Were hunger absent, in consequence of indigestion a hundred other afflictions would raise their heads in you.
گر نباشد جوع صد رنج دگر ** از پی هیضه بر آرد از تو سر
Truly the affliction of hunger is better than those maladies in respect both of its subtilty and its lightness and (its effect on devotional) work.2830
رنج جوع اولی بود خود زان علل ** هم به لطف و هم به خفت هم عمل
The affliction of hunger is purer than (all other) afflictions, especially (as) in hunger there are a hundred advantages and excellences.
رنج جوع از رنجها پاکیزه‌تر ** خاصه در جوعست صد نفع و هنر
Explaining the excellency of abstinence and hunger.
در بیان فضیلت احتما و جوع
Indeed hunger is the king of medicines: hark, lay hunger to thy heart, do not regard it with such contempt.
جوع خود سلطان داروهاست هین ** جوع در جان نه چنین خوارش مبین
Everything unsweet is made sweet by hunger: without hunger all sweet things are unacceptable.
جمله ناخوش از مجاعت خوش شدست ** جمله خوشها بی‌مجاعتها ردست
Parable.
مثل
A certain person was eating bread made of bran: some one asked him, “How are you so fond of this?”
آن یکی می‌خورد نان فخفره ** گفت سایل چون بدین استت شره
He replied, “When hunger is doubled by self-denial, barley bread is (as sweet as) halwá in my opinion;2835
گفت جوع از صبر چون دوتا شود ** نان جو در پیش من حلوا شود
Therefore when I deny myself once, I can eat halwá entirely, (so) of course I am very self-denying (abstinent).”
پس توانم که همه حلوا خورم ** چون کنم صبری صبورم لاجرم
Hunger, in truth, is not conquered by every one, for this (world) is a place where fodder is abundant beyond measure.
خود نباشد جوع هر کس را زبون ** کین علف‌زاریست ز اندازه برون
Hunger is bestowed as a gift on God's elect (alone), that through hunger they may become puissant lions.
جوع مر خاصان حق را داده‌اند ** تا شوند از جوع شیر زورمند
How should hunger be bestowed on every beggarly churl? Since the fodder is not scarce they set it before him,
جوع هر جلف گدا را کی دهند ** چون علف کم نیست پیش او نهند
Saying, “Eat! This is all thou art worth: thou art not a waterfowl, thou art a bread-fowl.”2840
که بخور که هم بدین ارزانیی ** تو نه‌ای مرغاب مرغ نانیی
Story of the disciple of whose greediness and secret thoughts his Shaykh became aware. He admonished him with his tongue and in the course of his admonition bestowed on him, by Divine command, the food of trust in God.
حکایت مریدی کی شیخ از حرص و ضمیر او واقف شد او را نصیحت کرد به زبان و در ضمن نصیحت قوت توکل بخشیدش به امر حق
The Shaykh, accompanied by a disciple, was going without delay towards a certain town where bread was scarce,
شیخ می‌شد با مریدی بی‌درنگ ** سوی شهری نان بدانجا بود تنگ
And the dread of hunger and famine was continually presenting itself to the disciple's mind on account of his heedlessness.
ترس جوع و قحط در فکر مرید ** هر دمی می‌گشت از غفلت پدید
The Shaykh was aware (of this) and acquainted with his secret thoughts: he said to him, “How long wilt thou remain in torment?
شیخ آگه بود و واقف از ضمیر ** گفت او را چند باشی در زحیر
Thou art consumed (with grief) because of thy craving for bread: thou hast closed the eye of self-denial and trust in God.
از برای غصه‌ی نان سوختی ** دیده‌ی صبر و توکل دوختی