictured forms (phenomena) is a (mere) reflexion in the water of the river: when you rub your eye, (you will perceive that) all of them are really He.
جمله تصویرات عکس آب جوست ** چون بمالی چشم خود خود جمله اوست
Again, his (the debtor's) reason said (to him), “Abandon this seeing double: vinegar is grape-syrup and grape-syrup is vinegar.
باز عقلش گفت بگذار این حول ** خل دوشابست و دوشابست خل