- If thou wish the people to have everlasting life, cut off the heads of these four foul and evil birds,
- خلق را گر زندگی خواهی ابد ** سر ببر زین چار مرغ شوم بد
- (And then) revive them again in another sort, so that afterwards no harm will be done by them.
- بازشان زنده کن از نوعی دگر ** که نباشد بعد از آن زیشان ضرر
- The four immaterial birds which infest the Way have made their home in the hearts of the people. 40
- چار مرغ معنوی راه‌زن ** کرده‌اند اندر دل خلقان وطن
- Since in this epoch thou, O Vicegerent of God, art the commander of all righteous hearts,
- چون امیر جمله دلهای سوی ** اندرین دور ای خلیفه‌ی حق توی
- Cut off the heads of these four live birds and make everlasting the creatures that are not enduring for ever.
- سر ببر این چار مرغ زنده را ** سر مدی کن خلق ناپاینده را
- There is the duck and the peacock and the crow and the cock: these are a parable of the four (evil) dispositions in (human) souls.
- بط و طاوسست و زاغست و خروس ** این مثال چار خلق اندر نفوس
- The duck is greed, and the cock is lust; eminence is like the peacock, and the crow is (worldly) desire.
- بط حرصست و خروس آن شهوتست ** جاه چون طاوس و زاغ امنیتست
- His (the crow's) object of desire is this, that he forms hopes and wishes for immortality or long life. 45
- منیتش آن که بود اومیدساز ** طامع تابید یا عمر دراز
- The duck is greed, for her bill is always in the ground, seeking what is buried in the wet and dry.
- بط حرص آمد که نولش در زمین ** در تر و در خشک می‌جوید دفین
- That gullet (of hers) is never idle for a moment: it hearkens unto naught of the (Divine) ordinance save the command “Eat ye!”
- یک زمان نبود معطل آن گلو ** نشنود از حکم جز امر کلوا