M6:1936 — این سخن پیدا و پنهانست بس / که نباشد محرم عنقا مگس

Translation: This discourse is at once manifest and hidden, / For a fly cannot be the confidant of the Anqa (Simorgh). Meaning: This verse asserts that the profound spiritual truths Mowlana conveys are paradoxically both evident and concealed. Their comprehension demands inner depth and readiness, as a common fly can never grasp the intimate secrets of the mythical, transcendent Anqa (Simorgh).

Following a profound exposition that "this entire cosmos is within us" and "the sentient heavens are reflections of human perceptions," Mowlana culminates his discourse by revealing the nature of truth itself. This 'speech' or these insights, which connect the external world with humanity's inner realm, possesses a dual aspect: it is simultaneously 'manifest' and 'hidden.' This paradox does not imply ambiguity; rather, it suggests that the truth reveals itself to each individual according to their capacity and insight. Truth is like a 'revealed secret' – a secret because it doesn't yield itself easily to everyone, yet revealed because it manifests across every horizon of existence.

Mowlana elucidates this inherent duality with an unparalleled simile: 'For a fly cannot be the confidant of the Anqa.' The Anqa (Simorgh), that mythical bird whose name is known but is never seen, symbolizes ultimate, transcendent truth—the hidden, traceless treasure that both the king and the impoverished seeker in the preceding narrative failed to find in the external world. The fly, in contrast, represents a superficial perspective, a fragmented mindset, and a shallow spirit that merely alights on wounds and impurities, incapable of soaring to the heights of meaning. How can one expect a lowly fly to become an intimate confidant and secret-sharer of the high-flying Anqa? This illustrates that grasping these intricate and profound truths demands 'intimacy' (mahramiyat)—an intimacy achievable only through inner purity, breadth of vision, and the soul's ascent. With this verse, Mowlana, as it were, 'shuts the door to the treasure' upon the 'uninitiated,' indicating that these insights are not commodities for public consumption. They are reserved only for those who have prepared themselves for such intimacy. This caveat serves as a key to entering the depths of the Masnavi: 'Everyone became my friend according to their own supposition, but none sought my secrets from within me.'

Key takeaways

• Profound spiritual truths, though seemingly manifest, require inner readiness and depth for comprehension.
• The understanding of truth is proportional to an individual's capacity and insight; truth is a 'revealed secret'.
• The Anqa symbolizes transcendent truth, while the fly represents superficiality and unpreparedness for deep insight.
• With this verse, Mowlana invites his audience to become confidants of secrets through spiritual ascent.
• The external and internal worlds are intertwined; the heavens are reflections of human perceptions.