M6:2535 — وهم در وهم و خیال اندر خیال / شاه را تا خود چه آید از نکال

Translation: Delusion upon delusion, and imagination within imagination, The king wonders what retribution (nekāl) might befall him. Meaning: This verse describes the mental state of a king plunged into escalating paranoia and fearful imaginings, as he anticipates unknown, potentially severe consequences.

This beyt offers a brilliant and realistic portrayal of a king's mental state, trapped in restless delusions and imaginings while awaiting dire news. Here, Rumi, the unparalleled master of human psychology, plunges us into the depths of the king's anxiety. Consider, a king who is himself a ruler, yet is subordinate to another, the bloodthirsty Khwarazmshah, living in perpetual fear for his fate. This external pressure has amplified his internal anxiety.

"Delusion upon delusion, and imagination within imagination"—this phrase alone is enough to immerse us in a sea of suspicion and fear. The king's delusion isn't singular; one delusion builds upon another, and one imagination gives birth to the next. It's a vicious, relentless cycle of apprehension that gnaws at the mind, as Rumi himself implies: "it stung him like a scorpion." This is not merely a concern, but an internal torment; a king imprisoned within the constructs of his own mind.

"The king wonders what retribution (nekāl) might befall him"—nekāl here signifies punishment or a grave misfortune. In this state, the king perceives himself exposed to a penalty whose nature is yet unclear, but his mind ceaselessly fabricates dreadful scenarios. This precise depiction of uncertainty and the fear of the unknown reveals how Rumi, from the narrative of a story, dissects a universal human condition. This is not a complaint against a crooked world, but a meticulous description of a natural human reaction when confronted with insecurity and a lack of control. While Rumi typically focuses on judāʾī (separation) rather than tanhāʾī (loneliness), here, the king's separation from security and certainty has driven him into a delusion that isolates him from any inner peace.

Key takeaways

• Rumi portrays a king's psychological state of escalating paranoia and restless imaginings while awaiting bad news.
• External pressures (the threat of Khwarazmshah) and uncertainty intensify the king's inner anxiety and suspicion.
• The phrase "delusion upon delusion, and imagination within imagination" illustrates a self-perpetuating mental state of torment.
• "Nekāl" (retribution, misfortune) highlights the king's fear of the unknown and potential consequences.
• This verse offers a profound description of the universal human experience of confronting insecurity and lack of control, rather than a complaint about the world's condition.