A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t2.53

v2.c19.s3.t2.53

an elephant to be shown to them. An elephant was brought, and they made some feel his head, others his ear, others his tusk, others his trunk, etc., and the last one the elephant's tail.¹ Then the king asked them: "How does an elephant look?" Then those who had touched the elephant's head, said: "An elephant is like a pot;" those who had touched the ear, said: "An elephant is like a winnowing basket;" those who had touched the tusk, declared: "An elephant is like a plough-share;" those who had touched the trunk, said: "An elephant is like the pole of a plough," etc.; and those who had felt the tail, maintained: "An elephant is like a broom." A great tumult now arose. Each one maintained: "An elephant is like this, and not otherwise; he is not like that, he is like this," until at last they came to blows, at which the king was mightily amused.