What is that jug? Our confined body: within it is the briny water of our senses.
چیست آن کوزه تن محصور ما ** اندر او آب حواس شور ما
O Lord, accept this jar and jug of mine by the grace of “God hath purchased (from the believers their lives and wealth in return for Paradise).”
ای خداوند این خم و کوزه‌‌ی مرا ** در پذیر از فضل الله اشتری
(’Tis) a jug with five spouts, the five senses: keep this water pure (and safe) from every filth,2710
کوزه‌‌ای با پنج لوله‌‌ی پنج حس ** پاک دار این آب را از هر نجس
That there may be from this jug a passage to the sea, and that my jug may assume the nature of the sea,
تا شود زین کوزه منفذ سوی بحر ** تا بگیرد کوزه‌‌ی من خوی بحر
So that when you carry it as a gift to the King, the King may find it pure and be its purchaser;
تا چو هدیه پیش سلطانش بری ** پاک بیند باشدش شه مشتری
(And) after that, its water will become without end: a hundred worlds will be filled from my jug.
بی‌‌نهایت گردد آبش بعد از آن ** پر شود از کوزه‌‌ی من صد جهان
Stop up its spouts and keep it filled (with water) from the jar (of Reality): God said, “Close your eyes to vain desire.”
لوله‌‌ها بر بند و پر دارش ز خم ** گفت غضوا عن هوا ابصارکم
His (the husband's) beard was full of wind (he was puffed up with pride): “Who (thought he) has such a gift as this? This, truly, is worthy of a King like him.”2715
ریش او پر باد کاین هدیه کراست ** لایق چون او شهی این است راست
The wife did not know that in that place (Baghdád) on the thoroughfare there is running the Tigris (whose water is) sweet as sugar,
زن نمی‌‌دانست کانجا بر گذر ** هست جاری دجله‌‌ی همچون شکر
Flowing like a sea through the city, full of boats and fishing-nets.
در میان شهر چون دریا روان ** پر ز کشتیها و شست ماهیان