- 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
- Inasmuch as, to whatsoever thought you give up your mind, something will secretly be taken away from you, 1505
- چون به هر فکری که دل خواهی سپرد ** از تو چیزی در نهان خواهند برد
- Whatsoever acquisition you may make, O solicitous one, the thief will enter from the side where you feel safe,
- هر چه اندیشی و تحصیلی کنی ** میدرآید دزد از آن سو کایمنی
- Become occupied, therefore, with that which is better, in order that the thief may take away from you something that is less (in worth).
- پس بدان مشغول شود کان بهترست ** تا ز تو چیزی برد کان کهترست
- When the trader's bales fall into the water, he lays his hands upon the better merchandise.
- بار بازرگان چو در آب اوفتد ** دست اندر کالهی بهتر زند
- Since something will (certainly) be lost in the water, take leave of the less (worse) and gain (possession of) the better.
- چون که چیزی فوت خواهد شد در آب ** ترک کمتر گوی و بهتر را بیاب
- How the excellence and sagacity of Luqmán became manifest to those who made trial (of him).
- ظاهر شدن فضل و زیرکی لقمان پیش امتحان کنندگان
- Whatever food they brought to him (Luqmán's master), he would send some one to Luqmán after (receiving it), 1510
- هر طعامی کاوریدندی به وی ** کس سوی لقمان فرستادی ز پی
- That Luqmán might put his hand to (partake of) it, on purpose that the master might eat his (Luqmán's) leavings.
- تا که لقمان دست سوی آن برد ** قاصدا تا خواجه پس خوردش خورد
- He would eat his remnants and be enraptured: any food that he (Luqmán) did not taste, he (the master) would throw away;
- سور او خوردی و شور انگیختی ** هر طعامی کاو نخوردی ریختی
- Or if he ate (of it), (’twould be) without heart and without appetite: this is (the sign of) an affinity without end.
- ور بخوردی بیدل و بیاشتها ** این بود پیوندی بیانتها
- They had brought a melon as a present. “Go, my son” said he, “and call Luqmán.”
- خربزه آورده بودند ارمغان ** گفت رو فرزند لقمان را بخوان
- When he cut it and gave him a slice, he ate it as if it were sugar and honey. 1515
- چون برید و داد او را یک برین ** همچو شکر خوردش و چون انگبین
- On account of the pleasure with which he ate (it), he gave him a second (slice), (and went on) till the slices (given him) reached the seventeenth.
- از خوشی که خورد داد او را دوم ** تا رسید آن گرچها تا هفدهم
- One slice remained. He said, “I will eat this (myself), so that I may see what a sweet melon this is.
- ماند گرچی گفت این را من خورم ** تا چه شیرین خربزه ست این بنگرم