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!
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.
آب را آبیست کو می‌راندش ** روح را روحیست کو می‌خواندش
The water hath a Water that is driving it; the spirit hath a Spirit that is calling it.
موسی و عیسی کجا بد کفتاب ** کشت موجودات را می‌داد آب1275
Where were Moses and Jesus when the (Divine) Sun was giving water to the sown field of existent things?
آدم و حوا کجا بد آن زمان ** که خدا افکند این زه در کمان
Where were Adam and Eve at the time when God fitted this string to the bow?
این سخن هم ناقص است و ابترست ** آن سخن که نیست ناقص آن سرست
This (manner of) speech, too, is imperfect and maimed; the speech that is not imperfect is Yonder.
گر بگوید زان بلغزد پای تو ** ور نگوید هیچ از آن ای وای تو
If he (the saint) speak from that (source), thy foot will stumble; and if he speak naught of that, oh, alas for thee!
ور بگوید در مثال صورتی ** بر همان صورت بچفسی ای فتی
And if he speak in the likeness of a (material) form, thou wilt stick to that form, O youth.
بسته‌پایی چون گیا اندر زمین ** سر بجنبانی ببادی بی‌یقین1280
Thou art foot-bound on the earth, like grass: thou noddest thy head at a (breath of) wind, (though thou art) without certainty.
لیک پایت نیست تا نقلی کنی ** یا مگر پا را ازین گل بر کنی
But thou hast no (spiritual) foot that thou shouldest make a departure or perchance drag thy foot out of this mud.
چون کنی پا را حیاتت زین گلست ** این حیاتت را روش بس مشکلست
How shouldest thou drag thy foot away? Thy life is from this mud: ’tis mighty hard for this life of thine to go (on the Way to God).