Quatrain 82 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Quatrain 82 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
By
@hamed
کس مشکل اسرار اجل را نگشاد
کس یک قدم از دایره بیرون ننهاد
من مینگرم ز مبتدی تا استاد
عجز است به دست هرکه از مادر زاد
Description:
A Note About This Quatrain
The imagery of the circle of life, the mysteries of death, and the universal experience of helplessness contribute to the poem's depth and complexity.
English Translation
A more literal translation
No one has unlocked the secrets of death,
No one has stepped outside the circle.
I see from beginner to master,
Helplessness is in the hands of every being born of mother.
A more poetic and interpretive translation
Death's riddle, unsolved, remains unknown,
Beyond this circle, none have ever flown.
From novice to sage, a common thread,
We're all helpless, as fate has decreed.
A contemporary and informal translation
No one knows what happens after we die,
We're all stuck in this crazy ride.
From the moment we're born till the day we're old,
We're helpless, controlled by forces untold.
"کس مشکل اسرار اجل را نگشاد": This line emphasizes the mystery of death and the inability of humans to understand it.
"کس یک قدم از دایره بیرون ننهاد": This line suggests a cyclical nature of life, from which no one can escape.
"من مینگرم ز مبتدی تا استاد": This line highlights the universal experience of helplessness, regardless of knowledge or experience.
"عجز است به دست هرکه از مادر زاد": This line affirms that helplessness is an inherent part of the human condition.
Themes and Interpretations
The mystery of death: The poem explores the unknown nature of death and our inability to comprehend it.
The limitations of human knowledge: The rubai suggests that human knowledge is limited and that there are some questions we may never answer.
The universality of the human experience: The poem emphasizes that all humans share a common fate and experience similar challenges.
This rubai is a profound meditation on the human condition. The imagery of the circle and the idea of helplessness create a powerful visual representation of our limitations and the mysteries of life and death.