مرگ اسپ و استر و مرگ غلام ** بد قضا گردان این مغرور خام

The death of the horse and mule and the death of the slave were bringing round the doom of this foolish deluded man.

از زیان مال و درد آن گریخت ** مال افزون کرد و خون خویش ریخت

He fled (escaped) from the loss of wealth and from grief thereat: he increased his wealth and shed his own blood.

این ریاضتهای درویشان چراست ** کان بلا بر تن بقای جانهاست

These austerities of dervishes—what are they for? (The reason is) that that tribulation (imposed) on the body is (in effect) the everlasting life of spirits.

تا بقای خود نیابد سالکی ** چون کند تن را سقیم و هالکی 3350

Unless a (mystic) traveller gains the everlasting life of his (spiritual) self, how should he make his body a sick and perishing (thing)?

دست کی جنبد به ایثار و عمل ** تا نبیند داده را جانش بدل

How should he move his hand to (acts of) altruism and (devotional) work unless he sees (the salvation of) his soul in exchange for what is given (by him)?

آنک بدهد بی امید سودها ** آن خدایست آن خدایست آن خدا

That one who gives without expectation of (any) gains—that one is God, is God, is God,

یا ولی حق که خوی حق گرفت ** نور گشت و تابش مطلق گرفت

Or the friend of God (the saint), who has assumed the nature of God and has become luminous and has received the Absolute Radiance;

کو غنی است و جز او جمله فقیر ** کی فقیری بی عوض گوید که گیر

For He is rich, while all except Him are poor: how should a poor man say “Take” without compensation?

تا نبیند کودکی که سیب هست ** او پیاز گنده را ندهد ز دست 3355

Till a child sees that the apple is there, it will not give up from its hand the stinking onion.

این همه بازار بهر این غرض ** بر دکانها شسته بر بوی عوض

All these market-folk, for the sake of this (worldly) object, are seated on the benches (in the shops) in the hope of (receiving) compensation: