M6:2016 — بر کف من نه شراب آتشین / وانگه آن کر و فر مستانه بین

Translation: Place on my palm that fiery wine; Then behold that intoxicated pomp and glory. Meaning: Rumi, requesting an enlivening wine from the Eternal Cupbearer, expresses his ecstatic and impassioned state, which will fill the world with its glorious, dance-like splendor.

I understand this verse as a fervent, intoxicated outburst from Rumi, occurring in the middle of the "Treasure-Seeking Beggar" story. Indeed, it's a moment where Rumi seems to step away from the narrative, losing himself in a state of self-forgetfulness, uttering passionate and fiery words. This is no longer the mere recounting of a tale; this is Rumi's own restless, dancing spiritual state emerging from behind the veil.

In this verse, Rumi asks the Eternal Cupbearer for "fiery wine." This wine is, without a doubt, the wine of divine love and searing knowledge that ignites the soul and clears away the dust of partial reason. He says: "Place on my palm that fiery wine," meaning, immerse my soul in this exhilarating liquid so that it may become intoxicated by it.

What does he mean by "intoxicated pomp and glory" (kar o farr-e mastāna)? This is precisely the fervor, ecstasy, and whirling dance of sama' that reveals Rumi's inner being. "Then behold that intoxicated pomp and glory," Rumi seems to tell the reader: once you have quenched my thirst with this ardent wine, then you will see how this intoxication manifests itself in unparalleled dance, movement, and grandeur. This kar o farr is not worldly splendor, but the spiritual majesty, dignity, and awe of an eternal mystic-traveler who, through his spiritual dance, influences the entire world.

These verses are a prime example of Rumi's "light-heartedness" (sabuk-rūḥī). In the midst of a story, he casts aside sorrows and anxieties, becoming immersed in ecstatic intoxication. This is the joyous spirit that the Masnavi bestows upon its true reader, not the grief and sadness that arise from worldly appearances. Rumi, at this juncture, frees himself from the constraints of narrative and engages in a dance of words and meanings. This intoxicated splendor is, in fact, an embodiment of his very being, like a "sugar-cane reed" (nay-e shakar) filled with divine breath, filling the world with the "sugar" and sweetness of knowledge. This is a verse Rumi utters not to explain something, but to express his inner state, to unveil that surging ocean of gnosis flowing within his soul, which now, in the form of fiery words, washes upon the shores of the Masnavi. This utterance is not merely a description, but the very fire that consumes Rumi's soul and illuminates the world.

Key takeaways

• This verse signifies Rumi's departure from mere narration into a state of self-forgetfulness and fervent ecstasy.
• The 'fiery wine' symbolizes divine love and illuminating knowledge that liberates the soul from itself.
• The 'intoxicated pomp and glory' refers to the majestic whirling dance (sama') and the outward manifestation of Rumi's inner intoxication.
• At this moment, Rumi bestows joy and fervor upon the world instead of sorrow, indicating his 'light-souled' nature.
• This verse exemplifies Rumi's unprompted leap into the realm of mystical states and inner revelation.