چند صورت آخر ای صورت پرست ** جان بی‌‌معنیت از صورت نرست
How long (this regard for) form? After all, O form-worshipper, has thy reality-lacking soul not (yet) escaped from form?
گر به صورت آدمی انسان بدی ** احمد و بو جهل خود یکسان بدی
If a human being were a man in virtue of form, Ahmad (Mohammed) and Bú Jahl would be just the same.
نقش بر دیوار مثل آدم است ** بنگر از صورت چه چیز او کم است1020
The painting on the wall is like Adam: see from the (pictured) form what thing in it is wanting.
جان کم است آن صورت با تاب را ** رو بجو آن گوهر کمیاب را
The spirit is wanting in that resplendent form: go, seek that jewel rarely found!
شد سر شیران عالم جمله پست ** چون سگ اصحاب را دادند دست
The heads of all the lions in the world were laid low when They (God) gave a hand to (bestowed favour on) the dog of the Companions (of the Cave).
چه زیان استش از آن نقش نفور ** چون که جانش غرق شد در بحر نور
What loss does it suffer from that abhorred shape, inasmuch as its spirit was plunged in the ocean of light?
وصف صورت نیست اندر خامه‌‌ها ** عالم و عادل بود در نامه‌‌ها
’Tis not in pens to describe (the outward) form: (what is written) in letters is (qualities like) “learned” and “just”;
عالم و عادل همه معنی است بس ** کش نیابی در مکان و پیش و پس1025
(And qualities like) “learned” and “just” are only the spiritual essence which thou wilt not find in (any) place or in front or behind.
می‌‌زند بر تن ز سوی لامکان ** می‌‌نگنجد در فلک خورشید جان
The sun of the spirit strikes (with its beams) on the body from the quarter where (the relation of) place does not exist: it (that sun) is not contained in the sky.
ذکر دانش خرگوش و بیان فضیلت و منافع دانستن
An account of the knowledge of the hare and an explanation of the excellence and advantages of knowledge.
این سخن پایان ندارد هوش دار ** گوش سوی قصه‌‌ی خرگوش دار
This topic hath no end. Give heed! Attend to the story of the hare.