The mention of Moses has become a chain (obstruction) to the thoughts (of my readers), (for they think) that these are stories (of that) which happened long ago.
ذکر موسی بهر روپوشست لیک ** نور موسی نقد تست ای مرد نیک
The mention of Moses serves for a mask, but the Light of Moses is thy actual concern, O good man.
موسی و فرعون در هستی تست ** باید این دو خصم را در خویش جست
Moses and Pharaoh are in thy being: thou must seek these two adversaries in thyself.
تا قیامت هست از موسی نتاج ** نور دیگر نیست دیگر شد سراج
The (process of) generation from Moses is (continuing) till the Resurrection: the Light is not different, (though) the lamp has become different.
این سفال و این پلیته دیگرست ** لیک نورش نیست دیگر زان سرست1255
This earthenware lamp and this wick are different, but its light is not different: it is from Yonder.
گر نظر در شیشه داری گم شوی ** زانک از شیشه‌ست اعداد دوی
If thou keep looking at the glass (lantern), thou wilt be lost, because from the glass arise the numbers of (the plurality inherent in) dualism;
ور نظر بر نور داری وا رهی ** از دوی واعداد جسم منتهی
But if thou keep thy gaze (fixed) upon the Light, thou wilt be delivered from dualism and the numbers (plurality) of the finite body.
از نظرگاهست ای مغز وجود ** اختلاف مومن و گبر و جهود
From the place (object) of view, O (thou who art the) kernel of Existence, there arises the difference between the true believer and the Zoroastrian and the Jew.
اختلاف کردن در چگونگی و شکل پیل
The disagreement as to the description and shape of the elephant.
پیل اندر خانه‌ی تاریک بود ** عرضه را آورده بودندش هنود
The elephant was in a dark house: some Hindús had brought it for exhibition.
از برای دیدنش مردم بسی ** اندر آن ظلمت همی‌شد هر کسی1260
In order to see it, many people were going, every one, into that darkness.
دیدنش با چشم چون ممکن نبود ** اندر آن تاریکیش کف می‌بسود
As seeing it with the eye was impossible, (each one) was feeling it in the dark with the palm of his hand.
آن یکی را کف به خرطوم اوفتاد ** گفت همچون ناودانست این نهاد
The hand of one fell on its trunk: he said, “This creature is like a water-pipe.”
آن یکی را دست بر گوشش رسید ** آن برو چون بادبیزن شد پدید
The hand of another touched its ear: to him it appeared to be like a fan.
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 بدست1265
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 نگر1270
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!