- Man seeks a snake for the purpose of friendship and cares for one that is without care (for him).
- بهر یاری مار جوید آدمی ** غم خورد بهر حریف بی‌غمی
- He (the snake-catcher) was searching for a big snake round about the mountains and in the days of snow. 995
- او همی‌جستی یکی ماری شگرف ** گرد کوهستان و در ایام برف
- He espied there a huge dead dragon, at the aspect whereof his heart was filled with fear.
- اژدهایی مرده دید آنجا عظیم ** که دلش از شکل او شد پر ز بیم
- (Whilst) the snake-catcher was looking for snakes in the hard winter, he espied a dead dragon.
- مارگیر اندر زمستان شدید ** مار می‌جست اژدهایی مرده دید
- The snake-catcher catches snakes in order to amaze the people—behold the foolishness of the people!
- مارگیر از بهر حیرانی خلق ** مار گیرد اینت نادانی خلق
- Man is a mountain: how should he be led into temptation? How should a mountain become amazed at a snake?
- آدمی کوهیست چون مفتون شود ** کوه اندر مار حیران چون شود
- Wretched Man does not know himself: he has come from a high estate and fallen into lowlihood. 1000
- خویشتن نشناخت مسکین آدمی ** از فزونی آمد و شد در کمی
- Man has sold himself cheaply: he was satin, he has sewn himself on (become attached) to a tattered cloak.
- خویشتن را آدمی ارزان فروخت ** بود اطلس خویش بر دلقی بدوخت
- Hundreds of thousands of snakes and mountains are amazed at him: why (then) has he become amazed and fond of a snake?
- صد هزاران مار و که حیران اوست ** او چرا حیران شدست و ماردوست
- The snake-catcher took up that snake and came to Baghdád for the sake of (exciting) astonishment.
- مارگیر آن اژدها را بر گرفت ** سوی بغداد آمد از بهر شگفت
- In quest of a paltry fee he carried along a dragon like the pillar of a house,
- اژدهایی چون ستون خانه‌ای ** می‌کشیدش از پی دانگانه‌ای
- Saying, “I have brought a dead dragon: I have suffered agonies in hunting it.” 1005
- کاژدهای مرده‌ای آورده‌ام ** در شکارش من جگرها خورده‌ام
- He thought it was dead, but it was living, and he did not see it very well.
- او همی مرده گمان بردش ولیک ** زنده بود و او ندیدش نیک نیک
- It was frozen by frosts and snow: it was alive, but it presented the appearance of the dead.
- او ز سرماها و برف افسرده بود ** زنده بود و شکل مرده می‌نمود
- The world is frozen: its name is jamád (inanimate): jámid is (means) “frozen,” O master.
- عالم افسردست و نام او جماد ** جامد افسرده بود ای اوستاد
- Wait till the sun of the Resurrection shall become manifest, that thou mayst see the movement of the world's body.
- باش تا خورشید حشر آید عیان ** تا ببینی جنبش جسم جهان
- When here (in this world) the rod of Moses became a snake, information was given to the intellect concerning motionless (inanimate) beings. 1010
- چون عصای موسی اینجا مار شد ** عقل را از ساکنان اخبار شد
- Since He (God) made thy piece of earth a man, thou shouldst recognise (the real nature of) the entire sum of the particles of earth:
- پاره‌ی خاک ترا چون مرد ساخت ** خاکها را جملگی شاید شناخت
- (That) from this standpoint they are dead and from that standpoint they are living; (that they are) silent here and speaking yonder.
- مرده زین سو اند و زان سو زنده‌اند ** خامش اینجا و آن طرف گوینده‌اند
- When He sends them from that quarter towards us, the rod becomes a dragon in relation to us.
- چون از آن سوشان فرستد سوی ما ** آن عصا گردد سوی ما اژدها
- The mountains too make a song like that of David, and the substance of iron is (as) wax in the hand.
- کوهها هم لحن داودی کند ** جوهر آهن بکف مومی بود
- The wind becomes a bearer for Solomon, the sea becomes capable of understanding words in regard to Moses. 1015
- باد حمال سلیمانی شود ** بحر با موسی سخن‌دانی شود
- The moon becomes able to see the sign in obedience to Ahmad (Mohammed), the fire becomes wild-roses for Abraham.
- ماه با احمد اشارت‌بین شود ** نار ابراهیم را نسرین شود
- The earth swallows Qárún (Korah) like a snake; the Moaning Pillar comes into (the way of) righteousness.
- خاک قارون را چو ماری در کشد ** استن حنانه آید در رشد
- The stone salaams to Ahmad (Mohammed); the mountain sends a message to Yahyá (John the Baptist).
- سنگ بر احمد سلامی می‌کند ** کوه یحیی را پیامی می‌کند