Quatrain 61 from Rubaiyat of Rumi
گر در طلب خودی ز خود بیرونآ
جو را بگذار و جانب جیحون آ
چون گاو چه میکشی تو بار گردون
چرخی 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.
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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.