- A tomb with domes and turrets—that is not good (approved) on the part of the followers of Reality.
- گورخانه و قبه‌ها و کنگره ** نبود از اصحاب معنی آن سره
- Look now at a living person attired in satin: does the satin help his understanding at all?
- بنگر اکنون زنده اطلس‌پوش را ** هیچ اطلس دست گیرد هوش را
- His soul is in hateful torment, the scorpion of grief is in his grief-laden heart. 135
- در عذاب منکرست آن جان او ** گزدم غم دل دل غمدان او
- Outside, on his exterior, broideries and decorations; but within he is sorely lamenting from (bitter) thoughts,
- از برون بر ظاهرش نقش و نگار ** وز درون ز اندیشه‌ها او زار زار
- While you may see another in an old patched frock, his thoughts (sweet) as the sugar-cane and his words (like) sugar.
- و آن یکی بینی در آن دلق کهن ** چون نبات اندیشه و شکر سخن
- Returning to the Story of the elephant.
- بازگشتن به حکایت پیل
- Said the sincere adviser, “Hearken to this counsel of mine, so that your hearts and souls may not be afflicted.
- گفت ناصح بشنوید این پند من ** تا دل و جانتان نگردد ممتحن
- Be content with herbage and leaves, do not go in chase of the young elephants.
- با گیاه و برگها قانع شوید ** در شکار پیل‌بچگان کم روید
- I have put off from my neck (I have discharged) the debt of admonition: how should the end (final result) of admonition be aught but felicity? 140
- من برون کردم ز گردن وام نصح ** جز سعادت کی بود انجام نصح
- I came to deliver the message, that I may save you from (fruitless) repentance.
- من به تبلیغ رسالت آمدم ** تا رهانم مر شما را از ندم
- Beware! Let not greed waylay you, let not greed for victual tear you up by the roots!”
- هین مبادا که طمع رهتان زند ** طمع برگ از بیخهاتان بر کند
- This he said, and gave a farewell and departed; their famine and hunger waxed great on the way.
- این بگفت و خیربادی کرد و رفت ** گشت قحط و جوعشان در راه زفت
- Suddenly, in the direction of a highroad, they espied a fat young elephant, newly born.
- ناگهان دیدند سوی جاده‌ای ** پور پیلی فربهی نو زاده‌ای
- They fell upon it like furious wolves, ate it clean up, and washed their hands. 145
- اندر افتادند چون گرگان مست ** پاک خوردندش فرو شستند دست
- One of the fellow-travellers did not eat (of it) and exhorted (the others to abstain), for the sayings of that dervish were remembered by him.
- آن یکی همره نخورد و پند داد ** که حدیث آن فقیرش بود یاد
- Those words hindered him from (eating) its roasted flesh: old intelligence bestows on thee a new fortune.
- از کبابش مانع آمد آن سخن ** بخت نو بخشد ترا عقل کهن
- Then they all fell down and slept, but the hungry one (was awake) like the shepherd in the flock.
- پس بیفتادند و خفتند آن همه ** وان گرسنه چون شبان اندر رمه
- He saw a frightful elephant approaching: first she came and ran towards him who was keeping guard.
- دید پیلی سهمناکی می‌رسید ** اولا آمد سوی حارس دوید
- She smelt his mouth thrice: no disagreeable smell came from it. 150
- بوی می‌کرد آن دهانش را سه بار ** هیچ بویی زو نیامد ناگوار
- She paced round him several times and went off: the huge queen-elephant did him no hurt.
- چند باری گرد او گشت و برفت ** مر ورا نازرد آن شه‌پیل زفت
- She smelt the lips of every sleeper, and the smell (of her young one's flesh) was coming to her from each of those slumbering men.
- مر لب هر خفته‌ای را بوی کرد ** بوی می‌آمد ورا زان خفته مرد
- He (each man) had eaten of the roasted flesh of the young elephant: the (mother) elephant quickly tore him to pieces and killed him.
- از کباب پیل‌زاده خورده بود ** بر درانید و بکشتش پیل زود
- At once she set about rending the people of that company one by one, and she had no awe of (doing) it.
- در زمان او یک بیک را زان گروه ** می‌درانید و نبودش زان شکوه
- She tossed each one in the air recklessly, so that he dashed on the earth and was cloven asunder. 155
- بر هوا انداخت هر یک را گزاف ** تا همی‌زد بر زمین می‌شد شکاف
- O drinker of the people's blood, begone from the way, lest their blood wage war against thee.
- ای خورنده‌ی خون خلق از راه برد ** تا نه آرد خون ایشانت نبرد
- Know for sure that their property is (as) their blood, because property comes into one's hand (is acquired) by strength (of body).
- مال ایشان خون ایشان دان یقین ** زانک مال از زور آید در یمین