گر بدی این فهم مر قابیل را ** کی نهادی بر سر او هابیل را
If Qábíl had possessed this understanding, how should he have placed (the body of) Hábíl (Abel) on his head?—
که کجا غایب کنم این کشته را ** این به خون و خاک در آغشته را
Saying, “Where shall I hide this murdered one, this man bestained with blood and earth?”
دید زاغی زاغ مرده در دهان ** بر گرفته تیز می‌آمد چنان
He espied a crow which had taken up a dead crow in its mouth and was approaching (ever) so quickly.
از هوا زیر آمد و شد او به فن ** از پی تعلیم او را گورکن1305
It came down from the air and began skilfully to dig a grave for it (the dead crow) for the purpose of teaching (him).
پس به چنگال از زمین انگیخت گرد ** زود زاغ مرده را در گور کرد
Then with its talons it raised dust from the ground and speedily put the dead crow in the grave.
دفن کردش پس بپوشیدش به خاک ** زاغ از الهام حق بد علم‌ناک
It buried it, then it covered it with earth: the crow was endowed with knowledge through the inspiration (given) of God.
گفت قابیل آه شه بر عقل من ** که بود زاغی ز من افزون به فن
Qábíl cried, “Oh, fie on my intellect! for a crow is superior to me in skill.”
عقل کل را گفت مازاغ البصر ** عقل جزوی می‌کند هر سو نظر
Concerning the Universal Intellect He (God) hath said, “The sight did not rove (má zágh),” (but) the particular intellect is looking in every direction.
عقل مازاغ است نور خاصگان ** عقل زاغ استاد گور مردگان1310
The Intellect whose sight does not rove (‘aql-i má zágh) is the light of the elect; the crow-intellect (‘aql-i zágh) is the sexton for the (spiritually) dead.
جان که او دنباله‌ی زاغان پرد ** زاغ او را سوی گورستان برد
The spirit that flies after crows—the crow carries it towards the graveyard.