M6:347 — چون بیامد سوخت پرش را گریخت / باز چون طفلان فتاد و ملح ریخت

Translation: When it (the moth) arrived, its wing was burnt, so it fled; / Again, like children, it fell and shed salty tears. Meaning: This verse depicts a moth drawn to a flame, fleeing in pain when its wings are singed, only to fall back like a child, weeping salty tears, yet destined to return, driven by forgetfulness and the lure of the fire's perceived light. It symbolizes humanity's cyclical repentance and relapse into error.

This verse, M6:347, is a poignant continuation of Rumi's description of individuals caught in an intermediate stage of spiritual journey; those whose sincerity is not yet firm, oscillating between repentance and relapse. Here, Rumi masterfully employs the metaphor of the moth and the flame to elucidate this state of recurring desire and forgetfulness.

Let me explain. Rumi posits that any “form” (صورتی) that takes root in our hearts—any pleasure, any attachment that ensnares a human being—will, after its initial apparent sweetness, inevitably reveal its bitterness. At that point, the individual “gives ten” (ده می‌دهد), a Persian idiom meaning to reject, to push away, to disavow with regret. One rues having surrendered to that alluring sweetness only to endure the bitter taste of disappointment. This is the very condition of the deceitful ("قلاب"), the bloodthirsty ("خونی"), and the alluring ("لوند") individuals who, once their pleasure is spent, reject everything when bitterness arrives.

It is precisely in this context that Rumi states: «tobe mi-ārand ham parvāne-vār / bāz nesyān mi-keshad-eshān sū-ye nār» (They repent like moths, yet forgetfulness pulls them back to the fire). These unsteady humans are like moths drawn to a flame. Initially, the moth perceives the fire as “light” (nūr) and, driven by the lure of perceived gain, sets out towards it. But as soon as it reaches the flame and its wings are singed, it painfully "flees" (gereykht) and "sheds salty tears like children" (chūn teflān malh rikht). "Malh," Arabic for salt, here poetically refers to bitter, salty tears. This imagery perfectly captures the immediate despair and regret.

Yet, the story does not end there. Rumi emphasizes that it is "nesyān" (forgetfulness) that once again pulls it towards the fire. The moth, seemingly devoid of memory, fails to recall the previous searing pain; or perhaps the allure of that perceived “light” is so overwhelming that it forgets this light is, in fact, a scorching fire. Thus, «bāz nesyān mi-keshad-eshān sū-ye nār». Once more, it approaches with a hopeful expectation of gain, throws itself upon the candle's flame, gets its wings burnt, and leaps back. This cycle of broken repentance and repeated relapse is driven by forgetfulness (nāsī) and the heart's intoxication (hirs).

This profound metaphor is not merely about repenting from sins, but about any unhealthy attachment, any enthrallment to “forms” (صورات) that ultimately leads to remorse and rejection. The unstable human, continually oscillating between desire and regret, between advancing and retreating, remains stagnant and fails to reach the ultimate “destination.” This is the state Rumi warns against: sincerity in the spiritual path demands steadfastness, not this moth-like vacillation.

Key takeaways

• The verse symbolizes repetitive repentance and relapse into error, driven by forgetfulness and greed.
• The moth initially perceives the fire as light, approaching it with the hope of gain.
• Its burnt wings and subsequent flight depict immediate regret and remorse after experiencing bitterness.
• However, 'nesyān' (forgetfulness) is the primary driver for the moth's return to the same destructive fire.
• This cycle of yearning for deceptive pleasures and subsequent regret hinders sincerity and steadfastness in the spiritual path.