M6:3275 — تو حیاتی می‌دهی در هر نفس / کز نفیسی می‌نگنجد در نفس

Translation: Thou bestowest life with every breath, A life so precious it cannot be contained in speech.

Meaning: God grants life with every breath, a life so exquisitely precious that its true nature and value are beyond the grasp of mere words or descriptions.

This couplet is one of those instances where Mowlana transcends the immediate narrative to delve into a deeper, more profound meaning. Here, he draws a fundamental comparison between human acts of generosity and divine bounties, and the 'Thou' (تو) in the verse, which might initially refer to the deceased official in the story, suddenly shifts to address God Himself.

Mowlana first discusses the generosity of figures like Hātam Ṭāʾī, stating: “Hātam, if he gives dead things to dead beings / Gives counted walnuts.” This is Mowlana's unique perspective. He labels human material generosity as 'giving dead things to dead beings.' The first 'dead thing' refers to gold, silver, and worldly possessions, which are inanimate objects. The second 'dead being' refers to humans, who are mortal and destined to perish. The utmost human generosity in this material world, therefore, is to bestow dead commodities upon living beings who are themselves journeying towards death, and even then, these are given like 'counted walnuts' – limited and quantifiable gifts. Indeed, if I were permitted to presume in Mowlana's presence, I might suggest 'stale bones' instead of 'counted walnuts' to further emphasize this concept of 'deadness' and insignificance. This metaphor reveals the depth of Mowlana's perception regarding all worldly donations.

However, in the following line, addressing the 'Thou' (تو) who is now undoubtedly the divine essence, he proclaims: “Thou bestowest life with every breath / A life so precious it cannot be contained in speech.” Here, the comparison reaches its zenith. God, unlike humans, grants not 'dead things' but 'life,' and this life is bestowed 'with every breath' (در هر نفس) – meaning with every inhalation and exhalation, in every single moment. This life possesses such 'preciousness' (نفاست) that it 'cannot be contained in speech' (در نفس نمی‌گنجد) – meaning in no word, description, or utterance. Mowlana, with unparalleled artistry and ingenious wordplay, juggles the words 'nafas' (breath, moment, soul) and 'nafīs' (precious), crafting a couplet that is a masterpiece both in meaning and in its lyrical construction. This is an embellished verse, a style Mowlana typically avoids, which itself indicates his profound thought and deliberation in this particular expression.

Therefore, the generosity of God and His saints, who are life-givers, is incomparable to superficial, material donations. There, life is pure, enduring, and countless, as he further states: “Thou bestowest a most enduring life / A cash of gold, unperishable and countless.” This 'gold' neither depreciates nor is it subject to enumeration. This is the absolute and infinite divine grace that delivers us from death and grants us life in every moment.

Key takeaways

• God's generosity, unlike human benefaction, is not 'giving dead things to dead beings' but 'bestowing life itself.'
• Divine life flows with every breath and moment, not as a limited or countable gift.
• The value and preciousness of the life bestowed by God transcend all description and utterance.
• Mowlana, through clever wordplay with 'nafas' (breath/speech) and 'nafīs' (precious), amplifies the couplet's profound meaning.
• The contrast between giving 'counted walnuts' and 'countless, unperishable gold' reveals the fundamental difference between material and spiritual boons.