M1:378 — دم بدم ما بستهٔ دام نویم / هر یکی گر باز و سیمرغی شویم

Translation: Moment by moment, we are snared in new traps; even if each of us were to become a hawk or a phoenix. Meaning: This verse conveys the human predicament of constantly falling into new deceptions and traps of the world, suggesting that even those with great strength and cunning are not immune to these entanglements.

In my interpretation of this verse, I see it as part of a heartfelt prayer by Mowlana, spontaneously uttered after recounting the tale of the deceitful minister, whom he likens to the one-eyed Dajjāl. Here, Mowlana, with 'bound hands,' confesses his own entrapment and helplessness, articulating a universal human experience: we, as human beings, are perpetually surrounded by diverse traps and deceptions. It is all too common for us to escape one snare only to fall immediately into another. This confession, far from signaling despair, is a plea for divine assistance.

Mowlana, in these verses, identifies the root of these entanglements in the inherently 'greedy' nature of humanity. Like helpless birds, as soon as we perceive a blessing, a morsel, or a grain, we rush towards it heedlessly and fall into the trap. It is noteworthy that even if each of us were to attain the stature of a 'hawk' or a 'phoenix' (Sīmurgh) — symbols of keen insight, power, and freedom from bondage — we would still not be immune to these traps. This suggests that these snares arise not merely from our inherent weakness, but from the world's deceptive nature and humanity's covetous disposition.

Mowlana's prayers throughout the Masnavi, as I have previously mentioned, are entirely unpretentious and emerge from his immediate 'state' (ḥāl); they are dictated by the very situation he finds himself in. At this moment, having witnessed the minister's deception and grasping the profound vulnerability of humanity, Mowlana raises his hands in prayer, confessing his own and humankind's helplessness, and seeking aid from the 'Independent' God. This interplay between Mowlana's spiritual strength in other contexts and his expression of helplessness in this verse exemplifies the numerous highs and lows, the varied spiritual states, he experiences on his path of spiritual journeying. In this verse, he underscores human fragility and vulnerability, eschewing any claim of inherent safety or immunity.

Key takeaways

• Humans, even the strongest and most cunning among them, are perpetually caught in new traps.
• Humanity's 'greedy' nature is a primary cause for falling into the world's deceptive snares.
• Mowlana, when faced with worldly deceit, expresses utter helplessness and seeks God's aid.
• The prayers in the Masnavi are spontaneous, stemming from the 'state' (ḥāl) and intimately linked to the narrative contexts.