بخش 81 - حکایت اشتر و گاو و قج که در راه بند گیاه یافتند هر یکی می‌گفت من خورم

Whilst a camel, ox, and ram were going along, they found a bunch of grass in front of (them on) the road.

The ram said, “If we divide this, certainly none of us will get his fill of it;

But whichever of us has lived longest has the best right to this fodder: let him eat;

For (the injunction) to give the foremost place to the seniors has come from Mustafá (Mohammed) among the practices observed by him,

Although, at this time when vile men hold sway, the vulgar put forward the elders on two occasions (only),

Either in (tasting) food that is burning hot, or on a bridge that is (damaged) by cracks (and) in a state of ruin.

The vulgar do not pay homage to a venerable Shaykh and leader without some mischievous idea associated (with their homage).

This is their good: what must their evil be? Distinguish their (inward) foulness from their (outward) fairness.”