Quatrain 61 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

By hamed @hamed | 12 1

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.


hamed
@hamed Nov. 18, 2024, 7:12 p.m.

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.