M6:1892 — مرد او بر جای خرپشته نشاند / وآنک کهنه گشت هم پشته نماند

Translation: He seated him in the place of a kharposhte (grave-mound); And when that, too, grew old, even the mound did not remain. Meaning: This couplet speaks to the absolute transience of human existence and even the marks of their burial place, illustrating how humans return to dust and how, with the passage of time, even the last traces of their graves disappear.

This couplet emerges from Rumi's discourse on the world being the "abode of God's wrath" (qahrkhāna-ye Kerdegār), meaning this world is not a place of justice, but rather a stage for coercion and divine decree. I have often emphasized that Rumi, unlike some other poets, does not condone complaint about the world; yet here, he points to the stark realities of this world which themselves are signs of divine wrath. This verse explicitly speaks of the absolute transience and instability of human beings and the very marks of their existence.

Rumi, by mentioning "the bones and hair of the subjugated" and "the wings and feet of birds caught in a snare," reminds us that the signs of divine wrath are visible in our raw, everyday nature. These are silent witnesses that, wordlessly, explain the state of the world. Humanity, which considers itself the noblest of creatures, shares a similar fate: "He seated him in the place of a kharposhte." Humans ultimately reach the place of the kharposhte, meaning they settle upon the mound of earth over their grave. This kharposhte not only points to the simplicity and insignificance of this eternal resting place but also emphasizes the truth that humans are from dust and return to dust.

But Rumi goes even further: "And when that, too, grew old, even the mound did not remain." Even this kharposhte, with the passage of time, vanishes, leaving no trace. This means that not only is human life ephemeral, but even the sign left by them on earth is doomed to perish. This expression elevates the depth of instability to its peak. Nothing in this world, neither humanity itself nor its legacy, is safe from the wrath of time. It is here that the value of that "upward yearning" (sowdā-ye sar-e bālā) which Rumi emphasizes elsewhere becomes clear. If everything is to pass away, then attachment to this world and seeking justice and stability within it is a clear error. The only path to liberation is to transcend this abode of wrath and find the true "sustenance" (rizq) that is of the essence of soul and eternity. This couplet, in essence, is a warning to awaken from the slumber of heedlessness and turn towards that formless and enduring meaning.

Key takeaways

• This world is an abode of divine wrath, where perfect justice is unattainable.
• Signs of God's wrath are evident in the sheer transience of humans and natural beings.
• Humans are destined to return to dust, and even the marks of their graves vanish.
• Nothing in this world, neither existence nor legacy, is safe from the ravages of time.
• This impermanence serves as an invitation to detach from worldly concerns and seek enduring meaning.