Of all these various kinds of knowledge, on the day of death the (best) equipment and provision for the road is the knowledge of (spiritual) poverty.
زین همه انواع دانش روز مرگ ** دانش فقر است ساز راه و برگ
The story of what passed between the grammarian and the boatman.
حکایت ماجرای نحوی و کشتیبان
A certain grammarian embarked in a boat. That self-conceited person turned to the boatman2835
آن یکی نحوی به کشتی درنشست ** رو به کشتیبان نهاد آن خود پرست
And said, “Have you ever studied grammar?” “No,” he replied. The other said, “Half your life is gone to naught.”
گفت هیچ از نحو خواندی گفت لا ** گفت نیم عمر تو شد در فنا
The boatman became heart-broken with grief, but at the time he refrained from answering.
دل شکسته گشت کشتیبان ز تاب ** لیک آن دم کرد خامش از جواب
The wind cast the boat into a whirlpool: the boatman spoke loud (shouted) to the grammarian,
باد کشتی را به گردابی فگند ** گفت کشتیبان به آن نحوی بلند
“Tell me, do you know how to swim?” “No,” said he, “O fair-spoken good-looking man!”
هیچ دانی آشنا کردن بگو ** گفت نی ای خوش جواب خوب رو
“O grammarian,” said he, “your whole life is naught, because the boat is sinking in these whirlpools.”2840
گفت کل عمرت ای نحوی فناست ** ز آن که کشتی غرق این گردابهاست
Know that here mahw (self-effacement) is needed, not nah? (grammar): if you are mahw (dead to self), plunge into the sea without peril.
محو می‌‌باید نه نحو اینجا بدان ** گر تو محوی بی‌‌خطر در آب ران
The water of the sea places the dead one on its head (causes him to float on the surface); but if he be living, how shall he escape from the sea?
آب دریا مرده را بر سر نهد ** ور بود زنده ز دریا کی رهد
Inasmuch as you have died to the attributes of the flesh, the Sea of (Divine) consciousness will place you on the crown of its head (will raise you to honour).
چون بمردی تو ز اوصاف بشر ** بحر اسرارت نهد بر فرق سر