- That person was going about in a bazaar in the daytime with a candle, his heart full of love and (spiritual) ardour.
- آن یکی با شمع برمی‌گشت روز ** گرد بازاری دلش پر عشق و سوز
- A busybody said to him, “Hey, O such-and-such, what are you seeking beside every shop?
- بوالفضولی گفت او را کای فلان ** هین چه می‌جویی به سوی هر دکان
- Hey, why are you going about in search (of something) with a lamp in bright daylight? What is the joke?”
- هین چه می‌گردی تو جویان با چراغ ** در میان روز روشن چیست لاغ
- He replied, “I am searching everywhere for a man that is alive with the life inspired by that (Divine) Breath. 2890
- گفت می‌جویم به هر سو آدمی ** که بود حی از حیات آن دمی
- Is there a man in existence?” “This bazaar,” said the other, “is full: surely they are men, O noble sage.”
- هست مردی گفت این بازار پر ** مردمانند آخر ای دانای حر
- He answered, “I want (one who is) a man on the two-wayed road—in the way of anger and at the time of desire.
- گفت خواهم مرد بر جاده‌ی دو ره ** در ره خشم و به هنگام شره
- Where is (one who is) a man at the moment of anger and at the moment of appetite? In search of (such) a man I am running from street to street.
- وقت خشم و وقت شهوت مرد کو ** طالب مردی دوانم کو به کو
- Where in the world is (one who is) a man on these two occasions, that I may devote my life to him to-day?”
- کو درین دو حال مردی در جهان ** تا فدای او کنم امروز جان
- “You are seeking a rare thing,” said he; “but you take no heed of the (Divine) ordinance and destiny. Consider well! 2895
- گفت نادر چیز می‌جویی ولیک ** غافل از حکم و قضایی بین تو نیک
- You regard (only) the branch, you are unaware of the root: we are the branch, the ordinances of the (Divine) decree are the root.”
- ناظر فرعی ز اصلی بی‌خبر ** فرع ماییم اصل احکام قدر