So far as you can, endeavour to satisfy the Qutb, so that he may gain strength and hunt the wild beasts.2340
تا توانی در رضای قطب کوش ** تا قوی گردد کند صید وحوش
When he is ailing, the people remain unfed, for all food provided for the gullet comes from the hand of reason,
چو برنجد بی‌نوا مانند خلق ** کز کف عقلست جمله رزق حلق
Since the ecstasies (spiritual experiences) of the people are (only) his leavings. Keep this (in mind), if your heart desires the (spiritual) prey.
زانک وجد حلق باقی خورد اوست ** این نگه دار ار دل تو صیدجوست
He is like the reason, and the people are like the members of the body: the management of the body depends on the reason.
او چو عقل و خلق چون اعضا و تن ** بسته‌ی عقلست تدبیر بدن
The weakness of the Qutb is bodily, not spiritual: the weakness lies in the Ship (Ark), not in Noah.
ضعف قطب از تن بود از روح نی ** ضعف در کشتی بود در نوح نی
The Qutb is he who turns round himself, (while) round him is the revolution of the celestial spheres.2345
قطب آن باشد که گرد خود تند ** گردش افلاک گرد او بود
Lend some assistance in repairing his (bodily) ship, if you have become his favourite slave and devoted servant.
یاریی ده در مرمه‌ی کشتی‌اش ** گر غلام خاص و بنده گشتی‌اش
Your assistance is (really) advantageous to you, not to him: God hath said, “If ye help God, ye will be helped.”
یاریت در تو فزاید نه اندرو ** گفت حق ان تنصروا الله تنصروا
Hunt like the fox and sacrifice your prey to him (the Qutb), that you may gain in return a thousand preys and more.
هم‌چو روبه صید گیر و کن فداش ** تا عوض گیری هزاران صید بیش
The prey caught by the (obedient) disciple is (presented alive) after the manner of the fox, (but) the froward hyena catches prey (that is already) dead.
روبهانه باشد آن صید مرید ** مرده گیرد صید کفتار مرید