batch.motif.sufi-rumi-mesnevi-book-1-redhouse-gutenberg-l6334-l6443
---
record_id: batch.motif.sufi-rumi-mesnevi-book-1-redhouse-gutenberg-l6334-l6443
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
passage_locator:
label: OF QONYA. / PREFACE. / IN THE NAME OF GOD, / THE ALL-MERCIFUL, THE VERY-COMPASSIONATE.;
lines 6334-6443
start: '6334'
end: '6443'
translation: The Mesnevi
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: Our souls, if not awake to God’s most holy truth, / Are not awake.
summary: The passage teaches that ordinary wakefulness is spiritual sleep when the
soul is governed by fancy, lust, envy, and deceptive appearances. It uses examples
of a dream, a bird’s shadow, guidance by saints, Satan’s envy of Adam, Abrahamic
purification, the envious Vazīr, deceptive speech, and bright but harmful substances
such as silver, fire, and lightning.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A person who seems awake is described as asleep if not awake to God’s truth.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The soul is said to be buffeted by fancies concerning loss, profit, life,
and death.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: A dreamer mistakes a demon for an angel and wakes from sensual pleasure with
no harvest, only distress.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: A simpleton chases the shadow of a bird on the ground while the actual bird
flies safely above.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Life is compared to a quiver whose arrows are spent when years are wasted
chasing phantoms.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: God’s servants are called shadows on earth and are described as dead to this
world but alive in a second birth.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The speaker urges clinging to the skirts of holy guides and not entering the
maze without guidance.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Envy is said to seize a traveler on the way and is identified as Satan’s sin
against Adam’s rise.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Life’s progress is compared to a steep mountain-pass, with envy as an added
load.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: The body is identified with God’s house, a clay house of glory needing cleansing.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: The Vazīr of the Jewish king is described as envy itself and as having sacrificed
his nose and ears.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: The nose is described as the organ for tracing scent, and religion is described
as having a fragrance to be traced.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:13
text: The Vazīr is warned against as a killer of faith and as a false pastor whose
sweet speech contains bitterness.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:14
text: Some discerning people detect knavery in the Vazīr’s honeyed phrases and double
meanings.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:15
text: Evil-minded speech is described as fair on the surface but dangerous through
hidden meaning.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:16
text: "‘Ali is quoted comparing foolish words to weeds growing on dunghills."
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:17
text: The Vazīr’s spoken advice to pray is contrasted with his actions, which teach
neglect of duty.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:18
text: Silver, fire, and lightning are each described as outwardly bright or pleasing
but capable of harm or pollution.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: spiritually asleep person
description: A person outwardly awake but not awake to God’s truth, ruled by fancies
and wishes.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: dreamer
description: One who sees a demon in sleep, deems it an angel, and wakes distressed
after sensual dreaming.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: bird
description: A bird flying in the air whose shadow appears on earth.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: simpleton chasing the shadow
description: A fool who runs after the bird’s shadow, shoots arrows at it, and gains
no booty.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: God
description: The merciful Lord whose protection is invoked and who can save the
soul from envy.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: God’s servants / saints / holy men
description: Guides described as God’s shadows on earth, dead to this world and
living in a second birth.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Tebrīz’ Sun
description: A good man whose skirts are said to wipe out care.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Husāmu-’d-Dīn
description: Named as a friend to inquire of when the road to Tebrīz’ Sun is not
known.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Satan
description: A figure whose sin is identified as envy toward Adam’s rise.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Adam
description: A figure whose rise to a sublime estate is envied by Satan.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Ab’ram / Abraham
description: Cited as answering that fading things do not please him, and connected
with God’s command to cleanse the house.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Vazīr of the Jewish king
description: An envious and deceptive minister who appears as a pastor of truth
but undermines faith.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Jewish king
description: The king whose Vazīr is mentioned.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: men of sense
description: People who discern the knavish plan in the Vazīr’s honeyed phrases.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: "‘Ali / God’s Lion"
description: A cited authority whose sayings warn against foolish words and lack
of common sense.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: deluded pursuer of appearances
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
basis: These figures mistake dreams, fancies, or shadows for reality and suffer
loss or distress.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: merciful protector
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: God’s protection is invoked, and the Lord is said able to save from envy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: spiritual guide
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: The passage urges seeking saints, Tebrīz’ Sun, and Husāmu-’d-Dīn for guidance
