Quatrain 61 from Rubaiyat of Rumi
گر در طلب خودی ز خود بیرونآجو را بگذار و جانب جیحون آ
چون گاو چه میکشی تو بار گردونچرخی بزن و بر سر این گردون آ
Description:
English Translation of the Quatrain
If you seek your self, go beyond yourself.
Leave the river and go towards the Jihon.
Like a cow, why do you carry the world's burden?
Turn around and come above this world.
Analysis of the Quatrains
The Journey Beyond Self: The poet encourages a journey beyond the ego or the self, suggesting a spiritual quest.
Geographical Imagery: The rivers Jihon (or Amu Darya) is a significant geographical feature in Persian literature, often symbolizing a journey or a spiritual path.
The Burden of the World: The comparison to a cow carrying a burden suggests the heaviness of worldly attachments and concerns.
Transcendence: The final line calls for a radical shift in perspective, suggesting the possibility of rising above the limitations of the material world.
Deeper Meanings
This quatrain, like much of Rumi's poetry, can be interpreted on multiple levels:
Spiritual Awakening: The poem can be seen as an invitation to spiritual awakening and a call to transcend the limitations of the ego.
The Journey of the Soul: The journey beyond the self and towards the Jihon can be interpreted as a metaphor for the soul's journey towards its divine source.
The Illusion of the Material World: The burden of the world symbolizes the illusion of material existence and the suffering it causes.