He said (to himself), ‘O (my) heart, even though thou art keeping silence, thou knowest the secret and art showing a (great) disdain.’
گفت ای دل گرچه خود تن می‌زنی ** راز می‌دانی و نازی می‌کنی
His heart replied, ‘I know (the secret) and am purposely behaving (thus): God is the provider for my soul and body.’
گفت دل دانم و قاصد می‌کنم ** رازق الله است بر جان و تنم
How should there be a trial more (perfect) than this? The daily bread comes with joy to those who have patience.”
امتحان زین بیشتر خود چون بود ** رزق سوی صابران خوش می‌رود
How the fox answered the ass and urged him to seek a livelihood.
جواب دادن روبه خر را و تحریض کردن او خر را بر کسب
The fox said, “Leave these stories and apply all your poor efforts to earning a livelihood.
گفت روبه این حکایت را بهل ** دستها بر کسب زن جهد المقل
God has given you hands: do some work, earn something, help a friend.2420
دست دادستت خدا کاری بکن ** مکسبی کن یاری یاری بکن
Every one takes steps to earn something and (thereby) helps other friends (to earn),
هر کسی در مکسبی پا می‌نهد ** یاری یاران دیگر می‌کند
Because all the earning is not done by one (craftsman): (there is) a carpenter and also a water-carrier and a weaver.
زانک جمله کسب ناید از یکی ** هم دروگر هم سقا هم حایکی
By means of this partnership (the order of) the world is maintained: every one, (being impelled) by want, chooses some work.
این بهنبازیست عالم بر قرار ** هر کسی کاری گزیند ز افتقار
’Tis not right to be a lick-platter (idle parasite) in the midst (of them): the way of the Sunna is to work and earn.”
طبل‌خواری در میانه شرط نیست ** راه سنت کار و مکسب کردنیست
How the ass answered the fox, saying, “Trust in God is the best way of earning a livelihood, for every one needs to trust in God and cry, ‘O God, bring this work of mine to success’; and prayer involves trust in God, and trust in God is the (only) means of livelihood that is independent of any other means, etc.”
جواب گفتن خر روباه را کی توکل بهترین کسبهاست کی هر کسبی محتاجست به توکل کی ای خدا این کار مرا راست آر و دعا متضمن توکلست و توکل کسبی است کی به هیچ کسبی دیگر محتاج نیست الی آخره
He (the ass) said, “In the two worlds I do not know any means of livelihood superior to trust in my Lord.2425
گفت من به از توکل بر ربی ** می‌ندانم در دو عالم مکسبی
I know nothing to be compared with the acquisition of thanksgiving to Him, in order that thanksgiving to God may bring (in its train) the daily bread and the increase (thereof).”
کسب شکرش را نمی‌دانم ندید ** تا کشد رزق خدا رزق و مزید
Their dispute was prolonged in mutual altercation (till) they became incapable of (further) questioning and answering.
بحثشان بسیار شد اندر خطاب ** مانده گشتند از سال و از جواب
Afterwards he (the fox) said to him, “Mark in the (Divine) kingdom the prohibition, ‘Do not cast yourselves into destruction.’
بعد از آن گفتش بدان در مملکه ** نهی لا تلقوا بایدی تهلکه
In a barren desert covered with stones self-denial is folly: God's world is wide.
صبر در صحرای خشک و سنگ‌لاخ ** احمقی باشد جهان حق فراخ
Move from this place towards the meadow, and browse there on the verdure round about the river—2430
نقل کن زینجا به سوی مرغزار ** می‌چر آنجا سبزه گرد جویبار
A meadow verdant like Paradise, where the verdure grows up to (as high as) the waist.
مرغزاری سبز مانند جنان ** سبزه رسته اندر آنجا تا میان
Happy the animal that goes thither: amidst the verdure a camel would become invisible.
خرم آن حیوان که او آنجا شود ** اشتر اندر سبزه ناپیدا شود
There, on every side, is a running fountain; there the animals are in comfort and security.”
هر طرف در وی یکی چشمه‌ی روان ** اندرو حیوان مرفه در امان
From asininity he (the ass) did not say to him, “O accursed one, thou art (come) from there: how art thou so wretched?
از خری او را نمی‌گفت ای لعین ** تو از آن‌جایی چرا زاری چنین
Where is thy gaiety and fatness and comeliness? What is (the meaning of) this lean starved body of thine?2435
کو نشاط و فربهی و فر تو ** چیست این لاغر تن مضطر تو
If thy description of the meadow is not (mere) falsehood and fiction, then why is thine eye not intoxicated (enraptured) by it?
شرح روضه گر دروغ و زور نیست ** پس چرا چشمت ازو مخمور نیست
These greedy looks and this blindness are the result of thy beggarliness, not of (spiritual) sovereignty.
این گدا چشمی و این نادیدگی ** از گدایی تست نه از بگلربگی
Since thou hast come from the fountain, how art thou dry (thirsty)? And if thou art (fragrant like) the gland of the musk-deer, where is the fragrance of musk?
چون ز چشمه آمدی چونی تو خشک ** ور تو ناف آهویی کو بوی مشک