سیر جسم خشک بر خشکی فتاد ** سیر جان پا در دل دریا نهاد
The journey of the dry body befell on dry land, (but) the journey of the spirit set foot (took place) in the heart of the sea.
چون که عمر اندر ره خشکی گذشت ** گاه کوه و گاه صحرا گاه دشت
Since thy life has passed in travelling on land, now mountain, now river, now desert,
آب حیوان از کجا خواهی تو یافت ** موج دریا را کجا خواهی شکافت
Whence wilt thou gain the Water of Life? Where wilt thou cleave the waves of the Sea?
موج خاکی وهم و فهم و فکر ماست ** موج آبی محو و سکر است و فناست575
The waves of earth are our imagination and understanding and thought; the waves of water are (mystical) self-effacement and intoxication and death (faná).
تا در این سکری از آن سکری تو دور ** تا از این مستی از آن جامی تو دور
Whilst thou art in this (sensual) intoxication, thou art far from that (mystical) intoxication; whilst thou art drunken with this, thou art blind to that cup.
گفت‌‌وگوی ظاهر آمد چون غبار ** مدتی خاموش خو کن هوش دار
Outward speech and talk is as dust: do thou for a time make a habit of silence. Take heed!
مکرر کردن مریدان که خلوت را بشکن
How the disciples repeated their request that he should interrupt his seclusion.
جمله گفتند ای حکیم رخنه جو ** این فریب و این جفا با ما مگو
They all said: “O sage who seekest a crevice (means of evasion), say not to us this (word of) guile and harshness.
چار پا را قدر طاقت بار نه ** بر ضعیفان قدر قوت کار نه
Lay on the beast a burden in proportion to its endurance, lay on the weak a task in proportion to their strength.
دانه‌‌ی هر مرغ اندازه‌‌ی وی است ** طعمه‌‌ی هر مرغ انجیری کی است580
The bait for every bird is according to its (the bird's) measure (capacity): how should a fig be the food (lure) for every bird?
طفل را گر نان دهی بر جای شیر ** طفل مسکین را از آن نان مرده گیر
If you give a babe bread instead of milk, take it (for granted) that the poor babe will die of the bread;