پس ز مه تا ماهی هیچ از خلق نیست ** که بجذب مایه او را حلق نیست
Therefore from the Moon to the Fish there is nothing in creation that hath not a throat in respect of its drawing sustenance (from God).
حلق جان از فکر تن خالی شود ** آنگهان روزیش اجلالی شود
(When) the spirit's throat is emptied of thought for the body, then its apportioned sustenance becomes Majestical.
شرط تبدیل مزاج آمد بدان ** کز مزاج بد بود مرگ بدان
Know that the necessary condition (for gaining this sustenance) is the transformation of the (sensual) nature, for the death of evil men is (arises) from (their) evil nature.
چون مزاج آدمی گل‌خوار شد ** زرد و بدرنگ و سقیم و خوار شد
When it has become natural to a human being to eat clay, he grows pale and ill-complexioned and sickly and miserable;
چون مزاج زشت او تبدیل یافت ** رفت زشتی از رخش چون شمع تافت45
(But) when his ugly nature has been transformed, the ugliness departs from his face, and he shines like a candle.
دایه‌ای کو طفل شیرآموز را ** تا بنعمت خوش کند پدفوز را
Where is a nurse for the suckling babe?—that with kindness she may sweeten the inner part of its mouth,
گر ببندد راه آن پستان برو ** برگشاید راه صد بستان برو
And, though she bar its way to her teat, may open up for it the way to a hundred gardens (of delight)?—
زانک پستان شد حجاب آن ضعیف ** از هزاران نعمت و خوان و رغیف
Because the teat has become to that feeble (infant) a barrier (separating it) from thousands of pleasures and dishes (of food) and loaves (of bread).
پس حیات ماست موقوف فطام ** اندک اندک جهد کن تم الکلام
Our life, then, depends on weaning. Endeavour (to wean yourself) little by little. The discourse is (now) complete.
ون جنین بد آدمی بد خون غذا ** از نجس پاکی برد مومن کذا 50
When man was an embryo his nourishment was blood: in like fashion the true believer draws purity from filth.