Wherefore have you given the name “death” to (what is really) provision (for the spirit)? Observe the sorcery that has caused the provision (barg) to seem to you death (marg).
از چه نام برگ را کردی تو مرگ ** جادوی بین که نمودت مرگ برگ
The magic of His (God's) doing has bound both your eyes, so that desire for the (worldly) pit has come over your soul.
هر دو چشمت بست سحر صنعتش ** تا که جان را در چه آمد رغبتش
Through the contrivance of the Creator, in its (your soul's) fancy all the expanse above the pit is (full of) poison and snakes;1380
در خیال او ز مکر کردگار ** جمله صحرا فوق چه زهرست و مار
Consequently it has made the pit a refuge (for itself), so that (fear of) death has cast it into the pit.
لاجرم چه را پناهی ساختست ** تا که مرگ او را به چاه انداختست
(Having heard) what I have said concerning your misapprehensions, O dear friend, hear also the utterance of ‘Attár on this same (subject).
اینچ گفتم از غلطهات ای عزیز ** هم برین بشنو دم عطار نیز
Story of Sultan Mahmúd and the Hindú boy.
قصه‌ی سلطان محمود و غلام هندو
He, God have mercy upon him, has told it: he has strung together the tale of King Mahmúd, the Ghází—
رحمة الله علیه گفته است ** ذکر شه محمود غازی سفته است
How, amongst the booty of his campaign in India, (there was) a boy (who) was brought into the presence of that sovereign.
کز غزای هند پیش آن همام ** در غنیمت اوفتادش یک غلام
Afterwards he made him his vicegerent and seated him on the throne and gave him preferment above (the rest of) the army and called him “son.”1385
پس خلیفه‌ش کرد و بر تختش نشاند ** بر سپه بگزیدش و فرزند خواند
Seek the length and breadth and all particulars of the story in the discourse of that prince of the Faith.
طول و عرض و وصف قصه تو به تو ** در کلام آن بزرگ دین بجو
In short, the lad was seated on this throne of gold beside the King-emperor.
حاصل آن کودک برین تخت نضار ** شسته پهلوی قباد شهریار
He wept and shed tears in burning grief. The King said to him, “O thou whose day (fortune) is triumphant,
گریه کردی اشک می‌راندی بسوز ** گفت شه او را کای پیروز روز
Wherefore shouldst thou weep? Has thy fortune become disagreeable to thee? Thou art above kings, (thou art) the familiar companion of the Emperor.
از چه گریی دولتت شد ناگوار ** فوق املاکی قرین شهریار
Thou art (seated) on this throne, while the viziers and soldiers are ranged in file before thy throne, like the stars and the moon.”1390
تو برین تخت و وزیران و سپاه ** پیش تختت صف زده چون نجم و ماه
The boy said, “The cause of my weeping bitterly is that in yonder city and country my mother
گفت کودک گریه‌ام زانست زار ** که مرا مادر در آن شهر و دیار
Was always threatening me with thee, (saying), ‘May I see you in the hands of the lion, Mahmúd!’
از توم تهدید کردی هر زمان ** بینمت در دست محمود ارسلان
Then my father would wrangle with my mother (and say) in reply, ‘What wrath and torment is this (that you would inflict on him)?
پس پدر مر مادرم را در جواب ** جنگ کردی کین چه خشمست و عذاب
Cannot you find any other curse lighter than this deadly curse?
می‌نیابی هیچ نفرینی دگر ** زین چنین نفرین مهلک سهلتر
You are very pitiless and exceedingly hard-hearted, for you are (virtually) killing him with a hundred swords.’1395
سخت بی‌رحمی و بس سنگین‌دلی ** که به صد شمشیر او را قاتلی
I used to be dismayed by the talk of both: a (great) terror and pain would come into my heart,
من ز گفت هر دو حیران گشتمی ** در دل افتادی مرا بیم و غمی
(Thinking), ‘Oh, wonderful! What a hellish person Mahmúd must be, since he has become proverbial for woe and anguish!’
تا چه دوزخ‌خوست محمود ای عجب ** که مثل گشتست در ویل و کرب
I used to tremble in fear of thee, being ignorant of thy gracious treatment and high regard.
من همی‌لرزیدمی از بیم تو ** غافل از اکرام و از تعظیم تو
Where is my mother, that she might see me now (seated) on the throne, O King of the world?”
مادرم کو تا ببیند این زمان ** مر مرا بر تخت ای شاه جهان
(Spiritual) poverty is your Mahmúd, O man without affluence: your (sensual) nature is always making you afraid of it.1400
فقر آن محمود تست ای بی‌سعت ** طبع ازو دایم همی ترساندت
If you come to know the mercifulness of this noble Mahmúd, you will cry joyously, “May the end be praised (mahmúd)!”
گر بدانی رحم این محمود راد ** خوش بگویی عاقبت محمود باد
Poverty is your Mahmúd, O craven-hearted one: do not listen to this mother, namely, your misguiding nature.
فقر آن محمود تست ای بیم‌دل ** کم شنو زین مادر طبع مضل