M1:256 — روزکی چندی سخن کوتاه کرد / مردِ بقّال از ندامت آه کرد

Translation: For a few days, the parrot held its tongue; The grocer sighed in profound regret.

Meaning: This couplet describes the parrot's immediate and prolonged silence after being struck by the grocer, and the grocer's deep remorse and sorrow over his hasty action, which now consumed him.

This couplet immediately follows the tragic event of the grocer's hasty strike against the parrot, marking a crucial turning point in the narrative. Here, Mowlana, with concise and potent language, paints two contrasting states: the parrot's absolute silence and the grocer's sigh of regret. The parrot's 'holding its tongue' is more than a mere cessation of speech; it's a profound, perhaps indignant, reaction—a withdrawal from the grocer's world. It is as if the parrot has chosen a path to express its pain that is more eloquent than any words.

On the other hand, 'the grocer sighed in profound regret.' This 'sigh' is not a simple expression of pity; it signals a soul-wrenching remorse that quickly weighs heavily on the grocer's heart. He has not only harmed a beloved animal but has also lost a spiritual asset and a source of customers for his shop. This regret, as Mowlana further elaborates in subsequent verses, drives the grocer to make amends: he offers gifts and desperately tries to coax the parrot back to speech. The grocer's reaction here is a small but vivid portrayal of human error and the ensuing remorse, an error rooted in haste and a lack of deliberation.

Here, Mowlana plants the seed of one of his most vital teachings: every hasty and ill-considered action immediately bears its consequences. The grocer, in that very moment, comprehends the depth of his mistake. This initial remorse is a natural, human form of regret. However, this story will soon illustrate how humans can also fall into profound errors in understanding the causes of events—errors that Mowlana terms 'parrot-like analogizing' (qiyās-e ṭūṭiyāna). At this stage, the grocer merely regrets his own action, but has not yet succumbed to that 'parrot-like analogy.' This couplet, in essence, serves as a prelude to the remorse and contemplation that will unfold in this tale, ultimately unveiling deeper cognitive fallacies.

Key takeaways

• The parrot's silence marks its first profound, indignant reaction.
• The grocer's sigh signifies immediate and profound regret for his hasty action.
• This couplet illustrates the initial moment of loss and inner suffering for the grocer.
• Mowlana uses this silence and remorse to set the stage for the crucial discussion of 'parrot-like analogy' (qiyās-e ṭūṭiyāna) and cognitive errors.