لطف آب بحر کاو چون کوثر است ** سنگ ریزه‌‌ش جمله در و گوهر است‌‌

The purity of the water of the Sea that is like Kawthar (is such that) all its pebbles are pearls and gems.

هر هنر که استا بدان معروف شد ** جان شاگردان بدان موصوف شد

For whatever science the master is renowned, the souls of his pupils become endued with the same.

پیش استاد اصولی هم اصول ** خواند آن شاگرد چست با حصول‌‌ 2830

With the master-theologian the quick and industrious pupil reads (scholastic) theology.

پیش استاد فقیه آن فقه خوان ** فقه خواند نی اصول اندر بیان‌‌

With the master-jurist the student of jurisprudence reads jurisprudence, when he (the teacher) expounds it, not theology.

پیش استادی که او نحوی بود ** جان شاگردش از او نحوی شود

With the master who is a grammarian—the soul of his pupil becomes imbued by him with grammar.

باز استادی که او محو ره است ** جان شاگردش از او محو شه است‌‌

Again, the master who is absorbed in the Way (of Súfism)— because of him the soul of his pupil is absorbed in the King (God).

زین همه انواع دانش روز مرگ ** دانش فقر است ساز راه و برگ‌‌

Of all these various kinds of knowledge, on the day of death the (best) equipment and provision for the road is the knowledge of (spiritual) poverty.

حکایت ماجرای نحوی و کشتیبان‌‌

The story of what passed between the grammarian and the boatman.

آن یکی نحوی به کشتی درنشست ** رو به کشتیبان نهاد آن خود پرست‌‌ 2835

A certain grammarian embarked in a boat. That self-conceited person turned to the boatman

گفت هیچ از نحو خواندی گفت لا ** گفت نیم عمر تو شد در فنا

And said, “Have you ever studied grammar?” “No,” he replied. The other said, “Half your life is gone to naught.”

دل شکسته گشت کشتیبان ز تاب ** لیک آن دم کرد خامش از جواب‌‌

The boatman became heart-broken with grief, but at the time he refrained from answering.