- The officials smiled at that, but they accepted it (the jug) as (though it were precious as) life,
- خنده میآمد نقیبان را از آن ** لیک پذرفتند آن را همچو جان
- Because the graciousness of the good and wise King had made a mark (impressed itself) on all the courtiers.
- ز آن که لطف شاه خوب با خبر ** کرده بود اندر همه ارکان اثر
- The disposition of kings settles (becomes implanted) in their subjects: the green sky makes the earth verdant. 2820
- خوی شاهان در رعیت جا کند ** چرخ اخضر خاک را خضرا کند
- Regard the king as a reservoir, his retainers as the pipes: the water runs through the pipe into the ponds (receptacles).
- شه چو حوضی دان حشم چون لولهها ** آب از لوله روان در کولهها
- When the water in all (the pipes) is from a pure reservoir, every single one gives sweet water, pleasant to taste;
- چون که آب جمله از حوضی است پاک ** هر یکی آبی دهد خوش ذوقناک
- But if the water in the reservoir is brackish and dirty, every pipe brings the same to view,
- ور در آن حوض آب شور است و پلید ** هر یکی لوله همان آرد پدید
- Because every pipe is connected with the reservoir. Dive, dive into (ponder deeply) the meaning of these words.
- ز آن که پیوسته ست هر لوله به حوض ** خوض کن در معنی این حرف خوض
- (Consider) how the imperial grace of the homeless Spirit has produced effects on the whole body; 2825
- لطف شاهنشاه جان بیوطن ** چون اثر کرده ست اندر کل تن
- How the grace of Reason, which is of goodly nature, of goodly lineage, brings the entire body into discipline;
- لطف عقل خوش نهاد خوش نسب ** چون همه تن را در آرد در ادب
- How Love, saucy, uncontrolled, and restless, throws the whole body into madness.
- عشق شنگ بیقرار بیسکون ** چون در آرد کل تن را در جنون
- The purity of the water of the Sea that is like Kawthar (is such that) all its pebbles are pearls and gems.
- لطف آب بحر کاو چون کوثر است ** سنگ ریزهش جمله در و گوهر است
- For whatever science the master is renowned, the souls of his pupils become endued with the same.
- هر هنر که استا بدان معروف شد ** جان شاگردان بدان موصوف شد
- With the master-theologian the quick and industrious pupil reads (scholastic) theology. 2830
- پیش استاد اصولی هم اصول ** خواند آن شاگرد چست با حصول
- With the master-jurist the student of jurisprudence reads jurisprudence, when he (the teacher) expounds it, not theology.
- پیش استاد فقیه آن فقه خوان ** فقه خواند نی اصول اندر بیان
- With the master who is a grammarian—the soul of his pupil becomes imbued by him with grammar.
- پیش استادی که او نحوی بود ** جان شاگردش از او نحوی شود
- Again, the master who is absorbed in the Way (of Súfism)— because of him the soul of his pupil is absorbed in the King (God).
- باز استادی که او محو ره است ** جان شاگردش از او محو شه است
- Of all these various kinds of knowledge, on the day of death the (best) equipment and provision for the road is the knowledge of (spiritual) poverty.
- زین همه انواع دانش روز مرگ ** دانش فقر است ساز راه و برگ
- The story of what passed between the grammarian and the boatman.
- حکایت ماجرای نحوی و کشتیبان
- A certain grammarian embarked in a boat. That self-conceited person turned to the boatman 2835
- آن یکی نحوی به کشتی درنشست ** رو به کشتیبان نهاد آن خود پرست
- And said, “Have you ever studied grammar?” “No,” he replied. The other said, “Half your life is gone to naught.”
- گفت هیچ از نحو خواندی گفت لا ** گفت نیم عمر تو شد در فنا
- The boatman became heart-broken with grief, but at the time he refrained from answering.
- دل شکسته گشت کشتیبان ز تاب ** لیک آن دم کرد خامش از جواب
- The wind cast the boat into a whirlpool: the boatman spoke loud (shouted) to the grammarian,
- باد کشتی را به گردابی فگند ** گفت کشتیبان به آن نحوی بلند
- “Tell me, do you know how to swim?” “No,” said he, “O fair-spoken good-looking man!”
- هیچ دانی آشنا کردن بگو ** گفت نی ای خوش جواب خوب رو
- “O grammarian,” said he, “your whole life is naught, because the boat is sinking in these whirlpools.” 2840
- گفت کل عمرت ای نحوی فناست ** ز آن که کشتی غرق این گردابهاست
- Know that here mahw (self-effacement) is needed, not nah? (grammar): if you are mahw (dead to self), plunge into the sea without peril.
- محو میباید نه نحو اینجا بدان ** گر تو محوی بیخطر در آب ران
- The water of the sea places the dead one on its head (causes him to float on the surface); but if he be living, how shall he escape from the sea?
- آب دریا مرده را بر سر نهد ** ور بود زنده ز دریا کی رهد