The Elephant in the dark house

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The elephant was in a dark house: some Hindus had brought

it for exhibition.

In order to see it, many people were going, every one, into

that darkness.

As seeing it with the eye was impossible, (each one) was feeling

it in the dark with the palm of his hand.

The hand of one fell on its trunk: he said, " This creature is

like a water-pipe. "

The hand of another touched its ear: to him it appeared to be

like a fan.

Since another handled its leg, he said, " I found the elephant's

shape to be like a pillar. "

Another laid his hand on its back: he said, " Truly, this

elephant was like a throne. "

Similarly, whenever any one heard (a description of the

elephant), he understood (it only in respect of) the part that he

had touched.

On account of the (diverse) place (object) of view, their state-

ments differed: one man entitled it " dal, " another " alif*. "

If there had been a candle in each one's hand, the difference

would have gone out of their words.

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 ele-

phant).

The eye of the Sea* is one thing, and the foam* another: leave

the foam and look with the eye of the Sea.

Day and night (there is) the movement of foam-flecks from

the Sea: thou beholdest the foam, but not the Sea. Marvellous!

We are dashing against each other, like boats: our eyes are

darkened, though we are in the clear water.

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.

The water hath a Water that is driving it; the spirit hath a

Spirit that is calling it.

--Book III, 1259-74

Translation and Commentary by Reynold A. Nicholson

The Mathnawi of Jalalu'ddin Rumi

Published and Distributed by

The Trustees of The " E.J.W. Gibb Memorial "

* I.e. crooked like the letter D or straight like the letter A.

* I.e. the eye of Reality.

* I.e. figuratively.