- But the arrows never (once) hit a vital spot: this is a matter of luck, not of bravery or cunning.
- لیک بر مقتل نیامد تیرها ** کار بخت است این نه جلدی و دها
- When (I saw that) martyrdom was not the lot of my spirit, I went immediately into (religious) seclusion and (entered on) a forty days' fast. 3785
- چون شهیدی روزی جانم نبود ** رفتم اندر خلوت و در چله زود
- I threw myself into the Greater Warfare (which consists) in practising austerities and becoming lean.
- در جهاد اکبر افکندم بدن ** در ریاضت کردن و لاغر شدن
- (One day) there reached my ear the sound of the drums of the holy warriors; for the hard-fighting army was on the march.
- بانگ طبل غازیان آمد به گوش ** که خرامیدند جیش غزوکوش
- My fleshly soul cried out to me from within: at morningtide I heard (its voice) with my sensuous ear,
- نفس از باطن مرا آواز داد ** که به گوش حس شنیدم بامداد
- (Saying), ‘Arise! ’Tis time to fight. Go, devote thyself to fighting in the holy war!’
- خیز هنگام غزا آمد برو ** خویش را در غزو کردن کن گرو
- I answered, ‘O wicked perfidious soul, what hast thou to do with the desire to fight? 3790
- گفتم ای نفس خبیث بی‌وفا ** از کجا میل غزا تو از کجا
- Tell the truth, O my soul! This is trickery. Else (why wouldst thou fight)?—the lustful soul is quit of obedience (to the Divine command).
- راست گوی ای نفس کین حیلت‌گریست ** ورنه نفس شهوت از طاعت بریست
- Unless thou tell the truth, I will attack thee, I will squeeze (torment) thee more painfully (than before) in maceration.’
- گر نگویی راست حمله آرمت ** در ریاضت سخت‌تر افشارمت
- Thereupon my soul, mutely eloquent, cried out in guile from within me,
- نفس بانگ آورد آن دم از درون ** با فصاحت بی‌دهان اندر فسون