Quatrain 68 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
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بر چرخ فلک هیچ کسی چیر نشدوز خوردن آدمی زمین سیر نشد
مغرور بدانی که نخوردهست تو راتعجیل مکن هم بخورَد دیر نشد
Description:
A Note About This Quatrain
This particular rubai of Omar Khayyam is rich in philosophical and existential undertones, making a direct, literal translation quite challenging. The imagery of the celestial sphere, the cyclical nature of life, and the concept of fate contribute to the poem's depth and complexity.
English Translation
A more literal translation
No one has ever overcome the celestial sphere,
And no human has ever been satiated from eating.
If you are arrogant and think you have not been bitten,
Do not be hasty, for the bite will come, but not yet.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
The heavens' wheel, no mortal can control,
And hunger's pangs, they endlessly enroll.
If you believe you've escaped fate's bitter sting,
Be patient, friend, for time will surely bring.
A contemporary and informal translation
No one can beat the universe,
We're always hungry, it's no big verse.
Don't think you're above it all,
Your turn will come, big or small.
"بر چرخ فلک هیچ کسی چیر نشد": This line suggests that no one can control their fate or the universe.
"وز خوردن آدمی زمین سیر نشد": This line highlights the insatiable nature of human desire, particularly for food.
"مغرور بدانی که نخوردهست تو را": This line warns against arrogance and complacency.
"تعجیل مکن هم بخورَد دیر نشد": This line suggests that everyone will eventually face challenges or hardships.
Themes and Interpretations
The inevitability of fate: The poem emphasizes the idea that fate is inescapable and everyone will eventually experience challenges.
The cyclical nature of life: The reference to the celestial sphere suggests that life is cyclical and events repeat themselves.
The limitations of human power: The poem highlights the limitations of human power in the face of the universe.
This rubai is a profound meditation on the human condition. The imagery of the celestial sphere and the insatiable nature of human desire create a powerful visual representation of the limitations of human existence.