Overview

In Chapter 36, Poem 13 of the 'Mokhtar Nameh', Attar of Nishapur explores the psychological and spiritual paralysis of the lover under the gaze of the beloved. The poem highlights the tension between the lover's desire to progress along the spiritual path and the overwhelming fear inspired by the beloved's captivating features.

Key Imagery and Symbolism

• Tresses (زلف): The 'curling, twisting tresses' represent the complex, confusing, and trap-like nature of the material world or the divine attributes that bind the lover's heart.
• Narcissus (نرگس): A classical Persian metaphor for the eye. The 'intoxicated, deceitful narcissus' suggests a gaze that is alluring yet deceptive and hazardous.
• Bandit/Waylaying Eyes (چشم رهزن): The beloved's eyes are described as bandits that ambush travelers. The 'amorous glance' (ghamzeh) of these eyes acts as a force that halts the lover, preventing them from 'taking the path ahead'.

Spiritual Significance

This poe...