M6:2579 — ما پس این خس را زنیم اکنون لگد / تا دهان و چشم ازین خس وا رهد

Translation: So now we shall kick this chaff (source of deceit), Until the mouth (voice of truth) and eye (gaze of insight) are freed from this chaff. Meaning: Spoken by the vizier, this verse demands the jester's punishment. He asserts that the jester's deceptive words—likened to a thorn or pebble—are an irritating obstruction to truth and peace, and must be forcibly removed.

Here, we find ourselves at the climax of the vizier's argument, where he adamantly presses the king to punish the jester. The tone of the verse is decisive and imperative: “So now we shall kick this chaff.” “Chaff” (khass) here is a metaphor for the jester himself and his deceptive words, which the vizier perceives as falsehood and cunning. The metaphor, employed by Mowlana with remarkable acuity, depicts a pebble in one's food that finds its way into the mouth, or a thorn that lodges in the eye.

As we noted, Mowlana says elsewhere in this context: “Falsehood is like chaff, and the heart like a mouth; chaff will never hide in the mouth.” And similarly: “Especially if chaff falls into the eye from the wind; the eye falls into dampness, and closing and opening.” This khass, this disagreeable element, whether in the mouth or the eye, robs a person of peace. The tongue incessantly strives to expel the pebble, and the eye constantly weeps, opening and closing to remove the thorn. Serenity and composure are taken from both mouth and eye, and this unpleasant state persists until the khass is removed.

From the vizier’s perspective, the jester and his words are precisely this khass. The jester’s remarks, being of the nature of flattery, cunning, and deceit, are like a pebble lodged in the mouth of truth, hindering clear and honest expression. Or they are like a thorn in the eye of understanding and insight, preventing the perception of pure truth. Therefore, there is no alternative but to “kick” this khass—that is, to punish the jester. The vizier believes that through force and chastisement, this “chaff” can be removed, so that the mouth and eye may be freed from its irritation. This is a pragmatic and resolute outlook; a viewpoint that holds that for peace and clarity to be achieved, the bothersome element must be forcibly eliminated. It is crucial to remember, however, that this is the vizier's perspective, not necessarily Mowlana's. Mowlana understands that truth does not always reveal itself through such methods, but at this specific moment, we are confronted with the vizier's logic, who, by “kicking” the “chaff,” seeks to restore, in his estimation, purity and tranquility.

Key takeaways

• This verse presents the vizier's argument for punishing the jester.
• «Chaff» (khass) metaphorically represents deceptive words or an irritating presence that disturbs peace and insight.
• The vizier believes that to be rid of the «chaff», it must be forcibly removed (by kicking).
• The analogy of a pebble in the mouth or a thorn in the eye illustrates the discomfort and agitation caused by the «chaff».
• This approach exemplifies a pragmatic and decisive stance towards what is perceived as 'deceit' or 'falsehood'.