“Yes,” said the lion; “but at the same time consider the exertions of the prophets and the true believers.
شیر گفت آری و لیکن هم ببین ** جهدهای انبیا و مومنین
God, exalted is He, prospered their exertion and what they suffered of oppression and heat and cold.
حق تعالی جهدشان را راست کرد ** آن چه دیدند از جفا و گرم و سرد
Their plans were excellent in all circumstances: everything done by a goodly man is goodly.
حیلههاشان جمله حال آمد لطیف ** کل شیء من ظریف هو ظریف
Their snares caught the Heavenly bird, all their deficiencies turned to increment.”
دامهاشان مرغ گردونی گرفت ** نقصهاشان جمله افزونی گرفت
O master, exert thyself so long as thou canst in (following) the way of the prophets and saints!975
جهد میکن تا توانی ای کیا ** در طریق انبیا و اولیا
Endeavour is not a struggle with Destiny, because Destiny itself has laid this (endeavour) upon us.
با قضا پنجه زدن نبود جهاد ** ز آن که این را هم قضا بر ما نهاد
I am an infidel if any one has suffered loss a single moment (while walking) in the way of faith and obedience.
کافرم من گر زیان کرده ست کس ** در ره ایمان و طاعت یک نفس
Your head is not broken: do not bandage this head. Exert yourself (in doing good works) for one or two little days (i.e. during this brief life), and laugh unto everlasting!
سر شکسته نیست این سر را مبند ** یک دو روزک جهد کن باقی بخند
An evil resort sought he that sought this world; a good state sought he that sought the world to come.
بد محالی جست کاو دنیا بجست ** نیک حالی جست کاو عقبی بجست
Plots for gaining (the things of) this world are worthless, (but) plots for renouncing this world are inspired (by God).980
مکرها در کسب دنیا بارد است ** مکرها در ترک دنیا وارد است
The (right) plot is that he (the prisoner) digs a hole in his prison (in order to escape); if he blocks up the hole, that is a foolish plot.
مکر آن باشد که زندان حفره کرد ** آن که حفره بست آن مکری ست سرد
This world is the prison, and we are the prisoners: dig a hole in the prison and let yourself out!
این جهان زندان و ما زندانیان ** حفره کن زندان و خود را وارهان
What is this world? To be forgetful of God; it is not merchandise and silver and weighing-scales and women.
چیست دنیا از خدا غافل بدن ** نی قماش و نقره و میزان و زن
As regards the wealth that you carry for religion's sake, “How good is righteous wealth (for the righteous man)!” as the Prophet recited.
مال را کز بهر دین باشی حمول ** نعم مال صالح خواندش رسول
Water in the boat is the ruin of the boat, (but) water underneath the boat is a support.985
آب در کشتی هلاک کشتی است ** آب اندر زیر کشتی پشتی است
Since he cast out from his heart (the desire for) wealth and possessions, on that account Solomon did not call himself (by any name) but “poor.”
چون که مال و ملک را از دل براند ** ز آن سلیمان خویش جز مسکین نخواند
The stoppered jar, (though) in rough water, floated on the water because of its wind-filled (empty) heart.
کوزهی سر بسته اندر آب زفت ** از دل پر باد فوق آب رفت
When the wind of poverty is within (any one), he rests at peace on the surface of the water of the world;
باد درویشی چو در باطن بود ** بر سر آب جهان ساکن بود
Although the whole of this world is his kingdom, in the eye of his heart the kingdom is nothing.
گر چه جملهی این جهان ملک وی است ** ملک در چشم دل او لا شی است
Therefore stopper and seal the mouth of your heart, and fill it from the Divine ventilator.990
پس دهان دل ببند و مهر کن ** پر کنش از باد کبر من لدن
Exertion is a reality, and medicine and disease are realities: the sceptic in his denial of exertion practised (and thereby affirmed) exertion.
جهد حق است و دوا حق است و درد ** منکر اندر نفی جهدش جهد کرد
How the superiority of exertion to trust in God was established.
مقرر شدن ترجیح جهد بر توکل
The lion gave many proofs in this style, so that those necessitarians became tired of answering (him).
زین نمط بسیار برهان گفت شیر ** کز جواب آن جبریان گشتند سیر
Fox and deer and hare and jackal abandoned (the doctrine of) necessity and (ceased from) disputation.
روبه و آهو و خرگوش و شغال ** جبر را بگذاشتند و قیل و قال
They made covenants with the furious lion, (ensuring) that he should incur no loss in this bargain,
عهدها کردند با شیر ژیان ** کاندر این بیعت نیفتد در زیان
(That) the daily ration should come to him without trouble, and that he should not need to make a further demand.995
قسم هر روزش بیاید بیجگر ** حاجتش نبود تقاضای دگر