A sage went out to till his field and saw a peacock busily engaged in destroying his own plumage with his beak. At seeing this insane self-destruction, the sage could not refrain himself and cried out to the peacock to forbear from mutilating himself and spoiling his beauty in so wanton a manner. The peacock then explained to him that the bright plumage which he admired so much was a fruitful source of danger to its unfortunate owner, as it led to his being constantly pursued by hunters, whom he had no strength to contend against. Accordingly decided on ridding himself of it with his own beak, and making himself so ugly that no hunter would in future care to molest him.

The poet proceeds to point out that worldly cleverness and accomplishments and wealth endanger man’s spiritual life, like the peacock’s plumage. But, nevertheless, they are appointed for our probation, and without such trials there can be no virtue.

~ MATHNAWI ~