Did anyone ever hear of Qarun carrying off his treasure upon his head? What did a miser ever take from this world except grief and sorrow?
The poet invokes the legendary Qarun—famous for his unimaginable wealth that was ultimately swallowed by the earth—to deliver a gentle yet sharp truth about greed. With ironic wit, he asks if any miser has ever actually managed to balance their hoarded gold upon their head into the grave. In the end, the riches stay behind, and all a hoarder truly carries away is the heavy, invisible burden of regret.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
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