M6:4298 — بار آخر گوییش سوزان و چست / گرم‌تر صد بار از بار نخست

Translation: bār-e ākhar gūyīyash sūzān o chost garm-tar sad bār az bār-e nokhost

Even the last time you speak it, it is fiery and agile, A hundred times hotter than the first time.

Meaning: This verse highlights how, in the pursuit of certain worldly desires or deceptions, one's passion and zeal can surprisingly intensify with repetition, becoming far more fervent than at the initial attempt.

Mowlana, in this verse, makes a profound and incisive observation that reveals the depth of his insight into human psychology. He has previously spoken of those who grow weary of hearing truths, deeming them 'old' or 'stale,' yet find no weariness in repeating mundane or futile worldly affairs; indeed, they even derive pleasure from them. Mowlana argues that weariness from truth stems not from its repetition, but from an internal 'satiety' or lack of 'hunger.' Just as one who is truly hungry for bread does not tire of eating it, for their hunger is renewed, so too one who craves knowledge does not tire of truth.

However, to substantiate this claim, Mowlana delivers a sharp rhetorical thrust. He asks: How is it that in the marketplaces of deceit, in haggling and idle talk, in backbiting and 'devouring the flesh of others,' or in seducing and 'hunting' others, one never grows weary? Not only do people not grow weary, but they engage in these activities with even greater passion and intensity each time. It is here that our beyt comes into play: bār-e ākhar gūyīyash sūzān o chost / garm-tar sad bār az bār-e nokhost

He observes that in the act of captivating another, whether through charm or words, people not only remain unwearied but, even on the hundredth repetition of the same words, they utter them 'fiery and agile' (sūzān o chost). That is, they express them with such ardor, swiftness, and vivacity that it is as if their passion is a hundred times hotter than the very first time. This is a biting irony and a profound critique of human beings who possess an infinite capacity for passion and fervor, yet choose to expend this energy on pursuits that ultimately leave them empty and withered, rather than guiding them towards truth.

This verse demonstrates that the issue is not the 'repetition' of words, but the 'content' of the discourse and our inherent 'hunger.' If our hunger is directed towards worldly matters, their repetition will make us 'fatter' and 'hotter' in our pursuit. But if our hunger is not for truth, then even if truth is spoken but once, it will seem tiresome. Therefore, Mowlana, instead of chastising the listener for tiring of divine discourse, urges them to look within and discern what truly satiates them and what genuinely ignites their appetite and yearning. This is a root diagnosis: the problem lies not in the quality of spiritual sustenance, but in our misplaced appetite or the false satiety within.

Key takeaways

• Weariness from truth signals inner satiety, not the truth's antiquity.
• In worldly pursuits, our passion not only doesn't diminish with repetition but intensifies a hundredfold.
• This verse is a critique of our choices in directing our inner fervor.
• Humanity's boundless capacity for zeal can reach its peak in either virtue or vice.