Quatrain 82 from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

By hamed @hamed | 4 7

کس مشکل اسرار اجل را نگشادکس یک قدم از دایره بیرون ننهاد


من می‌نگرم ز مبتدی تا استادعجز 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.


hamed
@hamed July 27, 2024, 3:46 a.m.

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.

hamed
@hamed July 27, 2024, 3:46 a.m.

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.

hamed
@hamed July 27, 2024, 3:46 a.m.

"کس مشکل اسرار اجل را نگشاد": This line emphasizes the mystery of death and the inability of humans to understand it.

hamed
@hamed July 27, 2024, 3:47 a.m.

"کس یک قدم از دایره بیرون ننهاد": This line suggests a cyclical nature of life, from which no one can escape.

hamed
@hamed July 27, 2024, 3:47 a.m.

"من می‌نگرم ز مبتدی تا استاد": This line highlights the universal experience of helplessness, regardless of knowledge or experience.

hamed
@hamed July 27, 2024, 3:47 a.m.

"عجز است به دست هرکه از مادر زاد": This line affirms that helplessness is an inherent part of the human condition.

hamed
@hamed July 27, 2024, 3:47 a.m.

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.