Original Poem
Bu dam g‘animatdir, nechun bilmasmen, Chiqsa dam, kirmog‘i gumon ko‘rinar. Bizdan burun kelgan ko‘chibdir tongla, Yo‘l uzoq, qorong‘u, tumon ko‘rinar. Oqil bo‘lsang, ista bu yo‘lda bir pir, Rizqingga kafildir Alloh, Muqtadir, Oltin-kumush, olmos, yoqut ila dur, Haqdan g‘ayri tamom ziyon ko‘rinar. Allohni unutib, aqling yitirma, Har nafas ogoh bo‘l, g‘aflat ketirma. Behuda, befoyda umring o‘tirma, Dunyo baqosizdir, ayon ko‘rinar. Xoja, sayyid, podsho — so‘ralmas nasab, Hashr-nashr bo‘lsa, olarlar hisob, Haromga azob bor, shubhaga itob, Munda yaxshi, unda yomon ko‘rinar. Maxtumquli, o‘qib bildim Qur’ondan, Asar yo‘qdur avval ketgan karvondan, Go‘rda yolg‘iz yotajaging makondan, Ey do‘st, ilon bilan chayon ko‘rinar...
Translation (English)
This moment is valuable, why don't I understand,
If the moment passes, its return seems uncertain.
Those who came before us have moved on at dawn,
The path is long, dark, and foggy.
If you are smart, find a guide on this journey,
God, the Almighty, ensures your sustenance,
Gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, and pearls,
Everything except God seems like a loss.
Don't forget God, don't lose your mind,
Be alert every moment, don't be careless.
Don't waste your life on useless things,
The world is temporary, it's obvious.
Khwaja, sayyid, king — lineage doesn't matter,
When the resurrection happens, they will account,
There is punishment for forbidden things, blame for doubt,
Here it seems good, there it seems bad.
Maxtumquli, I learned from the Quran,
There is no trace of the caravan that left before,
In the grave, you will lie alone in your place,
Oh friend, snakes and scorpions appear...
About the Poet
Maxtumquli (18th century)
Maxtumquli was a prominent Turkmen poet and spiritual leader in the 18th century. His poetry often reflects themes of spirituality, morality, and the transient nature of life.
Historical Context
- Literary Form
- Didactic poetry
- When Written
- 18th century
- Background
- The poem reflects on the transient nature of life and the importance of spiritual awareness. It emphasizes the need to focus on the eternal rather than the material, urging readers to remember God and live a life of moral integrity.
Sources: https://arm-admin.xiuedu.uz/media/books/1215-Maxtumquli_Saylanmasi-Chev-Mirza_Kecebey-Ozbek-Latin-144s.pdf, https://www.calameo.com/books/001267152dc10638536f0
Detailed Explanation
This poem by Maxtumquli reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of spiritual awareness. The poet begins by emphasizing the preciousness of the present moment, which is often unappreciated until it's gone. He reflects on the journey of life, which is long and filled with uncertainties. The poem advises seeking guidance from the wise and trusting in God for sustenance, as material wealth is ultimately meaningless without spiritual fulfillment. Maxtumquli warns against forgetting God and urges constant awareness to avoid a life wasted in heedlessness. He highlights the transient nature of worldly status and lineage, reminding that in the afterlife, only one's deeds will be accounted for. The poem concludes with a somber reflection on death, where one is left alone, facing the consequences of their earthly life. The imagery of snakes and scorpions in the grave serves as a metaphor for the torments of an unfulfilled spiritual life.
