The ghoul will (entice you) from the Way (and) cast you into destruction: there have been in this Way many craftier than you (who have perished miserably).
غولت از ره افکند اندر گزند ** از تو داهی‌‌تر در این ره بس بدند
Hear (learn) from the Qur’án the perdition of the wayfarers, what the evil-souled Iblís did unto them:
از نبی بشنو ضلال رهروان ** که چشان کرد آن بلیس بد روان
He carried them far—a journey of hundreds of thousands of years—from the Highway, and made them backsliders and naked (devoid of good works).
صد هزاران ساله راه از جاده دور ** بردشان و کردشان ادبار و عور
Behold their bones and their hair! Take warning, and drive not your ass towards them!2950
استخوانهاشان ببین و مویشان ** عبرتی گیر و مران خر سویشان
Seize the neck of your ass (the flesh) and lead him towards the Way, towards the good keepers and knowers of the Way.
گردن خر گیر و سوی راه کش ** سوی ره‌‌بانان و ره دانان خوش
Beware! do not let your ass go, and do not remove your hand from him, because his love is for the place where green herbs are plentiful.
هین مهل خر را و دست از وی مدار ** ز آن که عشق اوست سوی سبزه‌‌زار
If you carelessly leave him free for one moment, he will go (many) leagues in the direction of the herbage.
گر یکی دم تو به غفلت واهلیش ** او رود فرسنگ‌‌ها سوی حشیش
The ass is an enemy to the Way, (he is) madly in love with fodder: oh, many is the attendant on him that he has brought to ruin!
دشمن راه است خر مست علف ** ای که بس خر بنده را کرد او تلف
If you know not the Way, whatsoever the ass desires, do the contrary thereof: that, surely, will be the right Way.2955
گر ندانی ره هر آن چه خر بخواست ** عکس آن کن خود بود آن راه راست
(The Prophet said), “Consult them (women), and then oppose (them in what they advise): he that disobeys them not will be ruined.”