پس گریز از چیست زین بحر مراد ** که بشستت صد هزاران صید داد
Wherefore, then, (this) flight from this sea of (heart's) desire that has put hundreds of thousands of prey into your net?
از چه نام برگ را کردی تو مرگ ** جادوی بین که نمودت مرگ برگ
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).
هر دو چشمت بست سحر صنعتش ** تا که جان را در چه آمد رغبتش
The magic of His (God's) doing has bound both your eyes, so that desire for the (worldly) pit has come over your soul.
در خیال او ز مکر کردگار ** جمله صحرا فوق چه زهرست و مار 1380
Through the contrivance of the Creator, in its (your soul's) fancy all the expanse above the pit is (full of) poison and snakes;
لاجرم چه را پناهی ساختست ** تا که مرگ او را به چاه انداختست
Consequently it has made the pit a refuge (for itself), so that (fear of) death has cast it into the pit.
اینچ گفتم از غلطهات ای عزیز ** هم برین بشنو دم عطار نیز
(Having heard) what I have said concerning your misapprehensions, O dear friend, hear also the utterance of ‘Attár on this same (subject).
قصه‌ی سلطان محمود و غلام هندو
Story of Sultan Mahmúd and the Hindú boy.
رحمة الله علیه گفته است ** ذکر شه محمود غازی سفته است
He, God have mercy upon him, has told it: he has strung together the tale of King Mahmúd, the Ghází—
کز غزای هند پیش آن همام ** در غنیمت اوفتادش یک غلام
How, amongst the booty of his campaign in India, (there was) a boy (who) was brought into the presence of that sovereign.
پس خلیفه‌ش کرد و بر تختش نشاند ** بر سپه بگزیدش و فرزند خواند 1385
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.”
طول و عرض و وصف قصه تو به تو ** در کلام آن بزرگ دین بجو
Seek the length and breadth and all particulars of the story in the discourse of that prince of the Faith.