Themes
Literary Devices
Word Dictionary
| Word | Meaning | Translation | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bu | Mana bu | This | Bu |
| dam | vaqt | moment | dam |
| g‘animatdir | qimmatli | precious | ghanimatdir |
| nechun | nima uchun | why | nechun |
| bilmasmen | bilmayman | I don't know | bilmasmen |
| Chiqsa | Agar chiqsa | if it leaves | chiqsa |
| kirmog‘i | qaytib kelishi | its return | kirmog'i |
| gumon | shubha | doubtful | gumon |
| ko‘rinar | ko‘rinadi | seems | ko'rinar |
| Bizdan | Bizdan | From us | Bizdan |
| burun | oldin | before | burun |
| kelgan | kelgan | came | kelgan |
| ko‘chibdir | ko‘chib ketgan | have departed | ko'chibdir |
| tongla | tongda | at dawn | tongla |
| Yo‘l | Yo‘nalish | The road | Yo'l |
| uzoq | uzoq | long | uzoq |
| qorong‘u | qorong‘i | dark | qorong'u |
| tumon | tuman | foggy | tumon |
| Oqil | aqlli | wise | Oqil |
| bo‘lsang | Agar bo‘lsang | if you are | bo'lsang |
| ista | qidir | seek | ista |
| bu | Mana bu | this | bu |
| yo‘lda | Yo‘nalishda | on the path | yo'lda |
| bir | Bitta | a | bir |
| pir | murshid | guide | pir |
| Rizqingga | Sening rizqingga | for your sustenance | Rizqingga |
| kafildir | kafolat beradi | is the guarantor | kafildir |
| Alloh | Alloh | God | Alloh |
| Muqtadir | qudratli | the Almighty | Muqtadir |
| Oltin-kumush | oltin va kumush | gold and silver | Oltin-kumush |
| olmos | olmos | diamonds | olmos |
| yoqut | yoqut | rubies | yoqut |
| ila | bilan | and | ila |
| dur | dur | pearls | dur |
| Haqdan | Haqdan | From God | Haqdan |
| g‘ayri | boshqa | but | ghayri |
| tamom | barcha | everything | tamom |
| ziyon | yo‘qotish | loss | ziyon |
| unutib | Eslamay | forgetting | unutib |
| aqling | Aqling | your mind | aqling |
| yitirma | yo‘qotma | do not lose | yitirma |
| Har | Har bir | Every | Har |
| nafas | Nafas | moment | nafas |
| ogoh | Hushyor | aware | ogoh |
| bo‘l | Bo‘l | be | bo'l |
| g‘aflat | beparvolik | heedlessness | ghaflat |
| ketirma | yo‘qotma | do not lose | ketirma |
| Behuda | Foydasiz | In vain | Behuda |
| befoyda | befoyda | useless | befoyda |
| umring | Hayoting | your life | umring |
| o‘tirma | o‘tirma | do not waste | o'tirma |
| Dunyo | Olam | The world | Dunyo |
| baqosizdir | o‘tkinchi | transient | baqosizdir |
| ayon | aniq | clear | ayon |
| Xoja | Ustoz | Khwaja | Xoja |
| sayyid | Sayyid | descendant of the Prophet | sayyid |
| podsho | Hukmdor | king | podsho |
| so‘ralmas | so‘ralmaydi | is not questioned | so'ralmas |
| nasab | Nasl | lineage | nasab |
| Hashr-nashr | qiyomat | resurrection | Hashr-nashr |
| bo‘lsa | bo‘lsa | when | bo'lsa |
| olarlar | oladilar | they will take | olarlar |
| hisob | hisob | account | hisob |
| Haromga | Noto‘g‘ri narsalarga | for the forbidden | Haromga |
| azob | azob | punishment | azob |
| bor | Mavjud | there is | bor |
| shubhaga | Shubhalarga | for doubt | shubhaga |
| itob | tanbeh | reproach | itob |
| Munda | Bu yerda | Here | Munda |
| yaxshi | yaxshi | good | yaxshi |
| unda | U yerda | there | unda |
| yomon | yomon | bad | yomon |
| Maxtumquli | Shoir | Maxtumquli | Maxtumquli |
| o‘qib | O‘rganib | reading | o'qib |
| bildim | Tushundim | I learned | bildim |
| Qur’ondan | Muqaddas kitobdan | from the Quran | Qur'ondan |
| Asar | iz | trace | Asar |
| yo‘qdur | yo‘q | there is no | yo'qdur |
| avval | avval | before | avval |
| ketgan | ketgan | left | ketgan |
| karvondan | karvondan | from the caravan | karvondan |
| Go‘rda | Qabristonda | in the grave | Go'rda |
| yolg‘iz | Yakka | alone | yolg'iz |
| yotajaging | yotadigan joying | your place | yotajaging |
| makondan | joydan | from your place | makondan |
| Ey | Ey | Hey | Ey |
| do‘st | Yor | friend | do'st |
| ilon | ilon | snakes | ilon |
| bilan | bilan | and | bilan |
| chayon | chayon | scorpions | chayon |
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