Read› Daftar 4› The decrease in the wages of the Sufi's soul and heart from the food of God› beyt 1874
M4:1874 — در پناه پنبه و کبریتها / شعله و نورش برآید بر سها
M4:1874
Meaning · به زبانِ تو — Your language · AI
This couplet describes how a small, initial spark, nurtured by simple means, can grow into a powerful, far-reaching light, just as the spiritual seeker's inner fire, though initially weak, eventually illuminates the world.
This beyt continues Rumi's analogy of spiritual growth, comparing it to the kindling of a fire. The 'cotton and kindling' (پنبه و کبریتها) represent the humble, often unseen, initial supports for a nascent spiritual flame. Just as a fire starts small and requires simple fuel, the journey of the seeker begins with subtle stirrings and basic practices. The 'Pleiades' (سها) is a cluster of stars, often used in Persian poetry to denote great height or a distant, brilliant object. Therefore, the phrase 'ascend to the Pleiades' signifies that this initially small flame will eventually reach immense spiritual heights, illuminating the 'dark world' (عالم تاریک) mentioned in the next couplet (M4:1875). This imagery reinforces the idea that profound spiritual transformation often starts from modest beginnings, echoing the earlier comparison of the seeker's soul to a 'worm' that transforms into a 'dragon' (M4:1870) or a faint 'spark' that becomes a blazing 'fire' (M4:1871-1872). It's a message of hope and potential, emphasizing that even the smallest inner light, when nurtured, can achieve celestial radiance.
- پنبه
- cotton; often used as tinder or kindling due to its flammability.
- کبریت
- kindling, tinder, or matches (though matches in the modern sense did not exist, the term refers to small, easily flammable material).
- سها
- The Pleiades, a star cluster; metaphorically used to signify great height, distance, or brilliance.
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