Rumi's Masnavi - That you are (spiritually) dead and decrepit—all this is because you have abandoned the chief.

That you are (spiritually) dead and decrepit—all this is because you have abandoned the chief. 1995

این همه که مرده و پژمرده‌ای ** زان بود که ترک سرور کرده‌ای

On account of laziness and avarice and egoism you are drawing your head back (behaving in a headstrong manner) and making yourself the head.

از کسل وز بخل وز ما و منی ** می‌کشی سر خویش را سر می‌کنی

(You are) like the beast that flees from the burden: it takes its head (goes its own way) into the mountains.

هم‌چو استوری که بگریزد ز بار ** او سر خود گیرد اندر کوهسار

Its master is running after it, crying, “O giddy-headed one, on every side there is a wolf in quest of an ass.

صاحبش در پی دوان کای خیره سر ** هر طرف گرگیست اندر قصد خر

If thou disappear now from mine eye, the mighty wolf will approach thee from every direction.

گر ز چشمم این زمان غایب شوی ** پیشت آید هر طرف گرگ قوی

He will chew thy bones like sugar, so that thou wilt never see life again. 2000

استخوانت را بخاید چون شکر ** که نبینی زندگانی را دگر

(Or) do not suppose that (immediate destruction); at any rate thou wilt be left without fodder: fire is (finally) extinguished by lack of faggots.

آن مگیر آخر بمانی از علف ** آتش از بی‌هیزمی گردد تلف

Beware! Do not flee from my control and from the heaviness of the burden, for I am thy (rational) soul.”

هین بمگریز از تصرف کردنم ** وز گرانی بار که جانت منم

You also are a beast (of burden), for your carnal soul predominates: the predominant (quality) determines (a thing's nature), O worshipper of self.

تو ستوری هم که نفست غالبست ** حکم غالب را بود ای خودپرست

The Almighty did not call you an ass, He called you a horse: the Arabs say to the Arab horse “ta‘ál” (“come”).

خر نخواندت اسپ خواندت ذوالجلال ** اسپ تازی را عرب گوید تعال