- In the body of the sparrow what power and faculty is there that is hidden from the intellect of the falcon? 1480
- در تن گنجشک چه بود برگ و ساز ** که شود پوشیده آن بر عقل باز
- He who has become acquainted with the secrets of Hú (God), what to him is the secret (inmost consciousness) of created beings?
- آن که واقف گشت بر اسرار هو ** سر مخلوقات چه بود پیش او
- He whose walk is on the spheres, how should it be hard for him to walk on the earth?
- آن که بر افلاک رفتارش بود ** بر زمین رفتن چه دشوارش بود
- Since iron became wax in the hand of David, what should wax be in his hand, O man of iniquity?
- در کف داود کاهن گشت موم ** موم چه بود در کف او ای ظلوم
- Luqmán was a slave in appearance, a master (in reality): servitude was (only) a frontispiece on his outside.
- بود لقمان بنده شکلی خواجهای ** بندگی بر ظاهرش دیباجهای
- When the master goes to a place where he is not known, he puts (his own) clothes on his slave. 1485
- چون رود خواجه به جای ناشناس ** در غلام خویش پوشاند لباس
- He (himself) puts on the slave's clothes and makes his slave the leader.
- او بپوشد جامههای آن غلام ** مر غلام خویش را سازد امام
- He goes behind him on the road, as slaves do, lest any one should recognise him (as the master).
- در پیش چون بندگان در ره شود ** تا نباید زو کسی آگه شود
- “O slave,” says he, “go you and sit in the place of honour: I will take (your) shoes, like the meanest slave.
- گوید ای بنده تو رو بر صدر شین ** من بگیرم کفش چون بندهی کهین
- Treat (me) roughly and revile me; do not bestow any respect on me.
- تو درشتی کن مرا دشنام ده ** مر مرا تو هیچ توقیری منه
- I hold neglect of service to be your (proper) service, since I have sown the seed of contrivance by dwelling in a foreign land.” 1490
- ترک خدمت خدمت تو داشتم ** تا به غربت تخم حیلت کاشتم
- Masters have performed these slavish offices in order that it might be thought that they were slaves.
- خواجگان این بندگیها کردهاند ** تا گمان آید که ایشان بردهاند
- They saw their fill of masterdom and were sated (with it): (hence) they have made ready for (doing) the work (of slaves).
- چشم پر بودند و سیر از خواجگی ** کارها را کردهاند آمادگی
- On the contrary, these slaves of sensuality have represented themselves as masters of intellect and spirit.
- وین غلامان هوا بر عکس آن ** خویشتن بنموده خواجهی عقل و جان
- From the master (the spiritual man) comes the practice of self-abasement; from the slave (the sensual man) comes naught but slavishness.
- آید از خواجه ره افکندگی ** ناید از بنده بغیر بندگی
- So topsy-turvy, then, are the arrangements between that world and this world. Know this (for sure). 1495
- پس از آن عالم بدین عالم چنان ** تعبیتها هست بر عکس این بدان
- Luqmán's master was aware of this hidden state (of Luqmán); he had seen signs (thereof) in him.
- خواجهی لقمان از این حال نهان ** بود واقف دیده بود از وی نشان
- He knew the secret, (but) quietly drove his ass on that road (pursued his way) for the sake of the good (which he had in view).
- راز میدانست و خوش میراند خر ** از برای مصلحت آن راهبر
- He would have set him free at the first, but he sought to content (comply with the wish of) Luqmán,
- مر و را آزاد کردی از نخست ** لیک خشنودی لقمان را بجست
- Because it was Luqmán's desire (to remain a slave), in order that none might know the secret of that brave and generous youth.
- ز انکه لقمان را مراد این بود تا ** کس نداند سر آن شیر و فتی
- What wonder (is it) if you hide your secret from the evil (one)? The wonder is this, that you should hide the secret from yourself. 1500
- چه عجب گر سر ز بد پنهان کنی ** این عجب که سر ز خود پنهان کنی
- Hide your work from your own eyes, that your work may be safe from the evil eye.
- کار پنهان کن تو از چشمان خود ** تا بود کارت سلیم از چشم بد
- Yield yourself up to the snare of the (Divine) reward, and then, (being) beside yourself, steal something from yourself.
- خویش را تسلیم کن بر دام مزد ** و انگه از خود بیز خود چیزی بدزد
- They give opium to the wounded man, in order that they may extract the point (of a spear or arrow) from his body.
- میدهند افیون به مرد زخممند ** تا که پیکان از تنش بیرون کنند
- At the hour of death he is torn with pain; he becomes preoccupied with that, and (meanwhile) his spirit (life) is taken away.
- وقت مرگ از رنج او را میدرند ** او بدان مشغول شد جان میبرند