M6:3650 — از خطر پرهیز آمد مفترض / بشنوید از من حدیث بی‌غرض

Translation: Avoiding danger became obligatory. Hear from me an impartial discourse. Meaning: The father warns his sons that it is a duty to avoid peril and asks them to listen to his sincere advice.

This verse is spoken by the king in the tale of 'The King, his Sons, and the Forbidden Castle,' and it carries a profound psychological truth. The father reminds his sons that "avoiding danger became obligatory" (az khaṭar parhīz āmad muftaraḍ), meaning that steering clear of peril is not merely advice, but a duty incumbent upon every human being. This warning is presented as an "impartial discourse" (ḥadīth-i bī-gharaḍ); a pure and sincere utterance devoid of any self-interest, intended solely for the well-being and benefit of the listener.

However, in the unfolding of this narrative, Mawlana points to a subtle nuance that elevates this verse beyond simple moral instruction. He states that when the father prohibited entry to the castle, he inadvertently sowed the seeds of greed and curiosity in his sons' hearts. Here, Mawlana unveils a well-known human principle: "al-insān ḥarīṣun mā mániʿa" – man covets that which is forbidden to him. Every prohibition awakens a hidden desire and amplifies the urge to transgress that boundary. This is an acknowledged reality in the general disposition of people: prohibition, paradoxically, does not deter but becomes a catalyst for intensifying the longing to engage in the very act.

Thus, this verse, ostensibly a moral command, is in fact a prelude to demonstrating a complex psychological truth that recurs in various forms throughout the Masnavi: concealment and prohibition, in themselves, become powerful drivers for seeking and discovery. The king states this rule to emphasize the importance of caution, but in effect, this very counsel inversely shapes the story's trajectory and the fate of his sons, drawing them towards the forbidden.

Key takeaways

• Avoiding danger is a divine and human duty, often expressed through paternal counsel.
• Human nature inherently covets what is forbidden (al-insān ḥarīṣun mā mániʿa).
• Prohibitions can have a paradoxical effect, intensifying the desire for the forbidden act.
• Sincere and impartial advice, even if it leads to unexpected outcomes, holds intrinsic value.