The Verse of the Unbroken Back
Philosophical Summary
'The elephant does not complain about the weight of its tusks, for they are its glory. Divined for the one whose responsibilities were crushing them.' The seeker is encouraged to pray for the strength to carry the load, rather than asking for the load to be removed, as the load is the source of their 'Ire' (blessings).
Interpretation
Ogbè Òtúrúpọ̀n (Ogbè-Tòminà) teaches that we are defined by what we are willing to carry. The 'Elephant's Tusks' are heavy and inconvenient, yet they are the animal's ultimate weapon and sign of status. The verse instructs the devotee that their current 'crushing' responsibility is actually their 'Ire.' To ask for the burden to be removed is to ask for one's crown to be taken. It encourages praying for the 'Supportive Pillar' (Òtúrúpọ̀n) of internal fortitude and ancestral backing.
Sacred Verses
Yorùbá
Erin kì í rérìn-ín kù, Ìpín kì í rérìn-ín fura. A dífá fún Akọgun tó ru ẹrù ìlú mọ́ra.
English
The elephant does not complain about the weight of its tusks, for they are its glory. The mountain does not complain about the weight of the forest. Divined for the warrior who carried the town upon his back. They were told: "The burden is not a punishment, it is the crown that you wear."