Quatrain 119 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

By hamed @hamed | 32 1

آن پیش روی که جان او پیش صف است
داند که تو بحری و جهان همچو کفست


بی‌دف و نیی، رقص کند عاشق تو
امشب چه کند که هر طرف نای و دفست


Description:

English Translation of the Quatrain

That beloved, whose life is before the line of battle,
Knows that you are an ocean and the world is like foam.

Without a drum or flute, your lover dances,
What can they do tonight when drums and flutes are everywhere?

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Beloved as a Warrior: The beloved is depicted as a brave warrior, ready to face any challenge. The phrase "before the line of battle" suggests a sense of courage and determination.
The Ocean and the Foam: The poet uses the metaphor of an ocean and foam to emphasize the vastness and permanence of divine love compared to the fleeting nature of the world.
Spontaneous Ecstasy: The image of the lover dancing without instruments suggests a spontaneous and overwhelming joy that comes from deep within.


hamed
@hamed Dec. 11, 2024, 5:15 p.m.

Deeper Meanings

This quatrain, like much of Rumi's poetry, can be interpreted on multiple levels:

Divine Love: The beloved could be seen as a symbol of divine love, which is vast, powerful, and capable of inspiring great joy.
Spiritual Ecstasy: The lover's dance represents a state of spiritual ecstasy or union with the divine.
The Inevitability of Love: The final line suggests that when one is deeply in love, external circumstances become irrelevant.