1Cademy - دفتر سوم - بخش ۴۹ - اختلاف کردن در چگونگی و شکل پیل / Book Three - Section 49 - Disagreeing on the Nature and Shape of the Elephant

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مثنوی معنوی: دفتر سوم / Masnavi: Book Three

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دفتر سوم - بخش ۴۹ - اختلاف کردن در چگونگی و شکل پیل / Book Three - Section 49 - Disagreeing on the Nature and Shape of the Elephant

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پیل اندر خانهٔ تاریک بود
عرضه را آورده بودندش هنود

از برای دیدنش مردم بسی
اندر آن ظلمت همی شد هر کسی

دیدنش با چشم چون ممکن نبود
اندر آن تاریکیش کف می بسود

آن یکی را کف به خرطوم اوفتاد
گفت همچون ناودانست این نهاد

آن یکی را دست بر گوشش رسید
آن برو چون بادبیزن شد پدید

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

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

همچنین هر یک به جزوی که رسید
فهم آن می کرد هر جا می شنید

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

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

چشم حس همچون کف دستست و بس
نیست کف را بر همه ی او دست رس

چشم دریا دیگرست و کف دگر
کف بهل وز دیدهٔ دریا نگر

جنبش کف ها ز دریا روز و شب
کف همی بینی و دریا نی، عجب

ما چو کشتی ها به هم بر می زنیم
تیره چشمیم و در آب روشنیم

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

آب را آبیست کو می راندش
روح را روحیست کو می خواندش

موسی و عیسی کجا بد کآفتاب
کشت موجودات را می داد آب

آدم و حوا کجا بد آن زمان
که خدا افکند این زه در کمان

این سخن هم ناقص است و ابترست
آن سخن که نیست ناقص آن سرست

گر بگوید زان بلغزد پای تو
ور نگوید هیچ از آن ای وای تو

ور بگوید در مثال صورتی
بر همان صورت بچفسی ای فتی

بسته پایی چون گیا اندر زمین
سر بجنبانی به بادی بی یقین

لیک پایت نیست تا نقلی کنی
یا مگر پا را ازین گل بر کنی

چون کنی پا را حیاتت زین گلست
این حیاتت را روش بس مشکلست

چون حیات از حق بگیری ای روی
پس شوی مستغنی از گل می روی

شیر خواره چون ز دایه بسکلد
لوت خواره شد مر او را می هلد

بستهٔ شیر زمینی چون حبوب
جو فطام خویش از قوت القلوب

حرف حکمت خور که شد نور ستیر
ای تو نور بی حجب را ناپذیر

تا پذیرا گردی ای جان نور را
تا ببینی بی حجب مستور را

چون ستاره سیر بر گردون کنی
بلک بی گردون سفر بی چون کنی

آنچنان کز نیست در هست آمدی
هین بگو چون آمدی مست آمدی

راه های آمدن یادت نماند
لیک رمزی بر تو بر خواهیم خواند

هوش را بگذار و آنگه گوش دار
گوش را بر بند و آنگه هوش دار

نه نگویم زانک خامی تو هنوز
در بهاری تو ندیدستی تموز

این جهان همچون درختست ای کرام
ما برو چون میوه های نیم خام

سخت گیرد خام ها مر شاخ را
زانک در خامی نشاید کاخ را

چون بپخت و گشت شیرین لب گزان
سست گیرد شاخ ها را بعد از آن

چون از آن اقبال شیرین شد دهان
سرد شد بر آدمی ملک جهان

سخت گیری و تعصب خامی است
تا جنینی، کار خون آشامی است

چیز دیگر ماند اما گفتنش
با تو روح القدس گوید بی منش

نه تو گویی هم به گوش خویشتن
نه من و نه غیر من ای هم تو من

همچو آن وقتی که خواب اندر روی
تو ز پیش خود به پیش خود شوی

بشنوی از خویش و پنداری فلان
با تو اندر خواب گفته ست آن نهان

تو یکی تو نیستی ای خوش رفیق
بلک گردونی و دریای عمیق

آن تو زفتت که آن نهصد تو است
قلزمست و غرقه گاه صد تو است

خود چه جای حد بیداریست و خواب
دم مزن والله اعلم بالصواب

دم مزن تا بشنوی از دم زنان
آنچ نامد در زبان و در بیان

دم مزن تا بشنوی زان آفتاب
آنچ نامد در کتاب و در خطاب

دم مزن تا دم زند بهر تو روح
آشنا بگذار در کشتی نوح

همچو کنعان کآشنا می کرد او
که نخواهم کشتی نوح عدو

هی بیا در کشتی بابا نشین
تا نگردی غرق طوفان ای مهین

گفت نه من آشنا آموختم
من به جز شمع تو شمع افروختم

هین مکن کین موج طوفان بلاست
دست و پا و آشنا امروز لاست

باد قهرست و بلای شمع کش
