From seeing the kernel (essential principle) the whole body becomes (filled with) desire: it becomes miserable and passionately in love, for “Wretched is he who desires.”
شد ز دید لب جمله‌ی تن طمع ** خوار و عاشق شد که ذل من طمع
When it does not see the kernel, it is content with the skin: (then) the bondage of “Glorious is he who is content” is its prison.
چون نبیند مغز قانع شد به پوست ** بند عز من قنع زندان اوست
Here glory is infidelity, and wretchedness is (true) religion: until the stone became naughted, when did it become the gem set in a ring?1945
عزت اینجا گبریست و ذل دین ** سنگ تا فانی نشد کی شد نگین
(To remain) in the state of stoniness and then (to say) “I” (is absurd): ’tis time for thee to become lowly and naughted (dead to self).
در مقام سنگی آنگاهی انا ** وقت مسکین گشتن تست وفنا
Pride always seeks power and riches because the bath-furnace derives its perfection from dung;
کبر زان جوید همیشه جاه و مال ** که ز سرگینست گلحن را کمال
For these two nurses increase (foster) the skin: they stuff it with fat and flesh and pride and arrogance.
کین دو دایه پوست را افزون کنند ** شحم و لحم و کبر و نخوت آکنند
They have not raised their eyes to the kernel of the kernel: on that account they have deemed the skin to be the kernel.
دیده را بر لب لب نفراشتند ** پوست را زان روی لب پنداشتند
Iblís was the leader on this way, for he fell a prey to the net (temptation) of power (eminence).1950
پیش‌وا ابلیس بود این راه را ** کو شکار آمد شبیکه‌ی جاه را
Riches are like a snake, and power is a dragon: the shadow (protection and guidance) of (holy) men is the emerald (which is fatal) to them both.
مال چون مارست و آن جاه اژدها ** سایه‌ی مردان زمرد این دو را
At (the sight of) that emerald the snake's eye jumps (out of its head): the snake is blinded and the traveller is delivered (from death).
زان زمرد مار را دیده جهد ** کور گردد مار و ره‌رو وا رهد