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هر دکانی راست سودایی دگر ** مثنوی دکان فقرست ای پسر 1525
- Every shop has a different (kind of) merchandise: the Mathnawi is the shop for (spiritual) poverty, O son.
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در دکان کفشگر چرمست خوب ** قالب کفش است اگر بینی تو چوب
- In the shoemaker’s shop there is fine leather: if you see wood (there), it is (only) the mould for the shoe.
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پیش بزازان قز و ادکن بود ** بهر گز باشد اگر آهن بود
- The drapers have (in their shops) silk and dun-coloured cloth: if iron be (there), it is (only to serve) for a yard-measure.
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مثنوی ما دکان وحدتست ** غیر واحد هرچه بینی آن بتست
- Our Mathnawi is the shop for Unity: anything that you see (there) except the One God) is (only) an idol.
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بت ستودن بهر دام عامه را ** هم‌چنان دان کالغرانیق العلی
- Know that to praise an idol for the purpose of ensnaring the vulgar is just like (the Prophet’s reference to) “the most exalted Cranes.”
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خواندش در سوره‌ی والنجم زود ** لیک آن فتنه بد از سوره نبود 1530
- He recited it those words) quickly in the Súra (entitled) Wa’l-Najm, but it was a temptation (of the Devil), it was not (really) part of the Súra.
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جمله کفار آن زمان ساجد شدند ** هم سری بود آنک سر بر در زدند
- Thereupon all the infidels prostrated themselves (in worship): ‘twas a mystery (of Divine Wisdom), too, that they knocked their heads upon the door.
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بعد ازین حرفیست پیچاپیچ و دور ** با سلیمان باش و دیوان را مشور
- After this there is a perplexing and abstruse argument stay with Solomon and do not stir up the demons!
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هین حدیث صوفی و قاضی بیار ** وان ستمکار ضعیف زار زار
- Hark, relate the story of the Súfí and the Cadi and the offender who was (so) feeble and wretchedly ill.
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گفت قاضی ثبت العرش ای پسر ** تا برو نقشی کنم از خیر و شر
- The Cadi said (to the Súfí), “Make the roof firm, O son, in order that I may decorate it with good and evil.