Its roar is the magistrate (controller) of the tearing (carnivorous) animals; its shout is the preventer of the browsing (herbivorous) animals.1990
غره‌ی او حاکم درندگان ** نعره‌ی او مانع چرندگان
(If) the city is full of thieves and clothes-robbers, let there be a police-inspector if you will, or let there be none.
شهر پر دزدست و پر جامه‌کنی ** خواه شحنه باش گو و خواه نی
How the Prophet, on whom be peace, appointed a youth of Hudhayl to be commander of an expeditionary force in which there were elders and veteran warriors.
امیر کردن رسول علیه‌السلام جوان هذیلی را بر سریه‌ای کی در آن پیران و جنگ آزمودگان بودند
The Prophet was sending a force to fight against the unbelievers and repel insolence.
یک سریه می‌فرستادش رسول ** به هر جنگ کافر و دفع فضول
He chose a youth of Hudhayl and appointed him commander of the army and leader of the cavalry.
یک جوانی را گزید او از هذیل ** میر لشکر کردش و سالار خیل
The foundation of an army is unquestionably the chief in command: a people without a chief are a body without a head.
اصل لشکر بی‌گمان سرور بود ** قوم بی‌سرور تن بی‌سر بود
That you are (spiritually) dead and decrepit—all this is because you have abandoned the chief.1995
این همه که مرده و پژمرده‌ای ** زان بود که ترک سرور کرده‌ای
On account of laziness and avarice and egoism you are drawing your head back (behaving in a headstrong manner) and making yourself the head.
از کسل وز بخل وز ما و منی ** می‌کشی سر خویش را سر می‌کنی
(You are) like the beast that flees from the burden: it takes its head (goes its own way) into the mountains.
هم‌چو استوری که بگریزد ز بار ** او سر خود گیرد اندر کوهسار
Its master is running after it, crying, “O giddy-headed one, on every side there is a wolf in quest of an ass.
صاحبش در پی دوان کای خیره سر ** هر طرف گرگیست اندر قصد خر
If thou disappear now from mine eye, the mighty wolf will approach thee from every direction.
گر ز چشمم این زمان غایب شوی ** پیشت آید هر طرف گرگ قوی
He will chew thy bones like sugar, so that thou wilt never see life again.2000
استخوانت را بخاید چون شکر ** که نبینی زندگانی را دگر
(Or) do not suppose that (immediate destruction); at any rate thou wilt be left without fodder: fire is (finally) extinguished by lack of faggots.
آن مگیر آخر بمانی از علف ** آتش از بی‌هیزمی گردد تلف
Beware! Do not flee from my control and from the heaviness of the burden, for I am thy (rational) soul.”
هین بمگریز از تصرف کردنم ** وز گرانی بار که جانت منم
You also are a beast (of burden), for your carnal soul predominates: the predominant (quality) determines (a thing's nature), O worshipper of self.
تو ستوری هم که نفست غالبست ** حکم غالب را بود ای خودپرست
The Almighty did not call you an ass, He called you a horse: the Arabs say to the Arab horse “ta‘ál” (“come”).
خر نخواندت اسپ خواندت ذوالجلال ** اسپ تازی را عرب گوید تعال
Mustafá (Mohammed) was God's stable-overseer for the beasts, (which are) the iniquitous carnal soul.2005
میر آخر بود حق را مصطفی ** بهر استوران نفس پر جفا
Moved by lovingkindness, He (God) said, “Say, ‘ta‘álaw (come ye), to the end that I may train you: I am the trainer.’”
قل تعالوا گفت از جذب کرم ** تا ریاضتتان دهم من رایضم
(The Prophet said), “Since I have trained the carnal souls, I have suffered many kicks from these beasts.
نفسها را تا مروض کرده‌ام ** زین ستوران بس لگدها خورده‌ام
Wherever there is one fond of training, he hath no means of avoiding kicks.
هر کجا باشد ریاضت‌باره‌ای ** از لگدهااش نباشد چاره‌ای
Of necessity the most affliction falls on the prophets, for ’tis an affliction to give training to the raw (ignorant).
لاجرم اغلب بلا بر انبیاست ** که ریاضت دادن خامان بلاست
Ye are stumbling along: at my word (in obedience to my command) go at a jog-trot, that ye may become gentle and be suitable for the king to ride.2010
سکسکانید از دمم یرغا روید ** تا یواش و مرکب سلطان شوید
The Lord said, ‘Say, Come ye, say, Come ye, O beasts that have shied away from discipline.
قل تعالوا قل تعالو گفت رب ** ای ستوران رمیده از ادب
If they come not, O Prophet, be not grieved: be not full of hatred on account of those twain without steadfastness.’”
گر نیایند ای نبی غمگین مشو ** زان دو بی‌تمکین تو پر از کین مشو
The ears of some are deaf to these (cries of) ta‘álaw: every beast hath a different stable.
گوش بعضی زین تعالواها کرست ** هر ستوری را صطبلی دیگرست
Some are put to flight by this call: the stall of every horse is separate.
منهزم گردند بعضی زین ندا ** هست هر اسپی طویله‌ی او جدا