M6:400 — هر چه زین سی میر اندر سی مقام / کشف شد زو آن به یکدم شد تمام

Translation: Whatever was revealed by these thirty emirs in thirty stages, that was all completed by him [Ayaz] in a single breath. Meaning: This verse extols Ayaz's exceptional acumen, showing how he instantly grasped and completed a comprehensive understanding that took thirty emirs thirty separate efforts to achieve.

Undoubtedly, in this verse, Rumi highlights Ayaz's power of insight and cleverness, contrasting it with the slowness and lack of vision of the thirty emirs. Ayaz, without needing step-by-step guidance, once he grasps a thread, follows all its implications and connotations to the very end. This attentiveness (murāqabat) and astuteness enable him to comprehend in a single breath and a single moment what takes thirty emirs thirty separate journeys and thirty stages to discover.

This particular story segment is presented primarily to clarify what “cleverness” (ziraki), “vision” (bīnāyī), and “attentiveness” (murāqabat) mean in Rumi's view. Rumi seeks to convey that true insight is when an individual does not merely perceive one aspect of an action or statement but anticipates all its facets and consequences, completing the task comprehensively and holistically. Ayaz embodies this sharp perception; he does not wait for the Sultan to ask him things one by one but, once given a hint, he delves into the depth of the matter according to his sagacity. This power of integrated and comprehensive understanding is effective in worldly affairs and, a fortiori, in spiritual journeying, which demands holistic vision. It's important to note that immediately after this verse, Rumi shifts the narrative towards the discussion of “free will and determinism”; however, this specific verse concludes the initial account of Ayaz and the thirty emirs, testifying to his shrewdness and demonstrating how one can traverse “thirty stages” with a single “breath” and a single “hint.”

Key takeaways

• The verse emphasizes the importance of comprehensive insight and cleverness, contrasting it with piecemeal and superficial efforts.
• Ayaz, through his holistic and anticipatory understanding, embodies the qualities of 'muraqabat' (attentiveness) and 'ziraki' (astuteness).
• Ayaz's ability to grasp all information 'in a single breath' illustrates the power of integrated and unified perception.
• The lesson here serves as guidance for both worldly affairs and spiritual journeys: how to grasp the depth of matters from a mere hint.