In the beginning of beginnings, before time unfolded and before labor existed, the Almighty Creator brought forth existence out of non-existence to manifest His infinite divine power. From the unformed void arose the four foundational elements: a radiant fire ascending high between air and water, set above the dark and heavy earth. Fire stirred first, its surging heat generating dryness; then, as stillness took hold, coldness emerged, giving birth to moisture. As these four elements intertwined, the temporary realm of the world took shape.
Thereafter appeared the swift-revolving celestial vault, revealing new wonders moment by moment. Over the twelve zodiac signs, seven planets took their rightful places as guardians, and the interlocking spheres began their grand cosmic dance. As the gates of divine bounty opened, mountains swelled, springs gushed forth, and the earth began to shine like a luminous lamp. Stars shed their radiance upon the dark soil, and the sun began its perpetual circuit around the world. Next, vegetation and diverse trees sprouted from the earth, bound to their roots without the power to move. After the plants came living, moving creatures; though they held plant life beneath their sway and sought food, sleep, and comfort, they lacked a speaking tongue and a seeking intellect, free from the obligations of spiritual devotion. Such is the nature of the cosmos fashioned by the All-Wise and Just Creator, who concealed no aspect of His sovereign artistry.
#1
از آغاز باید که دانی دُرُست
✦
سِرِ مایه یی گوهَران از نُخُست
“From the very origin must you rightly comprehend the true primeval essence of all elements.”
#2
که یَزدان زِ ناچیز چیز آفرید
✦
بِدان تا توانایی آرَد پَدید
“That the Almighty brought forth existence out of non-existence, so that His omnipotence might be revealed.”
#3
سِرِ مایه یی گوهران این چهار
✦
بَرآوَرده بی‌رَنج و بی‌روزگار
“The primary elements are these four, brought into being without labor and without the passage of time.”
#4
یکی آتشی بَر شُده تابناک
✦
میانْ آب و باد از بَرِ تیره خاک
“A radiant fire that rose glowing high, set amidst water and wind above the dark earth.”
#5
نخُستین که آتش به جُنبش دَمید
✦
زِ گرمیش پَس، خُشکی آمد پَدید
“First, as fire was breathed into motion, dryness emerged from its surging heat.”
#6
و زان پَس زِ آرام سَردی نُمود
✦
زِ سَردی هَمان باز، تَری فُزود
“Thereafter, stillness brought forth coldness, and from coldness, moisture increased in turn.”
#7
چو این چار گوهَر، به جای آمدند
✦
زِ بَهرِ سِپَنجی سَرای، آمدند
“When these four elements established their places, they combined to form this transitory abode.”
#8
گُهرها، یِک اَندر دِگَر ساخته
✦
زِ هَر گونه، گَردن بَراَفراخته
“The elements blended one into another, raising their heads in wondrous forms.”
#9
پَدید آمد این گُنبدِ تیز رَو
✦
شگفتی نماینده یی نَو به نَو
“Then appeared this swift-revolving celestial vault, revealing new wonders moment by moment.”
#10
اَبَر دَه و دو هَفت شُد کَدخُدای
✦
گرفتند هَر یِک، سزاوار، جای
“Over the twelve zodiac signs, seven planets became guardians, each taking its rightful realm.”
#11
دَرِ بَخشش و دادن، آمد پَدید
✦
ببخشید دانا چُنان، چون سَزید
“The gate of divine bestowal swung open, and the All-Wise Creator granted abundance as was fitting.”
#12
فلک‌ها، یِک اَندر دِگَر ، بَسته شُد
✦
بِجُنبید چون کار پیوسته شُد
“The celestial spheres interlocked one within another, beginning their movement as the cosmic design was unified.”
#13
چو دریا و، چون کوه و، چون دَشت و راغ
✦
زَمین شُد به کِردارِ روشَن چراغ
“With oceans, mountains, plains, and meadows, the earth began to shine like a luminous lamp.”
#14
بِبالید کوه ، آب‌ها بَر دَمید
✦
سَرِ رُستَنی، سویی بالا کشید
“Mountains swelled, waters surged forth, and the heads of growing plants reached up toward the sky.”
#15
زمین را بُلندی نَبُد جایگاه
✦
یکی مَرکزی تیره بود و سیاه
“The earth possessed no high standing in itself; it was a dark and heavy central sphere.”
#16
ستاره بَر او، بَرشِگِفتی نُمود
✦
به خاک اَندرون، روشنایی فُزود
“The stars shed their wondrous splendor upon it, infusing illumination into the dark soil.”
#17
هَمی بَر شُد آتش، فُرود آمد آب
✦
هَمی گَشت گِردِ زمین، آفتاب
“Fire ascended as water descended, while the radiant sun circled around the earth.”
#18
گیاه رُست با چَند گونه درخت
✦
به زیر اَندر آمد، سَران‌شان زِ بَخت
“Plants sprouted alongside diverse trees, their boughs drooping down under the weight of destiny's fruit.”
#19
بِبالَد نَدارد جُز این، نیرویی
✦
نپویَد چو پویَندگان، ، هَر سویی
“The plant grows yet possesses no other power; it cannot roam in all directions like moving creatures.”
#20
و زان پَس چو جُنبَنده، آمد پَدید
✦
همه رُستَنی، زیرِ خویش آورید
“Thereafter, when living, moving creatures emerged, they held all plant life beneath their sway.”
#21
خور و خواب و آرام، جوید هَمی
✦
و زان زندگی کام جوید هَمی
“They seek food, sleep, and rest, pursuing the desires and comforts of life.”
#22
نه گویا زَبان وُ نه جویا خِرَد
✦
زِ خاک و زِ خاشاک تَن پَروَرَد
“Lacking a speaking tongue and a mind that seeks wisdom, they nourish their bodies from soil and forage.”
#23
نَداند بَد و نیکِ فرجامِ کار
✦
نخواهد از او بَندگی کِردگار
“They comprehend not the good or evil of life's end, nor does the Creator demand worship from them.”
#24
چو دانا تَوانا بُد و دادگَر
✦
از ایرا نکرد ایچ پنهان هنر
“Since the Creator is All-Wise, All-Powerful, and Just, He concealed no aspect of His artistic power.”
#25
چُنین است فَرجامِ کارِ جَهان
✦
نَداند کسی آشکار و نهان
“Such is the ultimate nature of the universe; no mortal can comprehend its open secrets or its hidden mysteries.”