At every moment thy particular spirit is struggling with death: in thy spirit's death-struggle look to thy faith!
هر زمان نزعیست جزو جانت را ** بنگر اندر نزع جان ایمانت را
Thy life is like a purse of gold: day and night are like him who counts the gold coins (the money-changer).
عمر تو مانند همیان زرست ** روز و شب مانند دینار اشمرست
He (Time) counts and gives the gold without stopping, until it (the purse) is emptied and there comes the eclipse (death).125
می‌شمارد می‌دهد زر بی وقوف ** تا که خالی گردد و آید خسوف
If you take away from a mountain and do not put (anything) in the place (of what you have taken), the mountain will be demolished by that giving.
گر ز که بستانی و ننهی بجای ** اندر آید کوه زان دادن ز پای
Therefore, for every breath (that you give out), put an equivalent in its place, so that by (acting in accordance with the text) and fall to worship and draw nigh you may gain your object.
پس بنه بر جای هر دم را عوض ** تا ز واسجد واقترب یابی غرض
Do not strive so much to complete (your worldly) affairs: do not strive in any affair that is not religious.
در تمامی کارها چندین مکوش ** جز به کاری که بود در دین مکوش
(Otherwise) at the end you will depart incomplete, your (spiritual) affairs marred and your bread unbaked.
عاقبت تو رفت خواهی ناتمام ** کارهاات ابتر و نان تو خام
And the beautifying of your grave and sepulchre is not (done) by means of stone and wood and plaster;130
وان عمارت کردن گور و لحد ** نه به سنگست و به چوب و نه لبد
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
I came to deliver the message, that I may save you from (fruitless) repentance.
من به تبلیغ رسالت آمدم ** تا رهانم مر شما را از ندم
Beware! Let not greed waylay you, let not greed for victual tear you up by the roots!”
هین مبادا که طمع رهتان زند ** طمع برگ از بیخهاتان بر کند
This he said, and gave a farewell and departed; their famine and hunger waxed great on the way.
این بگفت و خیربادی کرد و رفت ** گشت قحط و جوعشان در راه زفت
Suddenly, in the direction of a highroad, they espied a fat young elephant, newly born.
ناگهان دیدند سوی جاده‌ای ** پور پیلی فربهی نو زاده‌ای
They fell upon it like furious wolves, ate it clean up, and washed their hands.145
اندر افتادند چون گرگان مست ** پاک خوردندش فرو شستند دست
One of the fellow-travellers did not eat (of it) and exhorted (the others to abstain), for the sayings of that dervish were remembered by him.
آن یکی همره نخورد و پند داد ** که حدیث آن فقیرش بود یاد
Those words hindered him from (eating) its roasted flesh: old intelligence bestows on thee a new fortune.
از کبابش مانع آمد آن سخن ** بخت نو بخشد ترا عقل کهن