Quatrain 119 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
از جرم گِل سیاه تا اوج زحلکردم همه مشکلاتِ کلی را حل
بگشادم بندهای مشکل به حیلهر بند گشاده شد به جز بند اجل
Description:
A Beautiful Rubai by Omar Khayyam
English Translation:
From the black clay of earth to Saturn's height,
I've solved all universal problems with might.
With cunning, I've untied every knot so tight,
Except the bond of death, which holds its plight.
Analysis of the Rubai
This quatrain by Omar Khayyam offers a profound meditation on the limits of human knowledge and power.
The Scope of Human Inquiry: The first two lines suggest that the poet has explored the universe from its smallest to its largest components, solving all the problems they encountered.
The Limits of Human Power: The final line reveals the one problem that even the most knowledgeable and powerful person cannot solve: death.
The Inevitability of Death: Death is portrayed as an inescapable bond that cannot be broken.
Deeper Meanings and Interpretations
The Human Condition: The poem highlights the limitations of the human condition, no matter how much knowledge or power we acquire.
The Search for Immortality: The poet's attempt to solve all problems, including death, suggests a universal human desire for immortality.
The Acceptance of Fate: The final line implies that some things are simply beyond human control, and death is one of them.
In essence, this rubai is a philosophical exploration of the limits of human knowledge and the inevitability of death.