عمر تو مانند همیان زرست ** روز و شب مانند دینار اشمرست
Thy life is like a purse of gold: day and night are like him who counts the gold coins (the money-changer).
می‌شمارد می‌دهد زر بی وقوف ** تا که خالی گردد و آید خسوف125
He (Time) counts and gives the gold without stopping, until it (the purse) is emptied and there comes the eclipse (death).
گر ز که بستانی و ننهی بجای ** اندر آید کوه زان دادن ز پای
If you take away from a mountain and do not put (anything) in the place (of what you have taken), the mountain will be demolished by that giving.
پس بنه بر جای هر دم را عوض ** تا ز واسجد واقترب یابی غرض
Therefore, for every breath (that you give out), put an equivalent in its place, so that by (acting in accordance with the text) and fall to worship and draw nigh you may gain your object.
در تمامی کارها چندین مکوش ** جز به کاری که بود در دین مکوش
Do not strive so much to complete (your worldly) affairs: do not strive in any affair that is not religious.
عاقبت تو رفت خواهی ناتمام ** کارهاات ابتر و نان تو خام
(Otherwise) at the end you will depart incomplete, your (spiritual) affairs marred and your bread unbaked.
وان عمارت کردن گور و لحد ** نه به سنگست و به چوب و نه لبد130
And the beautifying of your grave and sepulchre is not (done) by means of stone and wood and plaster;
بلک خود را در صفا گوری کنی ** در منی او کنی دفن منی
Nay, but by digging for yourself a grave in (spiritual) purity and burying (your) egoism in His egoism,
خاک او گردی و مدفون غمش ** تا دمت یابد مددها از دمش
And by becoming His dust and buried in love of Him, so that your breath may gain replenishments from His breath.
گورخانه و قبه‌ها و کنگره ** نبود از اصحاب معنی آن سره
A tomb with domes and turrets—that is not good (approved) on the part of the followers of Reality.
بنگر اکنون زنده اطلس‌پوش را ** هیچ اطلس دست گیرد هوش را
Look now at a living person attired in satin: does the satin help his understanding at all?
در عذاب منکرست آن جان او ** گزدم غم دل دل غمدان او135
His soul is in hateful torment, the scorpion of grief is in his grief-laden heart.
از برون بر ظاهرش نقش و نگار ** وز درون ز اندیشه‌ها او زار زار
Outside, on his exterior, broideries and decorations; but within he is sorely lamenting from (bitter) thoughts,
و آن یکی بینی در آن دلق کهن ** چون نبات اندیشه و شکر سخن
While you may see another in an old patched frock, his thoughts (sweet) as the sugar-cane and his words (like) sugar.
بازگشتن به حکایت پیل
Returning to the Story of the elephant.
گفت ناصح بشنوید این پند من ** تا دل و جانتان نگردد ممتحن
Said the sincere adviser, “Hearken to this counsel of mine, so that your hearts and souls may not be afflicted.
با گیاه و برگها قانع شوید ** در شکار پیل‌بچگان کم روید
Be content with herbage and leaves, do not go in chase of the young elephants.
من برون کردم ز گردن وام نصح ** جز سعادت کی بود انجام نصح140
I have put off from my neck (I have discharged) the debt of admonition: how should the end (final result) of admonition be aught but felicity?
من به تبلیغ رسالت آمدم ** تا رهانم مر شما را از ندم
I came to deliver the message, that I may save you from (fruitless) repentance.
هین مبادا که طمع رهتان زند ** طمع برگ از بیخهاتان بر کند
Beware! Let not greed waylay you, let not greed for victual tear you up by the roots!”
این بگفت و خیربادی کرد و رفت ** گشت قحط و جوعشان در راه زفت
This he said, and gave a farewell and departed; their famine and hunger waxed great on the way.
ناگهان دیدند سوی جاده‌ای ** پور پیلی فربهی نو زاده‌ای
Suddenly, in the direction of a highroad, they espied a fat young elephant, newly born.