بخش 212 - ملاقات آن عاشق با صدر جهان

The man of Bukhárá also cast himself upon candle: because of his passion that suffering had become ea to him.

His burning sighs went up to heaven: kindness (for him) came into the heart of the Sadr-i Jahán,

(Who) said, (communing) with himself at dawn, “O (Thou who art) One, how fareth that distraught wanderer of Ours?

He committed a sin, and We saw (it), but he was not well acquainted with Our mercy.

The sinner’s heart becomes afraid of Us, but in his fear there are a hundred hopes.

I frighten the impudent man who has lost the (right) way: why should I frighten him who is afraid?

Fire is used for the cold pot, not for that (pot) which is boiling over.

I frighten the unafraid by (My) knowledge; I take away the fear of the afraid by (My) clemency.

I am a patcher: I put the patch in (its proper) place; I give drink to every one in due measure.”

A man’s inmost consciousness is like the root of a tree; hence his leaves grow from the hard wood.

The leaves grow according to the root, in the tree and in souls and in minds.

From the trees of faithfulness there are wings (that soar) to heaven its root is fast (in the earth), and its branch is in the sky.

Since through love grew the wing (that soars) to heaven, how should it not grow in the heart of the adr-i Jahan?

Forgiveness of the sin was surging in his heart, for as much as there is a window from each heart to (every other) heart;

For assuredly there is a window from heart to heart: they are not separate and far (from each other), like two bodies.

The earthenware (basins) of two lamps are not joined, but their light is mingled in (its) passage.

No lover, in sooth, is seeking union without his loved one seeking him;

But the love of lovers makes the body (thin as) a bowstring, (while) the love of loved ones makes it comely and fat.

When the lightning of love for the beloved has shot into this heart, know that there is love in that heart.

When love for God has been doubled in thy heart, without any doubt God hath love for thee.

No sound of clapping comes forth from one hand of thine without the other hand.

The thirsty man is moaning, “O delicious water!” The water moans too, saying, “Where is the water-drinker?”

This thirst in our souls is the attraction exerted by the Water: we are Its, and It is ours.

The Wisdom of God in destiny and in decree made us lovers of one another.

Because of that fore-ordainment all the particles of the world re paired as mates and are in love with their own mate.

Every particle of the universe is desiring its mate, just like amber and the blade of straw.

Heaven says to the earth, “Welcome! To thee I am (in the same relation) as the iron and the magnet.”

In (the view of) the intellect, heaven is man and the earth woman: whatever that (heaven) casts forth this (earth) fosters

When it (the earth) hath no heat remaining, it (heaven) sends it; when no freshness and moisture remains, it bestows it.

The terrene sign (of the zodiac) is (supplying) replenishment to the dust of the earth; the aqueous sign produces freshness therein;

The aerial sign wafts the clouds towards it, that they may sweep away the pestilential vapours;

The fiery sign is the source of the sun’s heat, (which is) like a frying-pan (made) red-hot, back and front, by fire.

Heaven is turning giddily in (the world of) Time, like men (prowling) around (in search of) gain for the wife’s sake;

And this earth practises housewiferies : it attends to births and to suckling that (which it bears).

Therefore regard earth and heaven as endowed with intelligence, since they do the work of intelligent beings.

Unless these two sweethearts are tasting (delight) from one another, then why are they creeping together like mates?

Without the earth how should roses and arghawan-flowers grow? What, then, would be born of the water and heat of heaven?

The desire (implanted) in the female for the male is to the end that they may perfect each other’s work.

God put desire in man and woman in order that the world! should be preserved by this

union.

lie also implants the desire of every part for another part: from the union of both an act of generation results. Likewise night and day are in mutual embrace: (they are) different in appearance, but (are really) in agreement.

Day and night, outwardly, are two contraries and enemies, but they both attend on one truth—

Each desiring the other, like kinsfolk, for the sake of perfecting their action and work.

(Both serve one purpose) because, without night, the nature t (of man) would receive no income: what, then, should the days expend?