M6:727 — غرق این کشتی نیابی ای امیر / تا بننهی اندرو من الاخیر

This couplet introduces a new metaphor in Rumi's argument for self-annihilation (fanā), which he presents as the core meaning of the Prophetic saying, “Die before you die.” Just before this, he used images of a ladder missing its top rungs and a rope too short to reach the water in a well, both illustrating that partial effort in spiritual work is total failure. Here, the spiritual path is a ship, and the goal is to be “drowned” (gharq)—completely submerged—in the divine reality it sails upon.

The key condition, Rumi states, is to put man al-ākhir (“the last of yourself” or “the final I”) into the vessel. This isn't just about giving up obvious sins or attachments; it's about surrendering the final, most stubborn remnant of the self—the subtle ego that observes its own piety, the last shred of self-will that wants to control the outcome. Until that final piece is on board, one remains separate, unable to achieve the total immersion that is the goal. The addressee, “O Prince” (ay amīr), is a term of respect for the reader but also subtly hints that even those with worldly power are subject to this spiritual law.