Truly the affliction of hunger is better than those maladies in respect both of its subtilty and its lightness and (its effect on devotional) work.2830
رنج جوع اولی بود خود زان علل ** هم به لطف و هم به خفت هم عمل
The affliction of hunger is purer than (all other) afflictions, especially (as) in hunger there are a hundred advantages and excellences.
رنج جوع از رنجها پاکیزه‌تر ** خاصه در جوعست صد نفع و هنر
Explaining the excellency of abstinence and hunger.
در بیان فضیلت احتما و جوع
Indeed hunger is the king of medicines: hark, lay hunger to thy heart, do not regard it with such contempt.
جوع خود سلطان داروهاست هین ** جوع در جان نه چنین خوارش مبین
Everything unsweet is made sweet by hunger: without hunger all sweet things are unacceptable.
جمله ناخوش از مجاعت خوش شدست ** جمله خوشها بی‌مجاعتها ردست
Parable.
مثل
A certain person was eating bread made of bran: some one asked him, “How are you so fond of this?”
آن یکی می‌خورد نان فخفره ** گفت سایل چون بدین استت شره
He replied, “When hunger is doubled by self-denial, barley bread is (as sweet as) halwá in my opinion;2835
گفت جوع از صبر چون دوتا شود ** نان جو در پیش من حلوا شود
Therefore when I deny myself once, I can eat halwá entirely, (so) of course I am very self-denying (abstinent).”
پس توانم که همه حلوا خورم ** چون کنم صبری صبورم لاجرم
Hunger, in truth, is not conquered by every one, for this (world) is a place where fodder is abundant beyond measure.
خود نباشد جوع هر کس را زبون ** کین علف‌زاریست ز اندازه برون
Hunger is bestowed as a gift on God's elect (alone), that through hunger they may become puissant lions.
جوع مر خاصان حق را داده‌اند ** تا شوند از جوع شیر زورمند
How should hunger be bestowed on every beggarly churl? Since the fodder is not scarce they set it before him,
جوع هر جلف گدا را کی دهند ** چون علف کم نیست پیش او نهند