M6:3840 — آن زمرد باشد این افعی پیر / بی زمرد کی شود افعی ضریر

Translation: That is the emerald, this is the old viper. Without the emerald, how can the viper become blind? Meaning: This verse uses an ancient belief to assert that our inner vices and deceptions (the old viper) can never be overcome or rendered harmless without the intervention of Divine Grace (the emerald).

Here, we encounter a verse where Mawlana employs an ancient, widely held belief of his time to elucidate a profound mystical truth. In the past, it was believed that the emerald stone possessed a quality that could blind a viper, rendering it harmless and inert. This belief was quite prevalent in Persian poetry, and Mawlana himself alludes to it in other works, including the Divan-e Shams, where he says: “If a dragon blocks the path, love is that emerald; from the flash of that emerald, repel the dragon!”

Now, for what purpose does Mawlana utilize this simile? I assert, without a shadow of a doubt, that the emerald in this couplet is nothing less than 'Divine Grace' (ʿenāyat-e Elāhī). It is this divine favor and compassion that can incapacitate and 'blind' the 'old viper' (afʿī-ye pīr) within us – meaning, those deep-seated, ancient deceptions, tricks, and attachments that we have grown accustomed to and cannot relinquish. This 'old viper' is none other than our cunning and deceitful ego, which employs every means to ensure its survival and dominance.

I have said before that even 'voluntary death' (marg-e ekhtiyārī), the abandoning of the ego and its attachments, is not possible without Divine Grace. Many desire to detach from themselves, to free themselves from their ingrained desires, but find themselves incapable. This is precisely where the role of grace becomes manifest. The verse, through a rhetorical question – “Without the emerald, how can the viper become blind?” – emphatically states that without this divine favor, there is no way to overcome this ancient, deceptive self.

Some might interpret this as a lesson in despair or inaction, but I fundamentally disagree. The Masnavi, as I have often emphasized, is a book of hope. This teaching is about despairing of oneself and placing all hope in God. Mawlana does not suggest we cease our efforts; rather, he bids us: 'Knock on the door with hope.' This verse teaches us to constantly look towards the ultimate source of power and aid, and to extend our hands to receive this precious emerald, which is Divine Grace. We must be 'flame-eaters' (shoʿle-khwār), meaning we must be prepared to endure the pains and hardships of the path, but know that ultimate illumination and complete victory can only be achieved with assistance from that supreme source.

Key takeaways

• Overcoming internal vices and deceptions is impossible without Divine Grace and benevolence.
• The 'emerald' symbolizes Divine Grace, possessing the power to neutralize, while the 'old viper' represents the deceptive ego and ingrained human attachments.
• Individual effort and will, though necessary, are insufficient alone to conquer the complexities of the self, necessitating transcendent aid.
• This verse is not a lesson in despair, but an invitation to absolute hope in God and a continuous plea for His grace.
• Through this simile, Rumi connects a common popular belief to the profound mystical truth of existence's reliance on divine favor.