M6:2477 — جفت آن گاوم که آدم جد خلق / در زراعت بر زمین می‌کرد فلق

Translation: I am the mate of that cow which Adam, the ancestor of humankind, Used to split the earth for farming.

Meaning: Spoken by the cow in a bragging contest, this verse asserts its immense antiquity by claiming to be the companion of the very cow Adam used to cultivate the earth, thereby signaling the dawn of human civilization.

This verse, spoken by the cow in the tale of the ram, cow, and camel in Book Six of the Masnavi, brings a historical boast to its zenith. Previously, the ram had claimed to be contemporary with the ram sacrificed by Ishmael. But the cow, with audacious confidence, asserts that it is the mate of the very cow Adam, the ancestor of humankind, used to till the earth for the inception of civilization and agriculture. This claim not only links its own antiquity to the very genesis of human creation and the dawn of civilization but also illustrates how far individuals can push their claims in illogical contests of self-aggrandizement. Here, Mawlana subtly portrays the cul-de-sac of boasting and false argumentation. Both the ram and the cow, relying on self-fabricated or exaggerated historical narratives, strive to prove their superiority and rightful claim to the fodder.

However, these rhetorical challenges set the stage for the entry of a more potent factor: sheer force. As we shall see in the continuation of the story, the camel, falling behind in this historical bragging contest and having nothing further to claim (since the ram and cow have exhausted all historical periods), suddenly disrupts the rules of the game. With a defiant toss of its great neck, it kicks the fodder away, proclaiming with utter disregard for all historical and logical claims that it has no need for history or argument. It is here that Mawlana unveils one of the most piercing truths of the world: “Force has done everything, force.” Logic, argumentation, philosophy, and even reason, often become completely suspended in the face of naked, irrational power, and force dictates the final word.

Indeed, this verse and the ensuing narrative serve as an allegory for the bitter truth that in a world where power cannot be constrained, logic and truth often find no ground to stand upon. This Masnavi narrative demonstrates how overblown claims and resorting to bragging ultimately lead to an impasse, paving the way for the illogical triumph of might. Mawlana here reminds us that although we aspire to build a world founded on reason, logic, and legal principles (such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), the reality of history and power dynamics has often unfolded with disregard for these principles; even precious commodities like human rights have fallen into the hands of oppressors. Mawlana's critique is an invitation to rein in power, both in the realm of politics and within our individual selves, and to avoid, through empty rhetoric and boasting, opening the field for the dominance of violence and force.

Key takeaways

• Boasting logic eventually dead-ends, opening the way for the exercise of brute force.
• In the absence of reason and restrained power, force dictates the ultimate outcome.
• Historical claims and false rationales are powerless against naked power.
• Mawlana painfully portrays the impotence of logic when confronted by irrational force.
• The desire for superiority and bragging can lead to the collapse of fair play.