Quatrain 42 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
گویند مرا که دوزخی باشد مستگویند مرا که دوزخی باشد مست
گر عاشق و میخواره به دوزخ باشندفردا بینی بهشت همچون کف دست
Description:
A Note on this Rubai
This rubai is a classic example of Omar Khayyam's hedonistic philosophy and his skepticism towards religious dogma. It challenges traditional notions of heaven and hell, arguing that those who love and drink wine are destined for paradise.
English Translation
A more literal translation
They say that I will be in hell for being drunk,
That's a false statement, my heart cannot believe it,
If lovers and wine drinkers are in hell,
Tomorrow you will see paradise in the palm of your hand.
A poetic and interpretive translation
They claim the drunkard's fate is hell's dark fire,
A lie, I say, such thoughts my soul inspire.
If lovers, drinkers, dwell in realms of pain,
Then paradise is ours to gain.
A contemporary and informal translation
People say I'm going to hell 'cause I drink,
That's a bunch of crap, I think.
If lovers and drinkers go to hell,
Then heaven's a place I know quite well.
"گویند مرا که دوزخی باشد مست": This line refers to the common belief that drunkenness leads to damnation.
"قولیست خلاف، دل در آن نتوان بست": Khayyam rejects this belief, stating that it is a false statement.
"گر عاشق و میخواره به دوزخ باشند": This line uses a hypothetical situation to challenge the traditional view of heaven and hell.
"فردا بینی بهشت همچون کف دست": This line suggests that if lovers and wine drinkers are destined for hell, then the concept of heaven and hell must be flawed.
Themes and Interpretations
Skepticism towards religion: Khayyam questions traditional religious beliefs about heaven, hell, and sin.
Hedonism: The poem celebrates the pleasures of love and wine.
Subversion of traditional morality: Khayyam challenges the idea that certain behaviors, such as drinking and loving, are sinful.
This rubai is a bold statement about the nature of morality and the afterlife. By inverting traditional beliefs, Khayyam suggests thatthose who embrace earthly pleasures and love are actually closer to paradise than those who follow strict religious codes. This poem is a testament to Khayyam's willingness to challenge conventional wisdom and his celebration of the human experience.