Wherefore have you given the name “death” to (what is really) provision (for the spirit)? Observe the sorcery that has caused the provision (barg) to seem to you death (marg).
از چه نام برگ را کردی تو مرگ ** جادوی بین که نمودت مرگ برگ
The magic of His (God's) doing has bound both your eyes, so that desire for the (worldly) pit has come over your soul.
هر دو چشمت بست سحر صنعتش ** تا که جان را در چه آمد رغبتش
Through the contrivance of the Creator, in its (your soul's) fancy all the expanse above the pit is (full of) poison and snakes;1380
در خیال او ز مکر کردگار ** جمله صحرا فوق چه زهرست و مار
Consequently it has made the pit a refuge (for itself), so that (fear of) death has cast it into the pit.
لاجرم چه را پناهی ساختست ** تا که مرگ او را به چاه انداختست
(Having heard) what I have said concerning your misapprehensions, O dear friend, hear also the utterance of ‘Attár on this same (subject).
اینچ گفتم از غلطهات ای عزیز ** هم برین بشنو دم عطار نیز
Story of Sultan Mahmúd and the Hindú boy.
قصه‌ی سلطان محمود و غلام هندو
He, God have mercy upon him, has told it: he has strung together the tale of King Mahmúd, the Ghází—
رحمة الله علیه گفته است ** ذکر شه محمود غازی سفته است
How, amongst the booty of his campaign in India, (there was) a boy (who) was brought into the presence of that sovereign.
کز غزای هند پیش آن همام ** در غنیمت اوفتادش یک غلام
Afterwards he made him his vicegerent and seated him on the throne and gave him preferment above (the rest of) the army and called him “son.”1385
پس خلیفه‌ش کرد و بر تختش نشاند ** بر سپه بگزیدش و فرزند خواند
Seek the length and breadth and all particulars of the story in the discourse of that prince of the Faith.
طول و عرض و وصف قصه تو به تو ** در کلام آن بزرگ دین بجو
In short, the lad was seated on this throne of gold beside the King-emperor.
حاصل آن کودک برین تخت نضار ** شسته پهلوی قباد شهریار