تا شود زین کوزه منفذ سوی بحر ** تا بگیرد کوزه‌‌ی من خوی بحر
That there may be from this jug a passage to the sea, and that my jug may assume the nature of the sea,
تا چو هدیه پیش سلطانش بری ** پاک بیند باشدش شه مشتری
So that when you carry it as a gift to the King, the King may find it pure and be its purchaser;
بی‌‌نهایت گردد آبش بعد از آن ** پر شود از کوزه‌‌ی من صد جهان
(And) after that, its water will become without end: a hundred worlds will be filled from my jug.
لوله‌‌ها بر بند و پر دارش ز خم ** گفت غضوا عن هوا ابصارکم
Stop up its spouts and keep it filled (with water) from the jar (of Reality): God said, “Close your eyes to vain desire.”
ریش او پر باد کاین هدیه کراست ** لایق چون او شهی این است راست2715
His (the husband's) beard was full of wind (he was puffed up with pride): “Who (thought he) has such a gift as this? This, truly, is worthy of a King like him.”
زن نمی‌‌دانست کانجا بر گذر ** هست جاری دجله‌‌ی همچون شکر
The wife did not know that in that place (Baghdád) on the thoroughfare there is running the Tigris (whose water is) sweet as sugar,
در میان شهر چون دریا روان ** پر ز کشتیها و شست ماهیان
Flowing like a sea through the city, full of boats and fishing-nets.
رو بر سلطان و کار و بار بین ** حس تجری تحتها الأنهار بین
Go to the Sultan and behold this pomp and state! Behold the senses of (those for whom God hath prepared gardens) beneath which the rivers flow!
این چنین حسها و ادراکات ما ** قطره‌‌ای باشد در آن نهر صفا
Our senses and perceptions, such as they are, are (but) a single drop in that pure river.
در نمد دوختن زن عرب سبوی آب باران را و مهر نهادن بر وی از غایت اعتقاد عرب
How the Arab's wife sewed the jug of rain-water in a felt cloth and put a seal on it because of the Arab's utter conviction (that it was a precious gift for the King).
مرد گفت آری سبو را سر ببند ** هین که این هدیه ست ما را سودمند2720
“Yes,” said the husband, “stop up the mouth of the jug. Take care, for this is a gift that will bring us profit.