In Chapter 14, Poem 18 of Attar's Mokhtar Nameh, the poet illustrates the grueling nature of spiritual trials on both the body and the soul. The imagery of the 'tested soul' (جان ممتحن) signifies a stage where divine tests act as a destructive force against the ego and physical existence. Furthermore, the metaphor of archery—where every arrow shot returns to strike the archer's own heart—highlights the futility of personal exertion and defensive resistance on the spiritual path. It suggests that human agency inevitably inflicts deeper self-wounding, compelling the seeker toward absolute surrender and the realization that their own actions are ultimately turned against their ego.