Quatrain 170 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

By hamed @hamed | 36 4

امشب منم و طواف کاشانهٔ دوست
میگردم تا بصبح در خانهٔ دوست


زیرا که بهر صبوح موسوم شده است
کاین کاسهٔ سر بدست پیمانهٔ اوست


Description:

English Translation:

Tonight, it is I, circling the dwelling of the Beloved,
I circle within the Beloved's house until dawn,

For it is ordained for every morning,
That this skull is held within His measuring cup.


hamed
@hamed Dec. 22, 2024, 4 p.m.

امشب منم و طواف کاشانهٔ دوست (Emshab manam o tavāf-e kāshāneh-ye dust): Tonight, it is I and the circumambulation/going around of the house of the friend/beloved.
میگردم تا بصبح در خانهٔ دوست (Mi-gardam tā be-sobḥ dar khāneh-ye dust): I circle/go around until morning in the house of the friend/beloved.
زیرا که بهر صبوح موسوم شده است (Zirā ke be-har sabūḥ mawsūm shodeh ast): Because it has been designated/ordained for every morning.
کاین کاسهٔ سر بدست پیمانهٔ اوست (K'in kāseh-ye sar be-dast-e peymāneh-ye ūst): That this skull/head is in the hand of His cup/measure.

hamed
@hamed Dec. 22, 2024, 4 p.m.

Circling the Dwelling of the Beloved (طواف کاشانهٔ دوست - Tavāf-e kāshāneh-ye dust): "Tavaf" (طواف) refers to the ritual circumambulation of the Kaaba, a central practice in Islam. Here, it’s used metaphorically to describe the speaker's constant devotion and presence in the "house" or dwelling place of the Beloved (God). The term "kashaneh" emphasizes a place of intimate dwelling.
Until Dawn (تا بصبح - Tā be-sobḥ): This indicates the continuous nature of the speaker's devotion. They are not simply visiting the Beloved's house briefly but remain there until morning, symbolizing unwavering commitment and longing for union.

hamed
@hamed Dec. 22, 2024, 4:01 p.m.

Ordained for Every Morning (بهر صبوح موسوم شده است - Be-har sabūḥ mawsūm shodeh ast): This suggests that this devotion is not a one-time occurrence but a daily practice, a constant state of being. The word "mawsūm" implies a divine decree or preordained destiny.
This Skull is Held within His Measuring Cup (این کاسهٔ سر بدست پیمانهٔ اوست - K'in kāseh-ye sar be-dast-e peymāneh-ye ūst): This is a powerful and somewhat unsettling image. "Kāseh-ye sar" (کاسهٔ سر) literally means "skull" or "head." "Peymāneh" (پیمانه) means cup, measure, or goblet. This line suggests complete surrender and submission to the divine will. The image of the skull being held in God's measuring cup implies that human destiny and life are entirely in God's hands. It also relates to the idea of mortality and the ephemeral nature of human existence.

hamed
@hamed Dec. 22, 2024, 4:01 p.m.

This quatrain expresses profound devotion and surrender to the divine. The speaker is constantly present in the "house" of the Beloved, circling it with unwavering devotion. This is not merely a physical presence but a state of spiritual absorption. The final line, with the image of the skull in God's measuring cup, emphasizes the complete submission of the individual to the divine will and the understanding that all of life and destiny are ultimately determined by God. The poem conveys a deep sense of humility, acceptance of mortality, and unwavering faith.