In this bold and provocative Rubai, Omar Khayyam challenges the soul to look beyond the external rituals of Mazhab—the Mosque, the prayer, and the fast. He uses the metaphor of the tavern to symbolize spiritual intoxication and humility. The central Philosophy here is the inevitable return to dust; Khayyam reminds us that the very clay of our bodies will one day be molded into wine jars and cups, urging us to seek the essence of life while we still breathe.
Thematic Connections: The Tavern and the Earth
Discover how the masters reflect on the humility of dust and the intoxication of Truth:
◈ Shah Hussain: “Jag Mein Jeevan Thora” — A poignant reminder that life’s entanglements are futile in the face of our short stay in this world.
◈ Baba Farid: “Khaak Na Nindiye” — The iconic Slok reminding us that the very dust we tread upon today will one day rest above us.
◈ Explore the “Maikhana” Tag: Dive into verses exploring the Tavern of Divine Love, where the ego is dissolved in spiritual ecstasy.
تا چند ز مسجد و نماز و روزہ
در میکدہ ہا مست شو از دریوزہ
خیام بخور بادہ کہ این خاک ترا
گہہ جام کنند ، گہہ سبو ، گہہ کوزہ
Ta Chand Z Masjid O Namaz O Roza
Dar Maikada-ha Mast Sho Az Daryooza
Khayyam Bukhor Baada Ke In Khaak-e-Tura
Gahe Jaam Kunand, Gahe Saboo, Gahe Kooza
How long will you remain preoccupied with the mosque, prayer, and fasting?
Go to the tavern, become intoxicated, and seek as a beggar.
O Khayyam, drink wine, for this dust of yours
Will sometimes be made into a cup, sometimes a flask, and sometimes a jug.
Insight: The Potter and the Clay
One of the most recurring images in the Rubaiyat is the potter’s workshop. To Khayyam, the earth we walk upon is composed of the remains of those who came before us. By saying “Gahe Jaam Kunand” (Sometimes they make a cup), he humbles the human ego. If our end is to become a simple clay vessel, then the pride found in outward religious displays is meaningless.
The “begging” (Daryooza) in the tavern is not for wine, but for a drop of Irfaan (Gnosis)—the realization that life is fleeting and only Divine intoxication truly matters. This quatrain encourages the Aasee (sinful servant) to abandon the “wages” of formal ritual for the “state” of true spiritual immersion.
Vocabulary: Ta Chand Z Masjid
- Ta Chand (تا چند): How long; until when.
- Daryooza (دریوزہ): Begging; seeking as a dervish.
- Saboo (سبو): A wine pitcher or flask.
- Kooza (کوزہ): An earthen jug or pot.
- Gahe (گہہ): Sometimes; at times.