M6:3583 — پیش شه شه‌زادگان استاده جمع / قرة العینان شه هم‌چون سه شمع

Translation: Before the King, the princes stand assembled, a crowd; The light of the King's eyes, like three bright candles. Meaning: This verse paints a picture of the king's sons gathered before him, their presence like bright candles, serving as the very light of his eyes and heart.

This verse portrays a delightful scene: the princes standing assembled before their father, the King. Mowlana, with his characteristic precision and conciseness, mentions "three candles" instead of the four one might expect, which could signal an absence or simply a focus on three prominent sons in this narrative.

The phrase Qurrat al-ʿAyn, typically meaning 'the light of the eye' or 'the apple of one's eye'—a source of joy and comfort—here takes on a deeper significance beyond mere visual delight. These sons are not only a source of pleasure and support for their father, but they were previously described as being "more praised than one another in generosity, in battle, and in valor" (referring to the prior verse: Har yeki az digari ostudatar / Dar sakhā-o dar waghā-o karr-o farr). Thus, their being Qurrat al-ʿAyn denotes an elevated and perfected status.

Their similitude to "three candles" is not merely to convey visual brightness or beauty; it signifies a presence that offers warmth and hope—a guiding light that, in essence, symbolizes spiritual vitality. A candle, by burning itself, gives light, hinting at the self-sacrifice and intrinsic nobility expected of such offspring.

Immediately after this verse, Mowlana unveils a more profound insight. He reveals that the king, like a tall and fruitful palm tree, drew hidden sustenance from the eyes of his sons: Az rah-i penhān ze ʿaynayn-i pesar / Mī-kashīd ābi nakhīl ān pedar ('From a hidden path, from the two eyes of the son / That palm tree of a father drew water'). Here, the significance of the sons' presence transforms from a mere description into an existential, enigmatic truth. This gaze from father to sons, and perhaps vice-versa, is not a simple look, but a fount of life that nourishes and fructifies this mighty palm (the father). In essence, the vibrant and authentic presence of the children serves as a hidden nourishment for the father's soul; a sustenance that transcends the physical, nurturing his spirit. Thus, Mowlana moves from an external description to a profound gnosis concerning inner connection and spiritual sustenance.

Key takeaways

• The children's presence, beyond mere physical beauty, serves as a hidden, spiritual nourishment for the father.
• The metaphor of 'three candles' symbolizes luminosity, warmth, and spiritual fecundity stemming from an authentic presence.
• Mowlana transforms a descriptive scene into a gateway for discovering profound, hidden wisdom.
• Deep relationships are vessels for mutual spiritual and soulful sustenance.
• Qurrat al-ʿAyn signifies not only visual delight but also an intrinsic perfection and spiritual worth.