- Nay, but by digging for yourself a grave in (spiritual) purity and burying (your) egoism in His egoism,
- بلک خود را در صفا گوری کنی ** در منی او کنی دفن منی
- And by becoming His dust and buried in love of Him, so that your breath may gain replenishments from His breath.
- خاک او گردی و مدفون غمش ** تا دمت یابد مددها از دمش
- A tomb with domes and turrets—that is not good (approved) on the part of the followers of Reality.
- گورخانه و قبهها و کنگره ** نبود از اصحاب معنی آن سره
- Look now at a living person attired in satin: does the satin help his understanding at all?
- بنگر اکنون زنده اطلسپوش را ** هیچ اطلس دست گیرد هوش را
- His soul is in hateful torment, the scorpion of grief is in his grief-laden heart. 135
- در عذاب منکرست آن جان او ** گزدم غم دل دل غمدان او
- Outside, on his exterior, broideries and decorations; but within he is sorely lamenting from (bitter) thoughts,
- از برون بر ظاهرش نقش و نگار ** وز درون ز اندیشهها او زار زار
- While you may see another in an old patched frock, his thoughts (sweet) as the sugar-cane and his words (like) sugar.
- و آن یکی بینی در آن دلق کهن ** چون نبات اندیشه و شکر سخن
- Returning to the Story of the elephant.
- بازگشتن به حکایت پیل
- Said the sincere adviser, “Hearken to this counsel of mine, so that your hearts and souls may not be afflicted.
- گفت ناصح بشنوید این پند من ** تا دل و جانتان نگردد ممتحن
- Be content with herbage and leaves, do not go in chase of the young elephants.
- با گیاه و برگها قانع شوید ** در شکار پیلبچگان کم روید
- I have put off from my neck (I have discharged) the debt of admonition: how should the end (final result) of admonition be aught but felicity? 140
- من برون کردم ز گردن وام نصح ** جز سعادت کی بود انجام نصح