آن یکی را کف چو بر پایش بسود ** گفت شکل پیل دیدم چون عمود

Since another handled its leg, he said, “I found the elephant's shape to be like a pillar.”

آن یکی بر پشت او بنهاد دست ** گفت خود این پیل چون تختی بدست 1265

Another laid his hand on its back: he said, “Truly, this elephant was like a throne.”

همچنین هر یک به جزوی که رسید ** فهم آن می‌کرد هر جا می‌شنید

Similarly, whenever any one heard (a description of the elephant), he understood (it only in respect of) the part that he had touched.

از نظرگه گفتشان شد مختلف ** آن یکی دالش لقب داد این الف

On account of the (diverse) place (object) of view, their statements differed: one man entitled it “dál,” another “alif.”

در کف هر کس اگر شمعی بدی ** اختلاف از گفتشان بیرون شدی

If there had been a candle in each one's hand, the difference would have gone out of their words.

چشم حس همچون کف دستست و بس ** نیست کف را بر همه‌ی او دست‌رس

The eye of sense-perception is only like the palm of the hand: the palm hath not power to reach the whole of him (the elephant).

چشم دریا دیگرست و کف دگر ** کف بهل وز دیده‌ی دریا نگر 1270

The eye of the Sea is one thing, and the foam another: leave the foam and look with the eye of the Sea.

جنبش کفها ز دریا روز و شب ** کف همی‌بینی و دریا نه عجب

Day and night (there is) the movement of foam-flecks from the Sea: thou beholdest the foam, but not the Sea. Marvellous!

ما چو کشتیها بهم بر می‌زنیم ** تیره‌چشمیم و در آب روشنیم

We are dashing against each other, like boats: our eyes are darkened, though we are in the clear water.

ای تو در کشتی تن رفته به خواب ** آب را دیدی نگر در آب آب

O thou that hast gone to sleep in the body's boat, thou hast seen the water, (but) look on the Water of the water.