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.

گفت ناصح بشنوید این پند من ** تا دل و جانتان نگردد ممتحن

Said the sincere adviser, “Hearken to this counsel of mine, so that your hearts and souls may not be afflicted.

با گیاه و برگها قانع شوید ** در شکار پیل‌بچگان کم روید

Be content with herbage and leaves, do not go in chase of the young elephants.

من برون کردم ز گردن وام نصح ** جز سعادت کی بود انجام نصح 140

I have put off from my neck (I have discharged) the debt of admonition: how should the end (final result) of admonition be aught but felicity?

من به تبلیغ رسالت آمدم ** تا رهانم مر شما را از ندم

I came to deliver the message, that I may save you from (fruitless) repentance.

هین مبادا که طمع رهتان زند ** طمع برگ از بیخهاتان بر کند

Beware! Let not greed waylay you, let not greed for victual tear you up by the roots!”

این بگفت و خیربادی کرد و رفت ** گشت قحط و جوعشان در راه زفت

This he said, and gave a farewell and departed; their famine and hunger waxed great on the way.

ناگهان دیدند سوی جاده‌ای ** پور پیلی فربهی نو زاده‌ای

Suddenly, in the direction of a highroad, they espied a fat young elephant, newly born.

اندر افتادند چون گرگان مست ** پاک خوردندش فرو شستند دست 145

They fell upon it like furious wolves, ate it clean up, and washed their hands.

آن یکی همره نخورد و پند داد ** که حدیث آن فقیرش بود یاد

One of the fellow-travellers did not eat (of it) and exhorted (the others to abstain), for the sayings of that dervish were remembered by him.

از کبابش مانع آمد آن سخن ** بخت نو بخشد ترا عقل کهن

Those words hindered him from (eating) its roasted flesh: old intelligence bestows on thee a new fortune.

پس بیفتادند و خفتند آن همه ** وان گرسنه چون شبان اندر رمه

Then they all fell down and slept, but the hungry one (was awake) like the shepherd in the flock.

دید پیلی سهمناکی می‌رسید ** اولا آمد سوی حارس دوید

He saw a frightful elephant approaching: first she came and ran towards him who was keeping guard.

بوی می‌کرد آن دهانش را سه بار ** هیچ بویی زو نیامد ناگوار 150

She smelt his mouth thrice: no disagreeable smell came from it.

چند باری گرد او گشت و برفت ** مر ورا نازرد آن شه‌پیل زفت

She paced round him several times and went off: the huge queen-elephant did him no hurt.

مر لب هر خفته‌ای را بوی کرد ** بوی می‌آمد ورا زان خفته مرد

She smelt the lips of every sleeper, and the smell (of her young one's flesh) was coming to her from each of those slumbering men.

از کباب پیل‌زاده خورده بود ** بر درانید و بکشتش پیل زود

He (each man) had eaten of the roasted flesh of the young elephant: the (mother) elephant quickly tore him to pieces and killed him.