Quatrain 34 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Quatrain 34 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
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در دایرهای که آمد و رفتن ماست
او را نه بدایت نه نهایت پیداست
کس مینزند دمی در این معنی راست
کاین آمدن از کجا و رفتن به کجاست
Description:
A Note on this Rubai
This rubai is a profound meditation on the mysteries of existence and the cycle of life and death. Khayyam here explores the concepts of beginning, end, and the ultimate purpose of life.
English Translation
A more literal translation
In the circle where our coming and going is,
Neither beginning nor end is found.
No one speaks truly in this matter,
Of where this coming is from and where this going is to.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
Within the circle of our mortal span,
No start or finish can a mortal scan.
None knows the truth of whence we came or go,
This endless cycle, no one can know.
A contemporary and informal translation
We're all just spinning around and around,
There's no start or finish to be found.
Nobody really knows where we came from,
Or where we're going, it's all a big sum.
"در دایرهای که آمد و رفتن ماست": This line refers to the cycle of life and death, comparing it to a circle with no beginning or end.
"او را نه بدایت نه نهایت پیداست": This emphasizes the infinite nature of the cycle, suggesting that there is no definitive start or finish.
"کس مینزند دمی در این معنی راست": This line states that no one truly knows the answers to the fundamental questions of existence.
"کاین آمدن از کجا و رفتن به کجاست": This question is at the heart of the rubai, asking about the origins and destination of life.
Themes and Interpretations
The cycle of life and death: The poem highlights the cyclical nature of existence.
The mystery of existence: Khayyam suggests that the ultimate questions of life are beyond human comprehension.
The futility of seeking answers: The poet implies that searching for definitive answers is a fruitless endeavor.
This rubai is a powerful meditation on the mysteries of life and the universe. By comparing life to a circle with no beginning or end, Khayyam invites the reader to contemplate the bigger picture and to accept the unknown.