The Súfí's book is not (composed of) ink of letters (letters written with ink): it is naught but a heart white as snow.
زاد دانشمند آثار قلم ** زاد صوفی چیست آثار قدم160
The scholar's provision is (consists of) pen-marks (written letters and words). What is the Súfí's provision? Footmarks.
همچو صیادی سوی اشکار شد ** گام آهو دید بر آثار شد
He (the Súfí) stalks the game, like a hunter: he sees the musk-deer's track and follows the footprints.
چند گاهش گام آهو در خور است ** بعد از آن خود ناف آهو رهبر است
For some while the track of the deer is (the) proper (clue) for him, (but) afterwards ’tis the navel (musk-gland) of the deer that is his guide.
چون که شکر گام کرد و ره برید ** لاجرم ز آن گام در کامی رسید
When he has given thanks for (having been favoured with knowledge of) the track and has traversed the way, of necessity by means of that track he arrives at a goal.
رفتن یک منزلی بر بوی ناف ** بهتر از صد منزل گام و طواف
To go one stage (guided) by the scent of the musk-gland is better than a hundred stages of (following) the track and roaming about.