Quatrain 96 from Rubaiyat of Rumi
حاجت نبود مستی ما را به شرابیا مجلس ما را طرب از چنگ و رباب
بیساقی و بیشاهد و بیمطرب و نیشوریده و مستیم چو مستان خراب
Description:
English Translation of the Quatrain
We have no need for wine to make us drunk,
Nor for the joy of our gathering to come from the lute and rebab.
Without a cupbearer, witness, musician, or flute,
We are wild and intoxicated, like ruined drunkards.
Analysis of the Quatrains
Spiritual Intoxication: The "drunkenness" referred to here is not physical but spiritual. It's a state of ecstasy and divine love.
Independence from External Stimuli: The poet asserts that true spiritual intoxication is not dependent on external factors like wine or music.
Inner Ecstasy: The state of being "wild and intoxicated" is an inner state, not reliant on external stimuli.
The Ruined Drunkard: This image is paradoxical. While it might seem negative, in Sufi symbolism, being "ruined" can signify a complete surrender to divine love.
Deeper Meanings
This quatrain, like much of Rumi's poetry, can be interpreted on multiple levels:
Mystical Union: The poem expresses a deep longing for mystical union with the divine.
Inner Peace: The poet suggests that true peace and joy come from within, not from external sources.
The Paradox of Surrender: The image of the "ruined drunkard" highlights the paradoxical nature of spiritual surrender.