تو نمردی ناز و بخت ما بمرد ** عیش ما و رزق مستوفی بمرد
Thou art not dead; (but) our luxury and fortune are dead, our happy life is dead and the sustenance that was provided in full measure.
واحد کالالف در رزم و کرم ** صد چو حاتم گاه ایثار نعم 3275
(Thou wert) a single person like (equivalent to) a thousand in warfare and in generosity; (thou wert) as a hundred Hátims in the hour of lavishing bounties unselfishly.
حاتم ار مرده به مرده می‌دهد ** گردگان‌های شمرده می‌دهد
If Hátim bestows dead (worldly goods) on the (spiritually) dead (worldlings), he (is like one who) bestows a certain number of walnuts (on children).
تو حیاتی می‌دهی در هر نفس ** کز نفیسی می‌نگنجد در نفس
Thou at every moment art bestowing a life that, because of its preciousness, cannot be contained in breath (words).
تو حیاتی می‌دهی بس پایدار ** نقد زر بی‌کساد و بی‌شمار
Thou art bestowing a life exceedingly enduring, real gold coin exempt from depreciation and beyond count.
وارثی نا بوده یک خوی ترا ** ای فلک سجده کنان کوی ترا
There exists no heir (even) to one (noble) disposition of thine, O thou to whose abode Heaven is bowing in worship.
خلق را از گرگ غم لطفت شبان ** چون کلیم الله شبان مهربان 3280
Thy grace is the shepherd of all who have been created, (guarding them) from the wolf of pain—a loving shepherd like God's Kalím (Moses).”
گوسفندی از کلیم الله گریخت ** پای موسی آبله شد نعل ریخت
One sheep fled from God's Kalím: the feet of Moses were blistered (in following it) and his shoes dropped off.
در پی او تا به شب در جست و جو ** وان رمه غایب شده از چشم او
(He continued) searching after it till nightfall, and (meanwhile) the flock had vanished from his sight.
گوسفند از ماندگی شد سست و ماند ** پس کلیم الله گرد از وی فشاند
The (lost) sheep was enfeebled and exhausted by fatigue: then God's Kalím shook the dust off it,
کف همی‌مالید بر پشت و سرش ** می‌نواخت از مهر هم‌چون مادرش
And stroked its back and head with his hand, fondling it lovingly like a mother.
نیم ذره طیرگی و خشم نی ** غیر مهر و رحم و آب چشم نی 3285
Not (even) half a mite of irritation and anger, nothing but love and pity and tears!
گفت گیرم بر منت رحمی نبود ** طبع تو بر خود چرا استم نمود
He said (to the sheep), “I grant you (naturally) had no pity on me, (but) why did your nature show (such) cruelty to itself?”
با ملایک گفت یزدان آن زمان ** که نبوت را نمی‌زیبد فلان
At that moment God said to the angels, “So-and-so is suitable for prophethood.”
مصطفی فرمود خود که هر نبی ** کرد چوپانیش برنا یا صبی
Mustafá (Mohammed) himself has said that every prophet herded sheep as a young man or boy,
بی‌شبانی کردن و آن امتحان ** حق ندادش پیشوایی جهان
(And that) without his having been a shepherd and (having undergone) that trial, God did not bestow on him the leadership of the world.
گفت سایل هم تو نیز ای پهلوان ** گفت من هم بوده‌ام دهری شبان 3290
A questioner said, “Even thou, O man of might?” “I too,” he replied, “was a shepherd for a long while.”
تا شود پیدا وقار و صبرشان ** کردشان پیش از نبوت حق شبان
In order that their (the prophets') calmness and fortitude should be displayed, God made them shepherds before (investing them with) prophethood.
هر امیری کو شبانی بشر ** آنچنان آرد که باشد متمر
Every prince who performs the task of shepherding mankind in such wise that he obeys the Commandments (of God),
حلم موسی‌وار اندر رعی خود ** او به جا آرد به تدبیر و خرد
(And) in tending them with foresight and understanding shows a forbearance like that of Moses,
لاجرم حقش دهد چوپانیی ** بر فراز چرخ مه روحانیی
Inevitably God will bestow on him a spiritual shepherd's office (exalted) above the sphere of the moon,
آنچنان که انبیا را زین رعا ** بر کشید و داد رعی اصفیا 3295
Even as He raised the prophets from this herding (of sheep) and gave them the task of tending the righteous.