(Thou wert) a single person like (equivalent to) a thousand in warfare and in generosity; (thou wert) as a hundred Hátims in the hour of lavishing bounties unselfishly.3275
واحد کالالف در رزم و کرم ** صد چو حاتم گاه ایثار نعم
If Hátim bestows dead (worldly goods) on the (spiritually) dead (worldlings), he (is like one who) bestows a certain number of walnuts (on children).
حاتم ار مرده به مرده می‌دهد ** گردگان‌های شمرده می‌دهد
Thou at every moment art bestowing a life that, because of its preciousness, cannot be contained in breath (words).
تو حیاتی می‌دهی در هر نفس ** کز نفیسی می‌نگنجد در نفس
Thou art bestowing a life exceedingly enduring, real gold coin exempt from depreciation and beyond count.
تو حیاتی می‌دهی بس پایدار ** نقد زر بی‌کساد و بی‌شمار
There exists no heir (even) to one (noble) disposition of thine, O thou to whose abode Heaven is bowing in worship.
وارثی نا بوده یک خوی ترا ** ای فلک سجده کنان کوی ترا
Thy grace is the shepherd of all who have been created, (guarding them) from the wolf of pain—a loving shepherd like God's Kalím (Moses).”3280
خلق را از گرگ غم لطفت شبان ** چون کلیم الله شبان مهربان
One sheep fled from God's Kalím: the feet of Moses were blistered (in following it) and his shoes dropped off.
گوسفندی از کلیم الله گریخت ** پای موسی آبله شد نعل ریخت
(He continued) searching after it till nightfall, and (meanwhile) the flock had vanished from his sight.
در پی او تا به شب در جست و جو ** وان رمه غایب شده از چشم او
The (lost) sheep was enfeebled and exhausted by fatigue: then God's Kalím shook the dust off it,
گوسفند از ماندگی شد سست و ماند ** پس کلیم الله گرد از وی فشاند
And stroked its back and head with his hand, fondling it lovingly like a mother.
کف همی‌مالید بر پشت و سرش ** می‌نواخت از مهر هم‌چون مادرش
Not (even) half a mite of irritation and anger, nothing but love and pity and tears!3285
نیم ذره طیرگی و خشم نی ** غیر مهر و رحم و آب چشم نی
He said (to the sheep), “I grant you (naturally) had no pity on me, (but) why did your nature show (such) cruelty to itself?”
گفت گیرم بر منت رحمی نبود ** طبع تو بر خود چرا استم نمود
At that moment God said to the angels, “So-and-so is suitable for prophethood.”
با ملایک گفت یزدان آن زمان ** که نبوت را نمی‌زیبد فلان
Mustafá (Mohammed) himself has said that every prophet herded sheep as a young man or boy,
مصطفی فرمود خود که هر نبی ** کرد چوپانیش برنا یا صبی
(And that) without his having been a shepherd and (having undergone) that trial, God did not bestow on him the leadership of the world.
بی‌شبانی کردن و آن امتحان ** حق ندادش پیشوایی جهان
A questioner said, “Even thou, O man of might?” “I too,” he replied, “was a shepherd for a long while.”3290
گفت سایل هم تو نیز ای پهلوان ** گفت من هم بوده‌ام دهری شبان
In order that their (the prophets') calmness and fortitude should be displayed, God made them shepherds before (investing them with) prophethood.
تا شود پیدا وقار و صبرشان ** کردشان پیش از نبوت حق شبان
Every prince who performs the task of shepherding mankind in such wise that he obeys the Commandments (of God),
هر امیری کو شبانی بشر ** آنچنان آرد که باشد متمر
(And) in tending them with foresight and understanding shows a forbearance like that of Moses,
حلم موسی‌وار اندر رعی خود ** او به جا آرد به تدبیر و خرد
Inevitably God will bestow on him a spiritual shepherd's office (exalted) above the sphere of the moon,
لاجرم حقش دهد چوپانیی ** بر فراز چرخ مه روحانیی
Even as He raised the prophets from this herding (of sheep) and gave them the task of tending the righteous.3295
آنچنان که انبیا را زین رعا ** بر کشید و داد رعی اصفیا
“Thou, in short, O Khwája, hast performed in thy shepherding (of the poor) that which causes him that hates thee to become blind (utterly confounded).