در تمامی کارها چندین مکوش ** جز به کاری که بود در دین مکوش

Do not strive so much to complete (your worldly) affairs: do not strive in any affair that is not religious.

عاقبت تو رفت خواهی ناتمام ** کارهاات ابتر و نان تو خام

(Otherwise) at the end you will depart incomplete, your (spiritual) affairs marred and your bread unbaked.

وان عمارت کردن گور و لحد ** نه به سنگست و به چوب و نه لبد 130

And the beautifying of your grave and sepulchre is not (done) by means of stone and wood and plaster;

بلک خود را در صفا گوری کنی ** در منی او کنی دفن منی

Nay, but by digging for yourself a grave in (spiritual) purity and burying (your) egoism in His egoism,

خاک او گردی و مدفون غمش ** تا دمت یابد مددها از دمش

And by becoming His dust and buried in love of Him, so that your breath may gain replenishments from His breath.

گورخانه و قبه‌ها و کنگره ** نبود از اصحاب معنی آن سره

A tomb with domes and turrets—that is not good (approved) on the part of the followers of Reality.

بنگر اکنون زنده اطلس‌پوش را ** هیچ اطلس دست گیرد هوش را

Look now at a living person attired in satin: does the satin help his understanding at all?

در عذاب منکرست آن جان او ** گزدم غم دل دل غمدان او 135

His soul is in hateful torment, the scorpion of grief is in his grief-laden heart.

از برون بر ظاهرش نقش و نگار ** وز درون ز اندیشه‌ها او زار زار

Outside, on his exterior, broideries and decorations; but within he is sorely lamenting from (bitter) thoughts,

و آن یکی بینی در آن دلق کهن ** چون نبات اندیشه و شکر سخن

While you may see another in an old patched frock, his thoughts (sweet) as the sugar-cane and his words (like) sugar.

بازگشتن به حکایت پیل

Returning to the Story of the elephant.