If you take away from a mountain and do not put (anything) in the place (of what you have taken), the mountain will be demolished by that giving.
گر ز که بستانی و ننهی بجای ** اندر آید کوه زان دادن ز پای
Therefore, for every breath (that you give out), put an equivalent in its place, so that by (acting in accordance with the text) and fall to worship and draw nigh you may gain your object.
پس بنه بر جای هر دم را عوض ** تا ز واسجد واقترب یابی غرض
Do not strive so much to complete (your worldly) affairs: do not strive in any affair that is not religious.
در تمامی کارها چندین مکوش ** جز به کاری که بود در دین مکوش
(Otherwise) at the end you will depart incomplete, your (spiritual) affairs marred and your bread unbaked.
عاقبت تو رفت خواهی ناتمام ** کارهاات ابتر و نان تو خام
And the beautifying of your grave and sepulchre is not (done) by means of stone and wood and plaster;130
وان عمارت کردن گور و لحد ** نه به سنگست و به چوب و نه لبد
Nay, but by digging for yourself a grave in (spiritual) purity and burying (your) egoism in His egoism,
بلک خود را در صفا گوری کنی ** در منی او کنی دفن منی
And by becoming His dust and buried in love of Him, so that your breath may gain replenishments from His breath.
خاک او گردی و مدفون غمش ** تا دمت یابد مددها از دمش
A tomb with domes and turrets—that is not good (approved) on the part of the followers of Reality.
گورخانه و قبه‌ها و کنگره ** نبود از اصحاب معنی آن سره
Look now at a living person attired in satin: does the satin help his understanding at all?
بنگر اکنون زنده اطلس‌پوش را ** هیچ اطلس دست گیرد هوش را
His soul is in hateful torment, the scorpion of grief is in his grief-laden heart.135
در عذاب منکرست آن جان او ** گزدم غم دل دل غمدان او