بخش 169 - حکمت ویران شدن تن به مرگ

3535 Formerly, like Adam, I was imprisoned in grief; now East and West are filled with my spirit's progeny.

I was a beggar in this dungeon-like house; (now) I have become a king: a palace is needed for a king.”

Truly, palaces are the place for (spiritual) kings to take their pleasure in; for him that is (spiritually) dead a grave is a sufficient house and dwelling.

To the prophets this world seemed narrow: like kings, they went into (the world of) spacelessness.

To the (spiritually) dead this world appears splendid: its external (aspect) is large, but in reality it is narrow.

If it were not narrow, for what reason is this lamentation? Why has every one become (more) doubled (bowed with affliction) the more he lived in it?

When during the time of sleep the spirit is freed (from this world), behold how it rejoices in that place (to which it goes)!

The wicked man is (then) delivered from the wickedness of his nature, the prisoner escapes from thoughts of confinement.

This very wide earth and heaven becomes exceedingly narrow at the time of lying down (to sleep).

It (the world) is an eye-bandage (a spell that blinds the eye): (it is) wide (in appearance), and (in reality) mighty narrow: its laughter is weeping, its glory is entirely shame.