جز که شمع حق نمی پاید خمش

گفت نه رفتم برآن کوه بلند
عاصمست آن که مرا از هر گزند

هین مکن که کوه کاهست این زمان
جز حبیب خویش را ندهد امان

گفت من کی پند تو بشنوده ام
که طمع کردی که من زین دوده ام

خوش نیامد گفت تو هرگز مرا
من بری ام از تو در هر دو سرا

هین مکن بابا که روز ناز نیست
مر خدا را خویشی و انباز نیست

تا کنون کردی و این دم نازکیست
اندرین درگاه گیرا ناز کیست

لم یلد لم یولدست او از قدم
نه پدر دارد نه فرزند و نه عم

ناز فرزندان کجا خواهد کشید
ناز بابایان کجا خواهد شنید

نیستم مولود پیرا کم بناز
نیستم والد جوانا کم گراز

نیستم شوهر نیم من شهوتی
ناز را بگذار اینجا ای ستی

جز خضوع و بندگی و اضطرار
اندرین حضرت ندارد اعتبار

گفت بابا سال ها این گفته ای
باز می گویی به جهل آشفته ای

چند ازین ها گفته ای با هرکسی
تا جواب سرد بشنودی بسی

این دم سرد تو در گوشم نرفت
خاصه اکنون که شدم دانا و زفت

گفت بابا چه زیان دارد اگر
بشنوی یکبار تو پند پدر

همچنین می گفت او پند لطیف
همچنان می گفت او دفع عنیف

نه پدر از نصح کنعان سیر شد
نه دمی در گوش آن ادبیر شد

اندرین گفتن بدند و موج تیز
بر سر کنعان زد و شد ریز ریز

نوح گفت ای پادشاه بردبار
مر مرا خر مرد و سیلت برد بار

وعده کردی مر مرا تو بارها
که بیابد اهلت از طوفان رها

دل نهادم بر امیدت من سلیم
پس چرا بربود سیل از من گلیم

گفت او از اهل و خویشانت نبود
خود ندیدی تو سپیدی او کبود

چونک دندان تو کرمش در فتاد
نیست دندان بر کنش ای اوستاد

تا که باقی تن نگردد زار ازو
گرچه بود آن تو شو بیزار ازو

گفت بیزارم ز غیر ذات تو
غیر نبود آنک او شد مات تو

تو همی دانی که چونم با تو من
بیست چندانم که با باران چمن

زنده از تو شاد از تو عایلی
مغتذی بی واسطه و بی حایلی

متصل نه منفصل نه ای کمال
بلک بی چون و چگونه و اعتلال

ماهیانیم و تو دریای حیات
زنده ایم از لطفت ای نیکو صفات

تو نگنجی در کنار فکرتی
نی به معلولی قرین چون علتی

پیش ازین طوفان و بعد این مرا
تو مخاطب بوده ای در ماجرا

با تو می گفتم نه با ایشان سخن
ای سخن بخش نو و آن کهن

نه که عاشق روز و شب گوید سخن
گاه با اطلال و گاهی با دمن

روی با اطلال کرده ظاهرا
او کرا می گوید آن مدحت کرا

شکر طوفان را کنون بگماشتی
واسطه ی اطلال را بر داشتی

زانک اطلال لئیم و بد بدند
نه ندایی نه صدایی می زدند

من چنان اطلال خواهم در خطاب
کز صدا چون کوه واگوید جواب

تا مثنا بشنوم من نام تو
عاشقم بر نام جان آرام تو

هر نبی زان دوست دارد کوه را
تا مثنا بشنود نام تو را

آن که پست مثال سنگ لاخ
موش را شاید نه ما را در مناخ

من بگویم او نگردد یار من
بی صدا ماند دم گفتار من

با زمین آن به که هموارش کنی
نیست همدم با قدم یارش کنی

گفت ای نوح ار تو خواهی جمله را
حشر گردانم بر آرم از ثری

بهر کنعانی دل تو نشکنم
لیکت از احوال آگه می کنم

گفت نه نه راضیم که تو مرا
هم کنی غرقه اگر باید تو را

هر زمانم غرقه می کن من خوشم
حکم تو جانست چون جان می کشم

ننگرم کس را و گر هم بنگرم
او بهانه باشد و تو منظرم

عاشق صنع توم در شکر و صبر
عاشق مصنوع کی باشم چو گبر

عاشق صنع خدا با فر بود
عاشق مصنوع او کافر بود

English translation

The elephant was in a dark house; the Indians had brought it for display. Many people went into that darkness to see it. Since seeing it with the eye was not possible, each one felt it with his palm in the dark. One person's palm fell on the trunk and he said, 'This creature is like a waterspout.' Another's hand reached its ear and it appeared to him like a fan. Another rubbed his palm on its leg and said, 'I found the elephant's shape to be like a pillar.' Another laid his hand on its back and said, 'This elephant is like a throne.' In this way each one understood according to the part he reached, wherever he heard about it. Their sayings differed because of their viewpoints: one called it dal, another alif. If each had had a candle in his palm, the disagreement would have gone out of their speech.

