Gurindam

[[File:Gurindam_traditional_Malay_poetry.jpg|267x267px|right|thumb|Gurindam #11-12 traditional Malay poetry in Penyengat Island of Indonesia]] [[File:Gurindam_12_of_Raja_Ali_Haji_written_in_1847.jpg|265x265px|right|thumb|Gurindam 12 of Raja Ali Haji in Tanjung Pinang monument]] '''Gurindam''' (Jawi: '''ڬوريندام''') is a type of irregular verse form of traditional Malay poetry.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Literaturen (Asian Studies)|pages=140 |author=L. F. Brakel, M. Balfas, M. Taib Bin Osman, J. Gonda, B. Rangkuti, B. Lumbera, H. Kahler|isbn=978-90-04-04331-2|year= 1997|publisher=Brill Academic Publishers}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=mPq-CwAAQBAJ&dq=gurindam+bahasa+indonesia&pg=PA275|title= Kitab Bahasa Indonesia|date= January 2012|publisher = Agus Wiyanto|isbn= 9786028276726}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=C2pnEAAAQBAJ&dq=gurindam+bahasa+indonesia&pg=PA28|title= Gurindam Dua Belas Raja Ali Haji|date= 2 April 2022|publisher = Raja Ali Haji|isbn= 9789793631141}}</ref> It is a combination of two clauses where the relative clause forms a line and is thus linked to the second line, or the main clause. Each pair of lines (stanza) provides complete ideas within the pair and has the same rhyme in its end. There is no limit on the number words per line and neither the rhythm per line is fixed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/node/65|title=Traditional Malay Poetry|publisher=MAXINFO Communications Pte Ltd|accessdate=2010-11-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120074011/http://www.kampungnet.com.sg/node/65|archive-date=2011-01-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Although Gurindam looks similar{{according to whom?|date= August 2025}} with Syair which also have the same rhyme at the end of each stanza, it differs in the sense that it completes the message within the same stanza while Syair unfolding the message in several stanzas.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Gurindam 12 = The twelve aphorism|pages=17|author=Raja Ali Haji (author), Aswandi Ariyoes (translator)|year= 2002|publisher=Tanjungpinang : Yayasan Khazanah Melayu : Dinas Pariwisata Kepulauan Riau}}</ref> The first line of gurindam is known as ''syarat'' (protasis) and the second line is ''jawab'' (apodosis). In other words, the first line states a condition while the second line provides the answer.

One of the most well known literary works on Gurindam was the ''Gurindam Dua Belas'' (Twelve Gurindam) of Raja Ali Haji written in 1847. Below is the 5th clause of the famous 12 Gurindam:

{| cellpadding=6 !Jawi script !Rumi script !Rhyming English translation |- style="vertical-align:top; white-space:nowrap;" |<div style="text-align: right;"> ،جك هندق مڠنل اورڠ بربڠسا ،ليهت كڤد بودي دان بهاس

،جك هندق مڠنل اورڠ يڠ بربهاڬيا ،ساڠت ممليهاراكن يڠ سيا-سيا

،جك هندق مڠنل اورڠ مليا ،ليهتله كڤد كلاكوان دي

،جك هندق مڠنل اورڠ يڠ برعلمو ،برتاڽ دان بلاجر تيادله جمو

،جك هندق مڠنل اورڠ يڠ برعقل ،د دالم دنيا مڠمبيل بكل

،جك هندق مڠنل اورڠ يڠ باءيق ڤراڠاي .ليهت ڤد كتيك برچمڤور دڠن اورڠ راماي</div> | ''Jika hendak mengenal orang berbangsa,'' ''Lihat kepada budi dan bahasa''

''Jika hendak mengenal orang yang berbahagia'' ''Sangat memeliharakan yang sia-sia''

''Jika hendak mengenal orang mulia'' ''Lihatlah kepada kelakuan dia''

''Jika hendak mengenal orang yang berilmu'' ''Bertanya dan belajar tiadalah jemu''

''Jika hendak mengenal orang yang berakal'' ''Di dalam dunia mengambil bekal''

''Jika hendak mengenal orang yang baik perangai'' ''Lihat pada ketika bercampur dengan orang ramai'' | If the well born you would identify Look for their kindness and courtesy

Those who are happy and prosper Waste and idleness do forswear

If the noble you would perceive Look you at how they behave

If it's ones with knowledge you require Of questions and learning they never tire

As for the wise, it's easy to tell In this world, for the next they provide well

If the good natured are whom you seek, When they're with company you must peek |}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Poems in Malay