za yāft-e-tāvīl-e-rakīk-e-magas
The baseness of the foul interpretation given by the fly.
aañ magas bar barg-e-kāh-o-baul-e-kHar
ham-chū kashtī-bāñ hamī afrāsht sar
The fly was lifting up his head, like a pilot,
on a blade of straw and (a pool of) ass's urine.
guft man dariyā-o-kashtī kHvāñda-am
muddate dar fikr-e-āñ mī māñda-am
I have called (them) sea and ship, said he;
I have been pondering over that (interpretation) for a long while.
īñ-ki iiñ dariyā-o-īñ kashtī-o-man
mard-e-kashtī-bān-o-ahl-o-rā.e-zan
Look! here is this sea and this ship,
and I am the pilot and skilled (in navigation) and judicious.
bar sar-e-dariyā hamī raañd uu 'amad
mī numūdash aañ qadar bairūñ za had
He was propelling the raft on the sea:
that (small) quantity appeared to him illimitable.
buud be-had aañ chunīñ nisbat bado
aañ nazar ki bīnad aañ rā raast kū
That urine was boundless in relation to him:
where was the vision that should see it truly?
'ālamash chandāñ buvad kish bīnash ast
chashm-e-chandīñ bahr-e-ham chandīnash ast
His world extends (just) as far as his sight reaches;
his eye is so big, his sea is big in the same proportion.
sāhab-e-tāvīl-e-bātil chuuñ magas
vahm-e-ū baul-e-kHar-o-tasvīr-e-kHas
So with the false interpreter (of the Qur’án): like the fly,
his imagination is (foul as) ass's urine and his conception (worthless as) a straw.
gar magas tāvīl ba-guzārad ba-rā.e
aañ magas rā baḳht gardānad humā.e
If the fly leave off interpreting by (following his own)
opinion, Fortune will turn that fly into a humáy.
aañ magas na-buvad kish iiñ 'ibrat buvad
rūh-e-ū ne dar kHur-e-sūrat buvad
One who possesses this (Divine) indication
(of the true meaning) is not a fly: his spirit is not analogous to his (outward) form.
za yaft-e-tawil-e-rakik-e-magas
The baseness of the foul interpretation given by the fly.
aan magas bar barg-e-kah-o-baul-e-kHar
ham-chu kashti-ban hami afrasht sar
The fly was lifting up his head, like a pilot,
on a blade of straw and (a pool of) ass's urine.
guft man dariya-o-kashti kHwanda-am
muddate dar fikr-e-an mi manda-am
I have called (them) sea and ship, said he;
I have been pondering over that (interpretation) for a long while.
in-ki in dariya-o-in kashti-o-man
mard-e-kashti-ban-o-ahl-o-rae-zan
Look! here is this sea and this ship,
and I am the pilot and skilled (in navigation) and judicious.
bar sar-e-dariya hami rand u 'amad
mi numudash aan qadar bairun za had
He was propelling the raft on the sea:
that (small) quantity appeared to him illimitable.
bud be-had aan chunin nisbat bado
aan nazar ki binad aan ra rast ku
That urine was boundless in relation to him:
where was the vision that should see it truly?
'alamash chandan buwad kish binash ast
chashm-e-chandin bahr-e-ham chandinash ast
His world extends (just) as far as his sight reaches;
his eye is so big, his sea is big in the same proportion.
sahab-e-tawil-e-baatil chun magas
wahm-e-u baul-e-kHar-o-taswir-e-kHas
So with the false interpreter (of the Qur’án): like the fly,
his imagination is (foul as) ass's urine and his conception (worthless as) a straw.
gar magas tawil ba-guzarad ba-rae
aan magas ra baKHt gardanad humae
If the fly leave off interpreting by (following his own)
opinion, Fortune will turn that fly into a humáy.
aan magas na-buwad kish in 'ibrat buwad
ruh-e-u ne dar kHur-e-surat buwad
One who possesses this (Divine) indication
(of the true meaning) is not a fly: his spirit is not analogous to his (outward) form.
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