Rumi's Masnavi - The donkey smells donkey's urine on the road: how should I offer musk to (creatures of) this class?”

خر کمیز خر ببوید بر طریق ** مشک چون عرضه کنم با این فریق
The donkey smells donkey's urine on the road: how should I offer musk to (creatures of) this class?”

بهر این گفت آن نبی مستجیب ** رمز الاسلام فی‌الدنیا غریب 925
Hence the Prophet, (who was always) responsive (to the Divine command), spake, the parable, “Islam is a stranger in this world,”

زانک خویشانش هم از وی می‌رمند ** گرچه با ذاتش ملایک هم‌دمند
Because even his (the true Moslem's) kinsfolk are fleeing from him, though the angels are in harmony with his essence.

صورتش را جنس می‌بینند انام ** لیک از وی می‌نیابند آن مشام
The people deem his (outward) form homogeneous (with theirs), but they do not perceive in him that (spiritual) fragrance.

هم‌چو شیری در میان نقش گاو ** دور می‌بینش ولی او را مکاو
(He is) like a lion in the shape of a cow: behold him from afar but do not investigate him!

ور بکاوی ترک گاو تن بگو ** که بدرد گاو را آن شیرخو
And if you investigate, take leave of the cow, (which is) the body; for that lion natured one will tear the cow to pieces.

طبع گاوی از سرت بیرون کند ** خوی حیوانی ز حیوان بر کند 930
He will expel the bovine nature from your head, he will uproot animality from the animal (soul).

گاو باشی شیر گردی نزد او ** گر تو با گاوی خوشی شیری مجو
(If) you are a cow, you will become a lion (when) near him; (but) if you are glad to be a cow, do not seek to be a lion.

تفسیر انی اری سبع بقرات سمان یاکلهن سبع عجاف آن گاوان لاغر را خدا به صفت شیران گرسنه آفریده بود تا آن هفت گاو فربه را به اشتها می‌خوردند اگر چه آن خیالات صور گاوان در آینه‌ی خواب نمودند تو معنی بگیر
Commentary on “Verily I saw seven fat kine which seven lean kine devoured.” God had created those lean kine with the qualities of hungry lions, to the end that they might devour the seven fat ones with avidity. Although (only) the forms of those kine were shown as phantoms in the mirror of dream, do thou regard the reality!