A certain king said to the Shaykh (spiritual Director) in conversation, “Ask me to bestow some bounty upon thee.”1465
گفت شاهی شیخ را اندر سخن ** چیزی از بخشش ز من درخواست کن
He answered, “O King, are not you ashamed to say such a thing to me? Come higher!
گفت ای شه شرم ناید مر ترا ** که چنین گویی مرا زین برتر آ
I have two slaves, and they are vile, and those two are rulers and lords over you.”
من دو بنده دارم و ایشان حقیر ** و آن دو بر تو حاکمانند و امیر
Said the King, “What are those two? This is a mistake.” He replied, “The one is anger and the other is lust.”
گفت شه آن دو چهاند این زلت است ** گفت آن یک خشم و دیگر شهوت است
Regard as a king him that is unconcerned with kingship, him whose light shines forth without moon or sun.
شاه آن دان کاو ز شاهی فارغ است ** بیمه و خورشید نورش بازغ است
(Only) that one whose essence is the treasury (of spiritual truths) possesses the treasury: (only) he that is an enemy to (his own) existence possesses (real) existence.1470
مخزن آن دارد که مخزن ذات اوست ** هستی او دارد که با هستی عدوست
Luqmán's master (was) like a master outwardly; in reality he was a slave, and Luqmán was his master.
خواجهی لقمان به ظاهر خواجهوش ** در حقیقت بنده، لقمان خواجهاش
In the topsy-turvy world there is many a one of this (kind): a pearl is less than a straw in their sight.
در جهان باژگونه زین بسی است ** در نظرشان گوهری کم از خسی است
Every desert has been named mafáza (place of safety): a name and specious form has ensnared their understanding.
مر بیابان را مفازه نام شد ** نام و رنگی عقلشان را دام شد
In the case of one class of people, the dress makes (a man) known: (if he is dressed) in a qabá, they say that he belongs to the vulgar.
یک گره را خود معرف جامه است ** در قبا گویند کاو از عامه است