آب و گل می‌دید و در وی گنج نه ** پنج و شش می‌دید و اصل پنج نه
He saw the clay, but not the treasure (buried) in it: he saw the five (senses) and the six (directions), but not the source of the five.
رنگ طین پیدا و نور دین نهان ** هر پیمبر این چنین بد در جهان
The colour of clay is manifest, the light of religion is hidden: such was (the case of) every prophet in the world.
آن مناره دید و در وی مرغ نی ** بر مناره شاه‌بازی پر فنی 1140
One (person) saw the minaret, but not the bird (perched) upon it, (though) upon the minaret (was) a fully accomplished royal falcon;
وان دوم می‌دید مرغی پرزنی ** لیک موی اندر دهان مرغ نی
And a second (observer) saw a bird flapping its wings, but not the hair in the bird's mouth (beak);
وانک او ینظر به نور الله بود ** هم ز مرغ و هم ز مو آگاه بود
But that one who was seeing by the light of God was aware both of the bird and of the hair,
گفت آخر چشم سوی موی نه ** تا نبینی مو بنگشاید گره
And said (to the other), “Pray, direct thine eye towards the hair: till thou see the hair, the knot will not be untied.”
آن یکی گل دید نقشین دو وحل ** وآن دگر گل دید پر علم و عمل
The one saw in the mud (only) figured clay, while the other saw clay replete with knowledge and works.
تن مناره علم و طاعت هم‌چو مرغ ** خواه سیصد مرغ‌گیر و یا دو مرغ 1145
1145 The body is the minaret, knowledge and obedience (to God) are like the bird: suppose three hundred birds (to be perched on it) or (only) two birds, whichever you please.
مرد اوسط مرغ‌بینست او و بس ** غیر مرغی می‌نبیند پیش و پس
The middle man sees the bird only: neither before nor behind (him) does he see anything but a bird.
موی آن نور نیست پنهان آن مرغ ** هیچ عاریت نباشد کار او
The hair is the hidden light belonging to the bird, whereby the soul of the bird is enduring (for ever).