M6:1258 — چون نه‌ای بازی که گیری تو شکار / دست آموز شکار شهریار

Translation: *Since you are not a falcon trained by the king for hunting,

Meaning: This verse poses a fundamental question: If you possess no special skill or function that would be valuable to kings or the world, what then is your inherent worth?

Mowlana, with his poignant and profound wit, in this and subsequent verses, draws the reader into a deep introspection. Prior to this, he narrates the story of a beggar who comes upon an empty house; finding nothing of value within, the beggar deems it fit only for defilement. This parable sets the stage for a fundamental questioning of human existence and function.

I firmly believe that Mowlana employs a precise rhetorical technique here: ilqāʾ-i yaʾs (instilling despair). He deliberately begins with the question, 'Since you are not a falcon trained by the king for hunting?' A hunting falcon is a symbol of a creature possessing a specific, highly valued skill, trained by a powerful master (the shahryār) for a grand purpose. Such a creature is not only efficient but also holds a special status because it is 'trained by the king.'

Mowlana then extends this list, asking if one is neither a charming peacock with a hundred patterns, nor a sweet-speaking parrot, nor a melodious nightingale, nor even a message-carrying hoopoe, nor a high-nesting stork—then what place does one occupy in this existence? These successive questions confront the soul with itself, evoking a sense that perhaps a human, without these prominent gifts and talents, is 'empty-handed' (dast-i tohī) and lacks any meaningful function.

His purpose in this series of questions is not to plunge one into hopelessness but to prepare the ground for a greater spiritual opening. He drives the reader to the brink of worthlessness so that he might guide them toward a deeper understanding of value and being. When a person perceives themselves as lacking all these worldly and functional talents, a foundation is laid for turning to another market: the market whose only customer is God, where even the qalb (counterfeit goods or an untalented heart) is not rejected. This instilling of despair is a stepping stone to realizing the generous jawādī (generosity) that God has toward His servants, irrespective of their apparent capabilities and merits. In essence, Mowlana wants to convey that even if you possess none of these gifts, there is still a path for you; a path where the Absolute Generous buys you with all your imperfections, because His intention in buying is not profit.

Key takeaways

• Mowlana uses these questions to lead the audience into self-reflection on their 'lack of talent' and 'empty-handedness.'
• The hunting falcon symbolizes a creature with specialized skills, high value, and a function defined by a great power (the king).
• The purpose of this 'instilling of despair' is not to create hopelessness, but to prepare the ground for understanding worth from a source beyond worldly talents.
• This verse serves as a prelude to recognizing another market: one where God is the sole customer, and external capability is not the criterion for acceptance.
• Though the verse points only to the absence of apparent worth, it paves the way for comprehending unconditional divine grace.