He saw the clay, but not the treasure (buried) in it: he saw the five (senses) and the six (directions), but not the source of the five.
آب و گل می‌دید و در وی گنج نه ** پنج و شش می‌دید و اصل پنج نه
The colour of clay is manifest, the light of religion is hidden: such was (the case of) every prophet in the world.
رنگ طین پیدا و نور دین نهان ** هر پیمبر این چنین بد در جهان
One (person) saw the minaret, but not the bird (perched) upon it, (though) upon the minaret (was) a fully accomplished royal falcon;1140
آن مناره دید و در وی مرغ نی ** بر مناره شاه‌بازی پر فنی
And a second (observer) saw a bird flapping its wings, but not the hair in the bird's mouth (beak);
وان دوم می‌دید مرغی پرزنی ** لیک موی اندر دهان مرغ نی
But that one who was seeing by the light of God was aware both of the bird and of the hair,
وانک او ینظر به نور الله بود ** هم ز مرغ و هم ز مو آگاه بود
And said (to the other), “Pray, direct thine eye towards the hair: till thou see the hair, the knot will not be untied.”
گفت آخر چشم سوی موی نه ** تا نبینی مو بنگشاید گره
The one saw in the mud (only) figured clay, while the other saw clay replete with knowledge and works.
آن یکی گل دید نقشین دو وحل ** وآن دگر گل دید پر علم و عمل
1145 The body is the minaret, knowledge and obedience (to God) are like the bird: suppose three hundred birds (to be perched on it) or (only) two birds, whichever you please.1145
تن مناره علم و طاعت هم‌چو مرغ ** خواه سیصد مرغ‌گیر و یا دو مرغ
The middle man sees the bird only: neither before nor behind (him) does he see anything but a bird.
مرد اوسط مرغ‌بینست او و بس ** غیر مرغی می‌نبیند پیش و پس
The hair is the hidden light belonging to the bird, whereby the soul of the bird is enduring (for ever).
موی آن نور نیست پنهان آن مرغ ** هیچ عاریت نباشد کار او