Knowledge (‘ilm) is an ocean without bound or shore: the seeker of knowledge is (like) the diver in (those) seas.
گر هزاران سال باشد عمر او ** او نگردد سیر خود از جست و جو
Though his life be a thousand years, never will he become weary of seeking,
کان رسول حق بگفت اندر بیان ** اینک منهومان هما لا یشبعان
For the Messenger of God said in explanation (thereof) this (saying)—“There are two greedy ones who are never satisfied.”
در تفسیر این خبر کی مصطفی صلوات‌الله علیه فرمود منهومان لا یشبعان طالب الدنیا و طالب العلم کی این علم غیر علم دنیا باید تا دو قسم باشد اما علم دنیا هم دنیا باشد الی آخره و اگر هم‌چنین شود کی طالب الدنیا و طالب الدنیا تکرار بود نه تقسیم مع تقریره
Commentary on the Tradition that Mustafá (Mohammed)—the blessings of God be upon him!—said, “There are two greedy ones who will never be satisfied: the seeker of the present world and the seeker of knowledge.” This “knowledge” must be different from “knowledge of the present world,” in order that there may be the two (separate) classes (mentioned in the Tradition); but “knowledge of the present world” is just the same (in effect) as “the present world,” etc.; and if it (the double phrase used above) be equivalent to “the seeker of the present world and the seeker of the present world,” that would be repetition, not division (into two categories). With the exposition thereof.
طالب الدنیا و توفیراتها ** طالب العلم و تدبیراتها
(The two classes mentioned are) the seeker of the present world and its abundant opportunities for acquisition, and the seeker of knowledge and the considerations proper to it.
پس درین قسمت چو بگماری نظر ** غیر دنیا باشد این علم ای پدر 3885
Now, when you fix your attention on this division, (you will see that) this knowledge must be other than the present world, O father.
غیر دنیا پس چه باشد آخرت ** کت کند زینجا و باشد رهبرت
What, then, is other than the present world? The next world, (the knowledge of) which will take you away from here and be your guide (to God).
بحث کردن آن سه شه‌زاده در تدبیر آن واقعه
How the three princes discussed the (best) plan to adopt in view of what had occurred.
رو به هم کردند هر سه مفتتن ** هر سه را یک رنج و یک درد و حزن
The three afflicted ones put their heads together: all three felt the same grief and pain and sorrow.
هر سه در یک فکر و یک سودا ندیم ** هر سه از یک رنج و یک علت سقیم
All three were comrades in one meditation and one passion; all three were sick with one disease and one malady.
در خموشی هر سه را خطرت یکی ** در سخن هم هر سه را حجت یکی
At the time of silence all three had one thought; at the time of speech, too, all three had one argument.
یک زمانی اشک‌ریزان جمله‌شان ** بر سر خوان مصیبت خون‌فشان 3890
At one moment they all were shedding tears and weeping blood on the dining-table of calamity;