Quatrain 87 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi
منعم که به عیش میرود روز و شبشنالیدن درویش نداند سببش
بس آب که میرود به جیحون و فراتدر بادیه تشنگان به جان در طلبش
Description:
English Translation:
The benefactor who enjoys pleasures day and night,
Does not know the reason for the dervish’s lament.
Much water flows into the Jihon and Euphrates,
Yet in the desert, the thirsty yearn for it.
Analysis:
This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi draws a stark contrast between the lives of the wealthy and the poor. Let's break down each line:
Line 1: منعم که به عیش میرود روز و شبش
"The benefactor who enjoys pleasures day and night,"
This line refers to a wealthy individual who lives a life of luxury and indulgence.
Line 2: نالیدن درویش نداند سببش
"Does not know the reason for the dervish’s lament."
The wealthy individual is oblivious to the suffering of the poor and doesn't understand the reasons behind their complaints.
Line 3: بس آب که میرود به جیحون و فرات
"Much water flows into the Jihon and Euphrates,"
This line refers to the abundance of resources, such as water, in certain areas. The Jihon and Euphrates are major rivers in the Middle East.
Line 4: در بادیه تشنگان به جان در طلبش
"Yet in the desert, the thirsty yearn for it."
In contrast to the abundance of water in some places, people in deserts suffer from extreme thirst.
Deeper Meaning:
This quatrain highlights the stark inequalities that exist in society. The wealthy, engrossed in their own pleasures, often ignore the suffering of the poor. The image of the flowing rivers and the thirsty desert serves as a powerful metaphor for the unequal distribution of resources. Saadi is criticizing the indifference of the wealthy towards the plight of the poor and emphasizing the need for compassion and empathy.
Key themes:
Social inequality: The quatrain highlights the vast disparities between the rich and the poor.
Indifference: The wealthy are portrayed as indifferent to the suffering of others.
Scarcity and abundance: The contrast between the abundance of water in some places and the scarcity in others is used to emphasize the unequal distribution of resources.