How Qábíl (Cain) learned the trade of grave-digging from the crow (raven), before knowledge of grave-digging and graves existed in the world.
آموختن پیشه گورکنی قابیل از زاغ پیش از آنک در عالم علم گورکنی و گور بود
When was grave-digging, which was the meanest trade (of all), (acquired) from thought and cunning and meditation?
کندن گوری که کمتر پیشه بود ** کی ز فکر و حیله و اندیشه بود
If Qábíl had possessed this understanding, how should he have placed (the body of) Hábíl (Abel) on his head?—
گر بدی این فهم مر قابیل را ** کی نهادی بر سر او هابیل را
Saying, “Where shall I hide this murdered one, this man bestained with blood and earth?”
که کجا غایب کنم این کشته را ** این به خون و خاک در آغشته را
He espied a crow which had taken up a dead crow in its mouth and was approaching (ever) so quickly.
دید زاغی زاغ مرده در دهان ** بر گرفته تیز می‌آمد چنان
It came down from the air and began skilfully to dig a grave for it (the dead crow) for the purpose of teaching (him).1305
از هوا زیر آمد و شد او به فن ** از پی تعلیم او را گورکن
Then with its talons it raised dust from the ground and speedily put the dead crow in the grave.
پس به چنگال از زمین انگیخت گرد ** زود زاغ مرده را در گور کرد
It buried it, then it covered it with earth: the crow was endowed with knowledge through the inspiration (given) of God.
دفن کردش پس بپوشیدش به خاک ** زاغ از الهام حق بد علم‌ناک
Qábíl cried, “Oh, fie on my intellect! for a crow is superior to me in skill.”
گفت قابیل آه شه بر عقل من ** که بود زاغی ز من افزون به فن
Concerning the Universal Intellect He (God) hath said, “The sight did not rove (má zágh),” (but) the particular intellect is looking in every direction.
عقل کل را گفت مازاغ البصر ** عقل جزوی می‌کند هر سو نظر