M6:303 — پر نگارش کرد ساعد چون عروس / پس نمودش ماکیان دادش خروس

Translation: He adorned his forearm like a bride; then presented him as a hen, but delivered a rooster. Meaning: This verse describes a clever deception where a young man's forearm was elaborately adorned like a bride's, creating a feminine appearance to conceal his true masculine identity, thus illustrating how appearances can be misleading.

This verse is situated within an allegorical tale in the Mathnawi, the story of the eunuch 'Faraj,' whose master employs a trick to cure him. Mowlana uses this narrative to unveil the deceptive nature of the world and life itself. I would say this verse stands as a prime example of how the world presents itself to humanity with alluring deceptions.

To make his eunuch believe he has been cured of his affliction, the master sends a beardless youth (an amrad) disguised as a bride into the bridal chamber. The verse in question describes the details of this elaborate ruse. 'He adorned his forearm like a bride' refers to the custom of applying henna and intricate patterns to the forearms, as brides do. This 'adornment' (negārish) is an artificial, superficial beauty, intended solely to deceive and create an illusion.

Yet, the pinnacle of this metaphor lies in the second half of the verse: 'then presented him as a hen, but delivered a rooster.' This means the master showed the youth in the appearance and guise of a 'hen' or 'fowl' (mākiyān), a symbol of femininity, but in reality, delivered a 'rooster' (khorūs), a symbol of masculinity. This interpretation by Mowlana is, without a doubt, a precise and brilliant metaphor for illustrating the fundamental contradiction between 'form' (ṣūrat) and 'meaning' (maʿnā). The appearance was a hen, but the reality was a rooster. The appearance was deceptive, but the reality was unpleasant truth. Through this verse, we see how Mowlana, even with earthy and direct parables, conveys the deepest philosophical and mystical truths; this is not the elaborate craftsmanship of a Hafez, who might gild a verse; rather, it is utterly natural.

This story and this verse, in my view, are not merely about a sexual deception, but serve as an allegory for the larger deceit of the world. As Mowlana continues in the narrative, 'She is an old hag, and so flattering, she shows herself as a young bride.' The world presents itself as a youthful, beautiful bride, but is in truth a cunning old woman. This verse teaches us that we must look beyond adorned appearances to the reality of things, and not be fooled by the glitter and show of the world. This is the very separation from appearance and inclination towards meaning that permeates the entire Mathnawi. Mowlana, instead of complaining about this deception, narrates it—'relates the tale' (ḥikāyat mī-kunad)—so that we may open our eyes and not be deceived. This is a narration for awakening, not for despair.

Key takeaways

• Apparent beauty can often conceal an unpleasant reality.
• Mowlana employs vivid, at times earthy, parables to expose illusions and deceptions.
• In Mowlana's thought, the distinction between 'form' (ṣūrat) and 'meaning' (maʿnā) is fundamental.
• Discerning deception and not being swayed by appearance is the first step towards true perception and liberation.
• Mowlana's storytelling aims to awaken and guide, rather than to instill despair, by revealing the world's deceptive nature.