Concept

The Allegory of the Bundle of Arrows and Unity in Haft Awrang

In Section 172 of Haft Awrang, Jami presents a classic allegorical tale of a dying king and his sons to illustrate the vital importance of solidarity and unity.

Narrative Summary

An aging king, sensing his approaching death, summons his sons. He gives each son a single arrow and asks them to break it, which they accomplish with ease. The king then binds a bundle of arrows together and challenges his sons to break the bundle. None of them are strong enough to do so.

Moral and Symbolism

  • The Single Arrow: Represents an individual standing alone, highly vulnerable to being defeated or broken by adversaries.
  • The Bundle of Arrows: Symbolizes unity and collective strength. When the brothers stand united, they are unbreakable and can easily defeat formidable enemies.
  • The Analogy of Fingers: Jami further illustrates this by noting that a single finger can be easily bent or twisted, whereas five fingers joined together form a powerful fist.

This allegory highl...

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Updated 2026-07-07

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Humanities

Literature

Persian Literature Prerequisite Course