- A certain man caught a bird by guile and trap: the bird said to him, “O noble sire, 2245
- آن یکی مرغی گرفت از مکر و دام ** مرغ او را گفت ای خواجه‌ی همام
- Thou hast eaten many oxen and sheep, thou hast sacrificed many camels;
- به تو بسی گاوان و میشان خورده‌ای ** تو بسی اشتر به قربان کرده‌ای
- Thou hast never in the world been sated by them, neither wilt thou be sated by my limbs.
- تو نگشتی سیر زانها در زمن ** هم نگردی سیر از اجزای من
- Let me go, that I may bestow on thee three counsels, that thou mayst perceive whether I am wise or foolish.
- هل مرا تا که سه پندت بر دهم ** تا بدانی زیرکم یا ابلهم
- (I will give thee) the first of those counsels on thy hand, the second of them on thy plastered roof,
- اول آن پند هم در دست تو ** ثانیش بر بام کهگل بست تو
- And the third counsel I will give thee on a tree. (Let me go), for thou wilt become fortunate through these three counsels. 2250
- وآن سوم پند دهم من بر درخت ** که ازین سه پند گردی نیکبخت
- (As for) that saying which is (to be said) on thy hand, ’tis this: ‘do not believe an absurdity (when thou hearest it) from any one.’”
- آنچ بر دستست اینست آن سخن ** که محالی را ز کس باور مکن
- When it (the bird) had uttered the first grave counsel on his palm, it became free and went (to perch) on the wall (of his house),
- بر کفش چون گفت اول پند زفت ** گشت آزاد و بر آن دیوار رفت
- And said, “The second is, ‘do not grieve over (what is) past: when it has passed from thee, do not feel regret for it.’”
- گفت دیگر بر گذشته غم مخور ** چون ز تو بگذشت زان حسرت مبر
- After that, it said to him, “In my body is concealed a solitary (large and precious) pearl, ten dirhems in weight.
- بعد از آن گفتش که در جسمم کتیم ** ده درمسنگست یک در یتیم