The eye of sense is only like the palm of the hand; the palm has no access to the whole of it. The eye of the sea is one thing and foam another: leave the foam and look with the eye of the sea. The movement of foams comes from the sea day and night; you see the foam and not the sea, and that is no wonder. We strike against one another like ships; we are dark-eyed, though we are in bright water. O you who have gone to sleep in the ship of the body, you have seen the water; look at water within water. Water has a Water that drives it; the spirit has a Spirit that calls it.

Where were Moses and Jesus when the Sun was watering the field of beings? Where were Adam and Eve then, when God set this string in the bow? This speech too is incomplete and curtailed; the speech that is not incomplete is that summit. If He tells of it, your foot will slip; if He says nothing of it, alas for you. If He tells it in the form of an image or likeness, you will cling to that very form, young man. Your foot is bound like a plant in the earth; you move your head in the wind, uncertain. But you have no foot with which to move, unless you pull your foot out of this clay. How can you do so, when your life is from this clay? This life's way is very hard. When you take life from the Truth, O face/soul, then you become independent of clay and go on.

When the suckling child is weaned from the nurse, he becomes an eater of food and leaves her. You are bound to earthly milk like seeds; seek your weaning from the nourishment of hearts. Eat the letters/words of wisdom, for they have become a veiling light, O you unable to receive the unveiled Light, so that, O soul, you may become receptive to the Light, and may see the Hidden One without veil. You will travel like a star on the heavens; rather, without heavens, you will travel beyond how. As you came from nonbeing into being, come, say how you came: you came intoxicated. The ways of coming have not remained in your memory, but We shall recite a sign to you. Leave intellect, and then be intelligent; close the ear, and then have an ear. No, I will not say it, for you are still raw; you are in spring and have not seen high summer.

This world is like a tree, noble ones, and we are half-raw fruits upon it. Raw fruits cling tightly to the branch, for in rawness they are not fit for the palace. When one ripens and becomes sweet, lip-biting, afterward it holds the branches loosely. When the mouth becomes sweet through that fortune, the kingdom of the world becomes cold to a human being. Tight holding and fanaticism are rawness; while you are a fetus, your work is blood-drinking. Something else remains, but as for saying it, the Holy Spirit will tell it to you without me: neither you will say it into your own ear, nor I, nor anyone other than I, O you who are also I. It is like the time when you go into sleep: you go from yourself to yourself; you hear from yourself and imagine that someone in the dream has spoken that secret to you. You are one, and you are not one, good companion; rather, you are a firmament and a deep sea. That huge 'you' of yours, which is nine hundred yous, is an ocean and the drowning-place of a hundred yous. What room is there, indeed, for the boundary of waking and sleep? Do not breathe a word; God knows best what is right.

