تا نماند تیرگی و خس درو ** تا امین گردد نماید عکس رو
In order that no obscurity and rubbish may remain therein and that it may become trustworthy and that the reflexion of the (inward) aspect (of everything) may appear (in it).
جز گلابه در تنت کو ای مقل ** آب صافی کن ز گل ای خصم دل 2810
Where in your body is aught but muddy water, O you who are (spiritually) destitute? Make the water pure (and free) from mud, O enemy of the heart.
تو بر آنی هر دمی کز خواب و خور ** خاک ریزی اندرین جو بیشتر
By (indulgence in) sleeping and eating and drinking you are ever intent on pouring into this canal more (and more) earth.
سبب دانستن ضمیرهای خلق
The means of knowing people's hidden thoughts.
چون دل آن آب زینها خالیست ** عکس روها از برون در آب جست
(Only) when the heart of that water is void of these (defilements), does the reflexion of the (inward) aspects (of all things) dart into the water.
پس ترا باطن مصفا ناشده ** خانه پر از دیو و نسناس و دده
Therefore, unless your interior has been purified, (and while) the (heart's) house is full of demons and monsters and wild beasts,
ای خری ز استیزه ماند در خری ** کی ز ارواح مسیحی بو بری
O ass who have obstinately remained in asininity, how will you get scent of (apprehend) the (life-giving) breaths which resemble those of the Messiah?
کی شناسی گر خیالی سر کند ** کز کدامین مکمنی سر بر کند 2815
If a phantasy appear (in your heart), how will you know from what hiding-place it springs forth?
چون خیالی می‌شود در زهد تن ** تا خیالات از درونه روفتن
Ere (all) phantasies are swept from the inward part, the body will become (insubstantial) as a phantasy in (consequence of) renunciation.
غالب شدن مکر روبه بر استعصام خر
How the cunning of the fox prevailed over the attempt of the ass to preserve himself from falling into temptation.
خر بسی کوشید و او را دفع گفت ** لیک جوع الکلب با خر بود جفت
The ass strove long and argued (stoutly) against him, but ravenous hunger never quitted the ass.
غالب آمد حرص و صبرش بد ضعیف ** بس گلوها که برد عشق رغیف
Greed prevailed, and his self-restraint was (too) weak: many are the gullets that are cut by love of the loaf.
زان رسولی کش حقایق داد دست ** کاد فقر ان یکن کفر آمدست
From the Messenger (Prophet) to whom the realities revealed themselves has come down (the saying), “A (great) penury is near being infidelity.”
گشته بود آن خر مجاعت را اسیر ** گفت اگر مکرست یک ره مرده گیر 2820
The ass had been made prisoner by hunger: he said (to himself), “If it is a plot, (what then?). Suppose I am dead once and for all,
زین عذاب جوع باری وا رهم ** گر حیات اینست من مرده بهم
At any rate I shall be delivered from this torment of hunger: if this is life, I am better dead.”
گر خر اول توبه و سوگند خورد ** عاقبت هم از خری خبطی بکرد
If at first the ass repented and swore (to keep his vow), in the end, because of his asininity, he made a (great) lapse.
حرص کور و احمق و نادان کند ** مرگ را بر احمقان آسان کند
Greed makes one blind and foolish and ignorant: to fools it makes death (seem) easy;
نیست آسان مرگ بر جان خران ** که ندارند آب جان جاودان
(But) death is not (really) easy to the souls of asses who do not possess the splendour of the everlasting soul.
چون ندارد جان جاوید او شقیست ** جرات او بر اجل از احمقیست 2825
Since he (the ass) does not possess the everlasting soul, he is damned: his boldness in (facing) death is the result of folly.
جهد کن تا جان مخلد گردد ** تا به روز مرگ برگی باشدت
Endeavour that your soul may become immortal, so that on the day of death you will have a (goodly) store.
اعتمادش نیز بر رازق نبود ** که بر افشاند برو از غیب جود
Again, he (the ass) had no confidence in the Provider (to assure him) that He would scatter over him largesse from the Unseen.