and consolation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: envious adversary
assigned_to:
- fig:9
- fig:12
basis: Satan’s sin is envy, and the Vazīr is called envy itself.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: authoritative exemplar or speaker
assigned_to:
- fig:11
- fig:15
basis: Abraham and ‘Ali are cited as sources of exemplary sayings or scriptural-religious
instruction.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: role:6
label: deceptive religious teacher
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: The Vazīr seems a pastor of truth while his words and actions undermine faith
and duty.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:7
label: discerning hearer
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: The men of sense detect knavery in the Vazīr’s fair-sounding phrases.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: spiritual sleep and wakefulness
literal_form: sleep, waking, watchfulness
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: bird and shadow
literal_form: a bird flying in air and its shadow flitting on earth
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: quiver and arrows of life
literal_form: quiver, arrows, emptied quiver
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: maze and road of guidance
literal_form: maze, road, way, skirts of guides
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: steep mountain-pass of life
literal_form: mountain-pass
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: house of the body
literal_form: God’s house, frame, house of glory, clay
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: nose and scent of religion
literal_form: nose, ears, scent, fragrance, odour
associated_figures:
- fig:12
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: sweet food hiding bitterness
literal_form: bitter aloes mixed in sweet plum jam; syrup with mortal poison
associated_figures:
- fig:12
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:9
label: weeds on dunghills
literal_form: weeds growing on dunghills
associated_figures:
- fig:15
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:10
label: pleasing but harmful fire
literal_form: fire and flame
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:11
label: bright but harmful lightning
literal_form: lightning flashes
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:12
label: bright silver that soils
literal_form: white glittering silver that soils hands and purse
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: False wakefulness and enslaving fancy
summary: The passage opens by saying that ordinary wakefulness is worse than sleep
when the soul is not awake to God and is enslaved by wishes and fancies.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Dream error and barren result
summary: A dreamer mistakes a demon for an angel, experiences sensual pleasure,
and wakes with distress and no harvest.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Chasing the bird’s shadow
summary: A fool pursues the shadow of a bird on earth, shoots at the shade, exhausts
his arrows, and gains nothing.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Seeking saints as guides through the maze
summary: The speaker asks for God’s protection, says God’s servants are shadows
on earth, and urges clinging to them for guidance through the maze and road.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Envy on the steep way
summary: The traveler is warned that envy may seize the throat; Satan’s envy of
Adam is named, and life is compared to a steep mountain-pass where envy adds a
burden.
figure_refs:
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Cleansing the house and humbling before holy men
summary: The body is called God’s house and a clay house of glory; the speaker urges
purification, prostration before holy men, and seeking pardon.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: The envious Vazīr and loss of scent
summary: The Vazīr is described as envy itself, sacrificing his nose and ears; the
nose becomes an image for tracing the fragrance of religion.
figure_refs:
- fig:12
- fig:13
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:8
label: Deceptive sweet speech detected
summary: The Vazīr appears as a pastor of truth, but his sweet phrases contain bitterness
and poison; discerning people detect the hidden knavery.
figure_refs:
- fig:12
- fig:14
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:9
label: Warnings about foolish and evil speech
summary: The speaker warns against fair words with hidden meanings and cites ‘Ali
on foolish words as weeds on dunghills.
figure_refs:
- fig:15
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:10
label: Surface brightness and hidden harm
summary: The passage concludes with images of silver, fire, and lightning, all attractive
or bright but able to soil, blacken, blind, or kill.
figure_refs:
- fig:15
symbol_refs:
- sym:10
- sym:11
- sym:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Spiritual awakening versus delusive sleep
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
- mystical_quest
basis: The passage distinguishes being awake to God’s truth from ordinary wakefulness
ruled by dreams, fancies, and sensual error.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The text is didactic and mystical rather than a narrative quest episode.
- id: motif:2
label: Mistaking shadow for substance
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The bird-shadow episode literalizes the pursuit of appearances instead of
reality and is then applied to wasted life.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: No external analogues are asserted; the motif is extracted from the passage’s
own image.
- id: motif:3
label: Guided passage through a spiritual maze or road
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: The passage urges the seeker not to thread the maze without the guidance
of saints and named spiritual friends.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives exhortation and metaphor rather than a full journey
narrative.
- id: motif:4
label: Envy as demonic burden on the path
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Envy is linked to Satan’s sin against Adam and to an added load on the steep
mountain-pass of life.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The motif is moral-exemplary; it does not develop Satan’s story beyond
the envy reference.
