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
When you become a prey to poverty, you will certainly shed tears (of delight), like the Hindú boy, on the Day of Judgement.
چون شکار فقر کردی تو یقین ** همچوکودک اشک باری یوم دین
Although the body is (like) a mother in fostering (the spirit), yet it is more inimical to you than a hundred enemies.
گرچه اندر پرورش تن مادرست ** لیک از صد دشمنت دشمنترست
When your body falls ill it makes you seek medicine; and if it grows strong it makes you an outrageous devil.1405
تن چو شد بیمار داروجوت کرد ** ور قوی شد مر ترا طاغوت کرد
Know that this iniquitous body is like a coat of mail: it serves neither for winter nor summer.
چون زره دان این تن پر حیف را ** نی شتا را شاید و نه صیف را
(Yet) the bad associate is good (for you) because of the patience (which you must show in overcoming its desires), for the exercise of patience expands the heart (with spiritual peace).
یار بد نیکوست بهر صبر را ** که گشاید صبر کردن صدر را
The patience shown by the moon to the (dark) night keeps it illumined; the patience shown by the rose to the thorn keeps it fragrant.
صبر مه با شب منور داردش ** صبر گل با خار اذفر داردش
The patience shown by the milk (chyle) betwixt the faeces (in the intestine) and the blood enables it to rear the camel-foal till he has entered on his third year.
صبر شیر اندر میان فرث و خون ** کرده او را ناعش ابن اللبون
The patience shown by all the prophets to the unbelievers made them the elect of God and lords of the planetary conjunction.1410
صبر جملهی انبیا با منکران ** کردشان خاص حق و صاحبقران
When you see any one wearing goodly raiment, know that he has gained it by patience and work.
هر که را بینی یکی جامه درست ** دانک او آن را به صبر و کسب جست
If you have seen any one naked and destitute, that is a testimony of his lack of patience.
هرکه را دیدی برهنه و بینوا ** هست بر بیصبری او آن گوا
Any one who feels lonely and whose soul is full of anguish must have associated with an impostor.
هرکه مستوحش بود پر غصه جان ** کرده باشد با دغایی اقتران
If he had shown patience and loyal friendship (to God), he would not have suffered this affliction through being separated from Him.
صبر اگر کردی و الف با وفا ** ار فراق او نخوردی این قفا
He would have consorted with God as honey with milk, saying, “I love not them that set.”1415
خوی با حق نساختی چون انگبین ** با لبن که لا احب الافلین
(Then) assuredly he would not have remained alone, even as a fire left on the road by caravaneers.
لاجرم تنها نماندی همچنان ** که آتشی مانده به راه از کاروان
(But) since from lack of patience he associated himself with others (than God), in separation from Him he became sorrowful and deprived of good.
چون ز بیصبری قرین غیر شد ** در فراقش پر غم و بیخیر شد
Since your friendship is (precious) as pure gold, how are you placing it in trust with a traitor?
صحبتت چون هست زر دهدهی ** پیش خاین چون امانت مینهی
Consort with Him with whom your trusts are safe from loss and violation.
خوی با او کن که امانتهای تو ** آمن آید از افول و از عتو
Consort with Him who created (human) nature and fostered the natures of the prophets.1420
خوی با او کن که خو را آفرید ** خویهای انبیا را پرورید
(If) you give (Him) a lamb, He will give you back a (whole) flock (of sheep): verily the Lord is the fosterer of every (good) quality.
برهای بدهی رمه بازت دهد ** پرورندهی هر صفت خود رب بود
Will you entrust the lamb to the wolf? (Nay), do not tell the wolf and Joseph to travel in company with each other.
بره پیش گرگ امانت مینهی ** گرگ و یوسف را مفرما همرهی
If the wolf show foxiness towards you (fawn upon you), beware, do not believe (him), for no goodness comes from him.
گرگ اگر با تو نماید روبهی ** هین مکن باور که ناید زو بهی