M6:2572 — می‌زنیدش چون دهل اشکم‌تهی / تا دهل‌وار او دهدمان آگهی

Translation: You strike him like an empty-bellied drum, / So that like a drum, he may give us tidings. Meaning: This verse describes the king's command to torture the jester, compelling him to reveal the truth, just as a drum must be struck to emit sound.

In this verse, Mowlana, through the voice of the minister or king, relays an order given to the jester: “You strike him like an empty-bellied drum, / So that like a drum, he may give us tidings.” This expression marks the height of ruthlessness in dealing with someone suspected of concealing the truth. The jester here symbolizes one accused of hypocrisy and deceit, and the ruling power seeks to compel him to confess through coercion and torture.

The metaphor of the “empty-bellied drum” (ashkam-tehi) is profoundly meaningful here. A drum is inherently silent until struck. The drum’s emptiness can simultaneously hint at the jester’s apparent lack of substance and suggest that he harbors something within that must be extracted through impact and pressure. The king believes that the jester, like a hollow drum, will not utter the truth until beaten. This verse appears within a larger narrative where the jester is accused of malice and trickery, and the minister has slandered him before the king. The king, swayed by the minister’s words, orders the jester’s imprisonment and torture to make him reveal his deception.

Mowlana, in the continuation of this story, delves into the significance of “truth” (sidq) and “falsehood” (kizb), stating that “For truth is tranquility and radiance; the heart finds no peace in false speech.” This means the human heart finds solace only in truth, and truthful speech bestows peace and serenity, whereas falsehood, like a “splinter” (khas) or “pebble” in the mouth or eye, causes restlessness and must be expelled. This perspective highlights humanity’s inherent quest for truth and tranquility. Although the method described in the verse for attaining this truth is torture and coercion, the ultimate goal—namely, achieving “tidings” (āgahi) and peace of heart through “truth”—is a transcendent aim that permeates the entire Masnavi.

This anecdote and verse reflect a pessimistic view of the “evil nature of humankind” that has persisted in various intellectual traditions. Mowlana himself states elsewhere: “For this human was kneaded with evil.” This historical pessimism towards human nature leads to the use of coercive methods to uncover truth in the absence of trust. However, at higher levels of gnosis, truth is revealed not through torture but through the awakening of one’s innate nature and the unmediated observation of the cosmos.

Key takeaways

• The pursuit of truth and awareness, even through coercive means, is a central concern of the Masnavi.
• The empty-bellied drum symbolizes an individual concealing truth, who is compelled to reveal it under pressure.
• The human heart finds peace only in truth; falsehood is a source of restlessness.
• This verse reflects the pessimistic view of humanity's 'evil nature' found in certain intellectual traditions.
• While not endorsing the method, Mowlana emphasizes the fundamental human need for truth to emerge.