- id: motif:5
label: Purification of the body as a divine house
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The frame is called God’s house, a clay house of glory, and the passage urges
cleansing from envy and impurity.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: Available taxonomy does not include a precise purification motif; assigned
under wisdom as the closest supported family.
- id: motif:6
label: False holy teacher with honeyed poisonous speech
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The Vazīr appears as a pastor of truth while mixing bitterness and poison
into sweet speech and undermining faith.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy lacks a specific deceiver or false-prophet motif;
no unsupported taxonomy reference is added.
- id: motif:7
label: Outward brightness concealing harm
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Silver, fire, and lightning are described as attractive or bright yet able
to soil, blacken, blind, or kill.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: These are linked as moral examples within the passage rather than as a
single named traditional motif.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly uses Satan’s envy of Adam as an illustrative parallel
for the danger of envy on the spiritual path.
claim_level: same_function
target: Islamic scriptural exemplum of Satan envying Adam
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage provides only a brief allusion and does not narrate the
full scriptural episode.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage explicitly invokes Abraham as an exemplar for rejecting fading
things and for the command to cleanse God’s house, applying these references to
spiritual discernment and purification.
claim_level: same_function
target: Abrahamic scriptural exempla of rejection of transient things and house-cleansing
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The claim is limited to the allusions present in the passage and does
not identify exact source passages beyond the supplied footnote markers.
- id: claim:3
claim: The named saying of ‘Ali functions as an authoritative parallel for the passage’s
warnings about foolish or deceptive speech.
claim_level: same_function
target: Sayings attributed to ‘Ali within the passage’s Islamic didactic frame
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage cites ‘Ali but does not provide independent context for
the sayings.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: quote
locator: lines 6334-6341
quote_or_summary: "“Our souls, if not awake to God’s most holy truth, / Are not
awake”; the soul is buffeted by fancies of loss, profit, life, and death."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used for evidence.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 6342-6348
quote_or_summary: A sleeper sees a demon and thinks it an angel; through lust he
dreams of pleasure, sows seed in desert land, and wakes distressed with no harvest.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 6349-6356
quote_or_summary: A bird flies in the air while its shadow appears on earth; a simpleton
chases and shoots at the shadow, empties his quiver, and returns without booty.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 6357-6368
quote_or_summary: Life is called a quiver wasted by chasing phantoms; God’s servants
are His shadows on earth, and the seeker is told to cling to saints, avoid the
maze without guidance, and seek Tebrīz’ Sun or Husāmu-’d-Dīn.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 6369-6380
quote_or_summary: Envy may seize the traveler; Satan’s sin was envy of Adam’s rise;
life is a steep mountain-pass; envy soils the soul; God can save; Abraham’s God
commands the house to be made clean, and the frame is called a clay house of glory.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 6381-6391
quote_or_summary: The speaker urges prostration at holy men’s feet; the Vazīr of
the Jewish king is called envy itself and is said to have sacrificed his nose
and ears; the nose traces scent, and religion has a fragrance to trace.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 6392-6404
quote_or_summary: The hearer is told not to be a cut-throat of faith like the Vazīr,
who seems a pastor of truth but mixes bitter aloes in sweet jam; men of sense
detect poison and knavery in honeyed phrases.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 6405-6414
quote_or_summary: The speaker warns against fair words with hidden meanings and
says evil-minded speech is not good; ‘Ali is cited comparing foolish words to
weeds on dunghills.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: quote
locator: lines 6415-6421
quote_or_summary: "“The Vazīr’s talk was all: ‘Be diligent in pray’r.’ / His acts
proclaimed aloud: ‘Of duty never care.’”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used for evidence.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 6422-6443
quote_or_summary: Silver looks white and glittering but soils; fire is pleasing
but blackens those who come too near; lightning shines but may blind or kill;
‘Ali is cited on the person void of common sense being like an ox with a yoke.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/sufi/project-gutenberg/mesnevi-book-1-redhouse.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif labels are conservative
and mostly moral-didactic; comparison claims are limited to explicit allusions
within the passage.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
No external sources were used. Taxonomy references are limited to supplied motif families and symbol refs.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:sufi-rumi-mesnevi-book-1-redhouse-gutenberg__l6334-l6443
passage_sha256=2a82af870d713a34227d0fa50f71500367ad9781ded46997daa3ec5cc814a5ce