Do not breathe a word, so that you may hear from those who breathe what has not come into tongue and expression. Do not breathe a word, so that you may hear from that Sun what has not come into book or address. Do not breathe a word, so that the Spirit may breathe for you; leave swimming and enter Noah's ship.

Like Canaan, who was swimming and saying, 'I do not want Noah's ship, the enemy.' 'Come, sit in the ship, father, so that you will not drown in the flood, lowly one.' He said, 'No. I have learned to swim; I have lit a candle other than your candle.' 'Take care, do not do that, for this wave is the flood of calamity; today hands, feet, and swimming are nothing. It is the wind of wrath and a candle-extinguishing calamity; no candle but the candle of Truth endures, so be silent.' He said, 'No. I will go to that high mountain; it is a protector for me from every harm.' 'Take care, do not do that, for the mountain is straw at this moment; it gives safety to none but its own Beloved.' He said, 'When have I ever listened to your counsel, that you have hoped I am of this stock? Your speech has never pleased me; I am quit of you in both worlds.' 'Take care, father: this is not a day for airs. With God there is no kinship and no partner. Until now you have done so, but this moment is delicate; at this court, whose airs are accepted? He is from eternity: He has not begotten and has not been begotten; He has neither father nor son nor uncle. Where will He indulge the airs of children? Where will He listen to the airs of fathers? I am not born, old man, boast less; I am not a parent, young man, bolt less. I am not a husband; I am not lustful; leave airs here, lady. Nothing but humility, servanthood, and helpless need has standing in this Presence.' He said, 'Father, for years you have said this; you say it again, agitated in ignorance. How long have you said these things to everyone, until you heard many cold replies? This cold breath of yours did not enter my ear, especially now that I have become knowing and great.' He said, 'Father, what harm is there if you listen once to a father's counsel?' Thus he kept speaking subtle counsel, and the other kept speaking harsh repulsion. Neither did the father tire of advising Canaan, nor did a breath enter the ear of that ill-fated one. While they were in this speaking, a sharp wave struck Canaan's head and he was broken to pieces.

Noah said, 'O forbearing King, my donkey died and Your flood carried off my load. You promised me many times that my household would find deliverance from the flood. I, sincere, set my heart on hope in You; why then did the flood snatch my blanket from me?' He said, 'He was not of your household or kin. Did you not see: you were white and he was blue/black? When decay has entered your tooth, pull out the tooth, master, so that the rest of the body not become wretched from it; though it was yours, become quit of it.' He said, 'I am quit of everything other than Your Essence; there is no other except that which is checkmated by You. You know how I am with You: I am twenty times more so than the meadow with rain; living from You, glad from You, dependent, nourished without intermediary and without veil; neither connected nor disconnected, O Perfection, but beyond how, quality, and defect/causation. We are fish and You are the Sea of life; we live from Your grace, O fair in attributes. You do not fit within the shore of thought, nor are You joined to an effect as a cause is. Before this flood and after it, You have been my addressee in the story. I was speaking with You, not with them, O giver of speech, new and ancient.

Is it not that the lover speaks day and night, sometimes with ruins and sometimes with meadows? Outwardly he has turned his face to the ruins; to whom is he speaking, and for whom is that praise? Now You have appointed the flood for thanksgiving and removed the intermediary of the ruins, for the ruins were mean and bad: they gave neither call nor sound. I want such ruins in address that, like a mountain, answer back from the echo, so that I may hear Your name doubled; I am in love with Your name, the repose of the soul. Every prophet loves the mountain for this reason, so that he may hear Your name doubled. That which is low like stony ground suits mice, not us as a dwelling. I speak, and it does not become my companion; the breath of my speech remains without echo. As for the earth, it is better to level it; make it a companion to the foot, not a confidant.'

He said, 'Noah, if you wish, I shall resurrect all of them and raise them from the dust. I will not break your heart for Canaan, but I am informing you of the true states.' He said, 'No, no. I am content if You drown me too, should You need to. Drown me every moment; I am happy. Your decree is soul: how could I not draw it like breath? I look at no one; and if I do look, that one is a pretext and You are what I see. I am in love with Your making, in gratitude and patience; how should I be in love with the made thing, like an unbeliever? The lover of God's making is endowed with glory; the lover of His made thing is an unbeliever.'

Updated 2026-06-30

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