M6:1880 — قند حکمت از کجا زاغ از کجا / کرم سرگین از کجا باغ از کجا

Translation: Where is wisdom's candy, and where is the crow? Where is the dung-worm, and where is the garden? Meaning: This verse underscores the innate differences in natures and aptitudes, implying that each being is drawn to what is commensurate with its inherent disposition and proper sustenance.

This verse continues a profound discussion that Mowlana initiates in this section of the Masnavi, a discourse that began with the Quranic verse, "Li-yahleka man halaka 'an bayyinatin wa yahya man hayya 'an bayyinatin" (that he who perishes may perish by a clear proof, and he who lives may live by a clear proof), and culminated in the parable, "You have cast your arrow far, while the prey is near." The entire point is that your desired treasure, that true meaning you seek, is extremely close and lies within you. Yet, we usually lengthen the path; philosophers, scholars, and even ascetics, with their meticulousness, extend the journey, whereas truth is attained by "two steps" (khaṭwatān): one step upon oneself, and another towards God.

Following this line of thought, Mowlana addresses the intrinsic differences between beings. This verse directly follows descriptions such as: "So that falcons may fly towards the Sultan / So that crows may go towards the graveyard." In this world, every being has its own 'sustenance' (rizq) and 'portion' (naṣīb). Crows go to the graveyard, not the Sultan's palace. The sustenance of crows is "bones and fragments of dung like bread." They do not consume fine and exquisite foods because they have no inclination for them. Suppose the best foods are available in the world, but crows will not eat them, dogs will not eat them, lions will not eat them; "each eats its own food." This is not merely an ethical judgment or a value assessment, but an ontological explanation.

So, where is wisdom's candy, which is the food of noble souls and the falcons of the Divine Court, and where is the crow, whose nature is intertwined with dung and impurities? How can a dung-worm, whose entire identity and life are embedded in filth, live in a garden full of flowers and basil? These essential differences, these eternal and perpetual natures, separate the path of each being and determine the food of each soul. The crow lacks the merit and capacity to consume wisdom's candy, just as the dung-worm has no affinity with the beauty of a garden. Each person must recognize their own place and the exigencies of their nature; this is the fundamental self-knowledge (khīshṭan-shināsī) that Mowlana emphasizes throughout the Masnavi. If a human returns to their inner self, they will realize that "you have cast your arrow far, while the prey is near," and their true sustenance is what their inner being demands, not what others or external appearances impose upon them.

Key takeaways

• Every being has a sustenance and station commensurate with its nature; wisdom's candy is not for the crow, nor the garden for the dung-worm.
• Understanding these intrinsic differences is the first step in self-knowledge: to know who you are and what you truly seek.
• Mowlana depicts human nature with these analogies, candidly and realistically.
• Many fruitless pursuits stem from not knowing one's true essence and the soul's proper sustenance.