This concept explores the dual literary devices of archery metaphor and wordplay involving knots in Chapter 36, Poem 7 of Attar's Mokhtar Nameh.

The Archery Metaphor

Attar employs the classic Persian poetic trope of comparing the beloved's physical features to weapons of love:

• Arched Eyebrow (ابروی طاق): Likened to a bow or an archer (کماندار).
• Eyelashes (تیر مژه): Likened to arrows, serving as the worthy companion to the eyebrow's bow.

The Wordplay on Knots (گره)

Attar connects a physical expression to a state of fate through a pun on 'knot' (گره):

• Frowning (گره بر ابرو زدن): Described literally as tying a knot in the eyebrow.
• Obstacles (گره در کار افتادن): Described as a knot falling upon the lover's affairs.

By pleading with the beloved not to frown, the poet highlights how the beloved's displeasure directly complicates and obstructs the lover's entire existence.