Metaphorical Meaning

In Chapter 48, Poem 15 of the Mokhtar Nameh, Attar uses the candle's voice to explore the mystical longing for unity and the fragility of spiritual existence:

• Unity with the Thread: The candle's desire to become one with the thread (sar-reshteh) represents the seeker's quest to overcome bewilderment (sargashteh) and unite with their ultimate source.
• The Paradox of Breath: The candle cannot exist without flickering (taking a breath, nafas), yet a single external breath (a draft of wind) immediately extinguishes it, illustrating the delicate, transient balance of mystical life and self-annihilation.