M3:1403 — جز برای یاری و تعلیم غیر / سرد باشد راه خیر از بعد خیر

This couplet comes in a section discussing the state of a seeker who has reached their spiritual objective. Rumi uses several analogies to illustrate that once the desired state is attained, the previous means of seeking become redundant. For instance, once one is on the roof of the sky, the ladder is no longer needed (M3:1402). Similarly, an enlightened mirror needs no more polishing (M3:1404).

In this context, 'the path of good' (راه خیر) refers to the journey and effort undertaken to achieve spiritual realization or a particular virtue. 'After good' (از بعد خیر) signifies the state after that good has been fully realized within oneself. At this point, the personal drive for that specific good diminishes because the need is gone. The only remaining, meaningful purpose for engaging with that 'path' or 'good' is 'to aid and teach others' (یاری و تعلیم غیر). This highlights a crucial Sufi principle: individual spiritual attainment is not an end in itself but a means to serve the community and guide others on the same journey. The 'coldness' of the path signifies its lack of personal relevance or motivating power once the goal is reached.