Knowledge (‘ilm) is an ocean without bound or shore: the seeker of knowledge is (like) the diver in (those) seas.
گر هزاران سال باشد عمر او ** او نگردد سیر خود از جست و جو
Though his life be a thousand years, never will he become weary of seeking,
کان رسول حق بگفت اندر بیان ** اینک منهومان هما لا یشبعان
For the Messenger of God said in explanation (thereof) this (saying)—“There are two greedy ones who are never satisfied.”
در تفسیر این خبر کی مصطفی صلوات‌الله علیه فرمود منهومان لا یشبعان طالب الدنیا و طالب العلم کی این علم غیر علم دنیا باید تا دو قسم باشد اما علم دنیا هم دنیا باشد الی آخره و اگر هم‌چنین شود کی طالب الدنیا و طالب الدنیا تکرار بود نه تقسیم مع تقریره
Commentary on the Tradition that Mustafá (Mohammed)—the blessings of God be upon him!—said, “There are two greedy ones who will never be satisfied: the seeker of the present world and the seeker of knowledge.” This “knowledge” must be different from “knowledge of the present world,” in order that there may be the two (separate) classes (mentioned in the Tradition); but “knowledge of the present world” is just the same (in effect) as “the present world,” etc.; and if it (the double phrase used above) be equivalent to “the seeker of the present world and the seeker of the present world,” that would be repetition, not division (into two categories). With the exposition thereof.
طالب الدنیا و توفیراتها ** طالب العلم و تدبیراتها
(The two classes mentioned are) the seeker of the present world and its abundant opportunities for acquisition, and the seeker of knowledge and the considerations proper to it.
پس درین قسمت چو بگماری نظر ** غیر دنیا باشد این علم ای پدر 3885
Now, when you fix your attention on this division, (you will see that) this knowledge must be other than the present world, O father.
غیر دنیا پس چه باشد آخرت ** کت کند زینجا و باشد رهبرت
What, then, is other than the present world? The next world, (the knowledge of) which will take you away from here and be your guide (to God).
بحث کردن آن سه شه‌زاده در تدبیر آن واقعه
How the three princes discussed the (best) plan to adopt in view of what had occurred.
رو به هم کردند هر سه مفتتن ** هر سه را یک رنج و یک درد و حزن
The three afflicted ones put their heads together: all three felt the same grief and pain and sorrow.
هر سه در یک فکر و یک سودا ندیم ** هر سه از یک رنج و یک علت سقیم
All three were comrades in one meditation and one passion; all three were sick with one disease and one malady.
در خموشی هر سه را خطرت یکی ** در سخن هم هر سه را حجت یکی
At the time of silence all three had one thought; at the time of speech, too, all three had one argument.
یک زمانی اشک‌ریزان جمله‌شان ** بر سر خوان مصیبت خون‌فشان 3890
At one moment they all were shedding tears and weeping blood on the dining-table of calamity;
یک زمان از آتش دل هر سه کس ** بر زده با سوز چون مجمر نفس
At another moment all three, from the fire in their hearts, heaved burning sighs as (hot as) a chafing-pan.
مقالت برادر بزرگین
The discourse of the eldest brother.
آن بزرگین گفت ای اخوان خیر ** ما نه نر بودیم اندر نصح غیر
The eldest said, “O men of probity, were not we masculine (vigorous and bold) in giving counsel to others?
از حشم هر که به ما کردی گله ** از بلا و فقر و خوف و زلزله
Whenever one of the (King's) retainers complained to us of affliction and poverty and fear and agitation,
ما همی‌گفتیم کم نال از حرج ** صبر کن کالصبر مفتاح الفرج
We used to say, ‘Do not bewail thy hardships: be patient, for patience (fortitude) is the key to relief from pain.’
این کلید صبر را اکنون چه شد ** ای عجب منسوخ شد قانون چه شد 3895
What has become now of this key, (namely) fortitude? Wonderful! The rule (which we laid down for others) is null and void (for us): what has become of it?
ما نمی‌گفتیم که اندر کش مکش ** اندر آتش هم‌چو زر خندید خوش
Did not we always say, ‘In the (hour of) struggle laugh happily like gold in the fire’?
مر سپه را وقت تنگاتنگ جنگ ** گفته ما که هین مگردانید رنگ
We said to the soldiers at the time of conflict in battle, ‘Hark, do not change colour (lose courage)!’
آن زمان که بود اسپان را وطا ** جمله سرهای بریده زیر پا
At the time when the ground trodden underfoot by the horses was entirely (composed of) severed heads,
ما سپاه خویش را هی هی کنان ** که به پیش آیید قاهر چون سنان
We were shouting to our troops, ‘On, on! Advance irresistibly like the spearpoint!’
جمله عالم را نشان داده به صبر ** زانک صبر آمد چراغ و نور صدر 3900
We preached fortitude to all the world, because fortitude (we said) is a lamp and light in the breast.
نوبت ما شد چه خیره‌سر شدیم ** چون زنان زشت در چادر شدیم
Now it is our turn. Why have we become distracted and gone under the chádar (veil) like cowardly women?”
ای دلی که جمله را کردی تو گرم ** گرم کن خود را و از خود دار شرم
O heart that didst inspire all (others) with ardour, inspire thyself with ardour and be ashamed of thyself!
ای زبان که جمله را ناصح بدی ** نوبت تو گشت از چه تن زدی
O tongue that wert a mentor to all (others), now ’tis thy turn: why art thou silent?
ای خرد کو پند شکرخای تو ** دور تست این دم چه شد هیهای تو
O reason, where is thy eloquent and persuasive counsel? Now ’tis thy turn: what has become of thy (former) admonitions?
ای ز دلها برده صد تشویش را ** نوبت تو شد بجنبان ریش را 3905
O thou who hast removed a hundred anxieties from (other) hearts, now ’tis thy turn: wag thy beard!