از هوا زیر آمد و شد او به فن ** از پی تعلیم او را گورکن1305
It came down from the air and began skilfully to dig a grave for it (the dead crow) for the purpose of teaching (him).
پس به چنگال از زمین انگیخت گرد ** زود زاغ مرده را در گور کرد
Then with its talons it raised dust from the ground and speedily put the dead crow in the grave.
دفن کردش پس بپوشیدش به خاک ** زاغ از الهام حق بد علم‌ناک
It buried it, then it covered it with earth: the crow was endowed with knowledge through the inspiration (given) of God.
گفت قابیل آه شه بر عقل من ** که بود زاغی ز من افزون به فن
Qábíl cried, “Oh, fie on my intellect! for a crow is superior to me in skill.”
عقل کل را گفت مازاغ البصر ** عقل جزوی می‌کند هر سو نظر
Concerning the Universal Intellect He (God) hath said, “The sight did not rove (má zágh),” (but) the particular intellect is looking in every direction.
عقل مازاغ است نور خاصگان ** عقل زاغ استاد گور مردگان1310
The Intellect whose sight does not rove (‘aql-i má zágh) is the light of the elect; the crow-intellect (‘aql-i zágh) is the sexton for the (spiritually) dead.
جان که او دنباله‌ی زاغان پرد ** زاغ او را سوی گورستان برد
The spirit that flies after crows—the crow carries it towards the graveyard.
هین مدو اندر پی نفس چو زاغ ** کو به گورستان برد نه سوی باغ
Beware! Do not run in pursuit of the crow-like fleshly soul, for it carries (thee) to the graveyard, not towards the orchard.
گر روی رو در پی عنقای دل ** سوی قاف و مسجد اقصای دل
If thou go, go in pursuit of the ‘Anqá of the heart, towards the Qáf and Farther Mosque of the heart.
نوگیاهی هر دم ز سودای تو ** می‌دمد در مسجد اقصای تو
Every moment from thy cogitation a new plant is growing in thy Farther Mosque.
تو سلیمان‌وار داد او بده ** پی بر از وی پای رد بر وی منه1315
Do thou, like Solomon, give it its due: investigate it, do not lay upon it the foot of rejection,
زانک حال این زمین با ثبات ** باز گوید با تو انواع نبات
Because the various sorts of plants declare to thee the (inward) state of this firm-set earth.
در زمین گر نیشکر ور خود نیست ** ترجمان هر زمین نبت ویست
Whether in the earth there are sugar-canes or only (common) reeds, every earth (soil) is interpreted by its plants.
پس زمین دل که نبتش فکر بود ** فکرها اسرار دل را وا نمود
Therefore the heart's soil, whereof thought was (ever) the plant—(those) thoughts have revealed the heart's secrets.
گر سخن‌کش یابم اندر انجمن ** صد هزاران گل برویم چون چمن
If I find in the company him that draws the discourse (from me towards himself), I, like the garden, will grow hundreds of thousands of roses;
ور سخن‌کش یابم آن دم زن به مزد ** می‌گریزد نکته‌ها از دل چو دزد1320
And if at that time I find (there) the scoundrel who kills the discourse, the deep sayings will flee, like a thief, from my heart.
جنبش هر کس به سوی جاذبست ** جذب صدق نه چو جذب کاذبست
The movement of every one is towards the Drawer: the true drawing is not like the false drawing.
می‌روی گه گمره و گه در رشد ** رشته پیدا نه و آنکت می‌کشد
Sometimes thou art going astray, sometimes aright: the cord is not visible, nor He who is drawing thee.
اشتر کوری مهار تو رهین ** تو کشش می‌بین مهارت را مبین
Thou art a blind camel, and thy toggle is in (His) keeping: do thou regard the act of drawing, do not regard thy toggle.
گر شدی محسوس جذاب و مهار ** پس نماندی این جهان دارالغرار
If the Drawer and the toggle became perceptible (to the senses), then this world would no longer remain the abode of heedlessness (delusion).
گبر دیدی کو پی سگ می‌رود ** سخره‌ی دیو ستنبه می‌شود1325
(If) the infidel saw that he was going after a cur and was being made subject to the hideous Devil,
در پی او کی شدی مانند حیز ** پی خود را واکشیدی گبر نیز
How should he go at its heels like a catamite (base sycophant)? The infidel too would step back.
گاو گر واقف ز قصابان بدی ** کی پی ایشان بدان دکان شدی
If the cow were acquainted with the butchers, how should she follow them to that (butcher's) shop,
یا بخوردی از کف ایشان سبوس ** یا بدادی شیرشان از چاپلوس
Or eat bran from their hands, or give them milk on account of (their) coaxing (her)?