- The water was in a deep place: the thirsty man went up the tree and scattered the walnuts one by one. 745
- در نغولی بود آب آن تشنه راند ** بر درخت جوز جوزی می‌فشاند
- The walnuts were falling from the walnut-tree into the water: the sound was coming (to his ears), and he was seeing the bubbles.
- می‌فتاد از جوزبن جوز اندر آب ** بانگ می‌آمد همی دید او حباب
- A sensible person said to him, “Leave off, O youth: truly the (loss of the) walnuts will bring thirst (regret) to you.
- عاقلی گفتش که بگذار ای فتی ** جوزها خود تشنگی آرد ترا
- The more the fruit falls into the water—(since) the water is below at a (great) distance from you,
- بیشتر در آب می‌افتد ثمر ** آب در پستیست از تو دور در
- The river-water will have carried it (the fruit) far away before you with effort come down from the top (of the tree).”
- تا تو از بالا فرو آیی به زور ** آب جویش برده باشد تا به دور
- He replied, “My purpose in this scattering is not (to obtain possession of) the walnuts: look more keenly, do not stop at this superficial (view). 750
- گفت قصدم زین فشاندن جوز نیست ** تیزتر بنگر برین ظاهر مه‌ایست
- My purpose is that the sound of the water should come (to my ears); also, that I should see these bubbles on the surface of the water.”
- قصد من آنست که آید بانگ آب ** هم ببینم بر سر آب این حباب
- What, indeed, is the thirsty man's business in the world? To circle for ever round the base of the tank,
- تشنه را خود شغل چه بود در جهان ** گرد پای حوض گشتن جاودان
- Round the channel and round the Water and the sound of the Water, like a pilgrim circumambulating the Ka‘ba of Truth.
- گرد جو و گرد آب و بانگ آب ** هم‌چو حاجی طایف کعبه‌ی صواب
- Even so, in (composing) this Mathnawí thou, O Ziyá’u ’l-Haqq (Radiance of God) Husámu’ddín, art my object.
- هم‌چنان مقصود من زین مثنوی ** ای ضیاء الحق حسام‌الدین توی