Once upon a time the Exalted One was in residence at Savatthi, at Jetavana, in Anatha Pindika's Grove. Now at that time there entered Savatthi for alms a company of heretics, both monks and Brahmans, wandering ascetics, holding heretical views, patient of heresy, delighting in heresy, relying upon the reliance of heretical views. There were some monks and Brahmans who held this doctrine, who held this view: "The world is eternal. This view alone is truth; any other is folly." But there were other monks and Brahmans who held this view: "The world is not eternal. This view alone is truth; any other is folly." Some held that the world is finite, others that the world is infinite. Some held that the soul and the body are identical, others that the soul and the body are distinct. Some held that the Tathagata exists after death, others that the Tathagata does not exist after death. Some held that the Tathagata both exists and does not exist after death, others that the Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist after death.

They quarreled and brawled and wrangled and struck one another with the daggers of their tongues, saying: "This is right, that is not right;" "This is not right, that is right."

"Now in the morning a company of monks put on their undergarments, took bowl and robe, and entered Savatthi for alms. And when they had made their alms-pilgrimage in Savatthi, they returned from their pilgrimage. And when they had eaten their breakfast, they approached the Exalted One. And having approached, they saluted the Exalted One and sat down on one side. And sitting on one side, those monks reported the matter to the Exalted One.

"The heretics, O monks, the wandering ascetics, are blind, without eyes; know not good, know not evil; know not right, know not wrong. Knowing not good, knowing not evil, knowing not right, knowing not wrong, they quarrel and brawl and wrangle and strike one another with the daggers of their tongues, saying: 'This is right, that is not right;' 'This is not right, that is right.'

"In olden times, in this very city of Savatthi, there was a certain king. And that king ordered a certain man: 'Come, my man, assemble in one place all the men in Savatthi who are blind from birth.' 'Yes, your majesty,' said that man to that king. And when, in obedience to the king's command, he had laid hands on all the men in Savatthi who were blind from birth, he approached that king. And having approached, he said this to that king: 'Your majesty, the blind from birth in Savatthi are assembled for you.' 'Very well! Now let the blind men feel of the elephant.' 'Yes, your majesty,' said that man to that king. And in obedience to the king's command he let the blind men feel of the elephant, saying: 'This, blind men, is what an elephant is like.'

"Some of the blind men he let feel of the elephant's head, saying: 'This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.' Some of the blind men he let feel of the elephant's ears, saying: 'This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.' Some of the blind men he let feel of the elephant's tusks, saying: 'This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.' Others he let feel of the trunk, saying the same. Others he let feel of the belly, others of the legs, others of the back, others of the member, others of the tail, saying to each and to all: 'This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.'

"Now when that man had let the blind men feel of the elephant, he approached that king. And having approached, he said this to that king: 'Your majesty, those blind men have felt of the elephant; do as you think fit.'

"Then that king approached those blind men. And having approached, he said this to those blind men: 'Blind men, have you felt of the elephant?' 'Yes, your majesty, we have felt of the elephant.' 'Tell me, blind men, what is an elephant like?'

"The blind men who had felt of the elephant's head, said: 'Your majesty, an elephant is like a water-pot.' The blind men who had felt of the elephant's ears, said: 'Your majesty, an elephant is like a winnowing-basket.' The blind men who had felt of the elephant's tusks, said: 'Your majesty, an elephant is like a plow-share.' Those who had felt of the trunk, said: 'An elephant is like a plow-pole.' Those who had felt of the belly, said: 'An elephant is like a granary.' Those who had felt of the legs, said: 'An elephant is like pillars.' Those who had felt of the back, said: 'An elephant is like a mortar.' Those who had felt of the member, said: 'An elephant is like a pestle.' The blind men who had felt of the elephant's tail, said: 'Your majesty, an elephant is like a fan.'

"And they fought among themselves with their fists, saying: 'This is what an elephant is like, that is not what an elephant is like;' 'This is not what an elephant is like, that is what an elephant is like.' And thereat that king was delighted. 'Precisely so, O monks, the heretics, the wandering ascetics, are blind, without eyes; know not good, know not evil; know not right, know not wrong. Knowing not good, knowing not evil, knowing not right, knowing not wrong, they quarrel and brawl and wrangle and strike one another with the daggers of their tongues, saying: "This is right, that is not right;" "This is not right, that is right."'"