گاو و خر را فایده چه در شکر ** هست هر جان را یکی قوتی دگر
What profit have the ox and the ass in sugar? Every soul has a different food;
لیک گر آن قوت بر وی عارضی است ** پس نصیحت کردن او را رایضی است
But if that food is accidental to it (and not according to its real nature), then admonition is the (proper) correction for it.
چون کسی کاو از مرض گل داشت دوست ** گر چه پندارد که آن خود قوت اوست1080
As (in the case of) one who from disease has become fond of (eating) clay— though he may suppose that that (clay) is indeed his (natural) food,
قوت اصلی را فرامش کرده است ** روی در قوت مرض آورده است
He has (in reality) forgotten his original food and has betaken himself to the food of disease.
نوش را بگذاشته سم خورده است ** قوت علت همچو چوبش کرده است
Having given up honey, he has eaten poison; he has made the food of disease (to be his nourishment) as (though it were) fat.
قوت اصلی بشر نور خداست ** قوت حیوانی مر او را ناسزاست
Man's original food is the Light of God: animal food is improper for him;
لیک از علت در این افتاد دل ** که خورد او روز و شب زین آب و گل
But, in consequence of disease, his mind has fallen into this (delusion), that day and night he should eat of this water and clay.
روی زرد و پای سست و دل سبک ** کو غذای و السما ذات الحبک1085
(He is) pale-faced, weak-footed, faint-hearted—where is the food of by Heaven which hath (starry) tracks?
آن غذای خاصگان دولت است ** خوردن آن بیگلو و آلت است
That is the food of the chosen ones of the (Divine) sovereignty; the eating thereof is (done) without throat or instrument.
شد غذای آفتاب از نور عرش ** مر حسود و دیو را از دود فرش
The food of the (spiritual) sun is (derived) from the light of the (celestial) Throne; (the food that belongs) to the envious and devilish is (derived) from the smoke of the (terrestrial) carpet.