- Piercing their bodies with the scalpel in order to extract the barbs from their wounds.
- می‌شکافیدند تن‌هاشان بنیش ** تا برون آرند پیکانها ز ریش
- The ass saw (all) that, and was saying, “O God, I am satisfied with poverty and health. 2380
- آن خر آن را دید و می‌گفت ای خدا ** من به فقر و عافیت دادم رضا
- I have no taste for that (plentiful) food and those hideous wounds.” Every one who desires (spiritual) health abandons the world.
- زان نوا بیزارم و زان زخم زشت ** هرکه خواهد عافیت دنیا بهشت
- How the fox disapproved of the saying of the ass, “I am satisfied with my lot.”
- ناپسندیدن روباه گفتن خر را کی من راضیم به قسمت
- The fox said, “It is an (indispensable) obligation to seek lawful provision in obedience (to the Divine command).
- گفت روبه جستن رزق حلال ** فرض باشد از برای امتثال
- (This) is the world of means: nothing is obtained without a means: therefore it is important (necessary) to seek (provision).
- عالم اسباب و چیزی بی‌سبب ** می‌نباید پس مهم باشد طلب
- ‘And seek ye of the bounty of God’ is (a Divine) command, lest they (men) should seize (the property of others) by violence, like the leopard.
- وابتغوا من فضل الله است امر ** تا نباید غصب کردن هم‌چو نمر
- The Prophet hath said, ‘The door is shut against (the arrival of) provision, O youth; and on the door there are locks.’ 2385
- گفت پیغامبر که بر رزق ای فتی ** در فرو بسته‌ست و بر در قفلها
- Our movement (exertion) and our going to and fro (in search) and our acquisition is a key to that lock and barrier.
- جنبش و آمد شد ما و اکتساب ** هست مفتاحی بر آن قفل و حجاب
- Without the key there is no way to open the door: bread without endeavour is not (according to) God's law.”
- بی‌کلید این در گشادن راه نیست ** بی‌طلب نان سنت الله نیست
- How the ass answered the fox.
- جواب گفتن خر روباه را
- He (the ass) replied, “That is (the result) of weak faith; else He who gave (us) life (also) gives (us) bread.
- گفت از ضعف توکل باشد آن ** ورنه بدهد نان کسی که داد جان