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Salil kann hun ya paravaar hun main?Am I a water drop, or an ocean?
Svayam chaya, svayam aadhar hun main; The self, the shadow, I am both;
bandha hun, svapna hun, laghu vrut main hun; tied down, a dream, shrunken,
nahin to vyom ka vistar hun main. else, an elaboration of empty space.
Svayam chaya, svayam aadhar hun main; The self, the shadow, I am both;
bandha hun, svapna hun, laghu vrut main hun; tied down, a dream, shrunken,
nahin to vyom ka vistar hun main. else, an elaboration of empty space.
Samaana chahti hai jo been ur mein; A crippled clamor of emptiness,
vikal us shunya ki jhankaar hun main.seeking to fill the silence in my heart.
Bhatakta khojta hun, jyoti tam mein; I wander, searching for light in darkness,
suna hai jyoti ka aagaar hun main. I am, I hear, a treasury of light.
Jisse nishi khojti tare jalakar;Night seeks her dawn, burning candles of stars,
usi ka kar raha abhisaar hun main.I too, await my dawn.
Janam kar sau baar mar chuka lekin A hundred times, I lived and died,
agam ka paa saka kya paar hun main?Have I found yet, the bridge across the Unknown?
usi ka kar raha abhisaar hun main.I too, await my dawn.
Janam kar sau baar mar chuka lekin A hundred times, I lived and died,
agam ka paa saka kya paar hun main?Have I found yet, the bridge across the Unknown?
Kali ki pankhdi par os kann mein, In the dew-drop on flower petal,
rangeele svapna ka sansaar hun main.I am a world of multi-hued dreams.
Mujhe kya aaj hi ya kal jharu mein,What care I, sooner or later, I will wilt
suman hun ek laghu upahaar hun main.For I am a flower, a modest offering,
Jalan hun, dard hun, dil ki kasak hun;A burning, a pain, a heartache
kisi ka haay, khoya pyaar hun main.Oh woe! I am someone's lost love.
Gira hun bhoomi par nandan vipin se,Fallen to earth, from the flower-garden,
amar-taru ka suman sukumar hun main .beloved son of the evergreen tree
rangeele svapna ka sansaar hun main.I am a world of multi-hued dreams.
Mujhe kya aaj hi ya kal jharu mein,What care I, sooner or later, I will wilt
suman hun ek laghu upahaar hun main.For I am a flower, a modest offering,
Jalan hun, dard hun, dil ki kasak hun;A burning, a pain, a heartache
kisi ka haay, khoya pyaar hun main.Oh woe! I am someone's lost love.
Gira hun bhoomi par nandan vipin se,Fallen to earth, from the flower-garden,
amar-taru ka suman sukumar hun main .beloved son of the evergreen tree
Madhur jeevan hua kuch praan! Jab se, Shouldering my burden of sorrow,
laga dhone vyatha ka bhaar hun main. my life is a little sweeter now.
Rudann anmol dhan kavi ka, issise With anguish, precious wealth of poets,
pirota aasuon ka haar hun main.I string together my tears in verse.
laga dhone vyatha ka bhaar hun main. my life is a little sweeter now.
Rudann anmol dhan kavi ka, issise With anguish, precious wealth of poets,
pirota aasuon ka haar hun main.I string together my tears in verse.
Mujhe kya garv ho apni vibha ka? Why pride in my own light,
Chita ka dhulikann hun, kshaar hun main. I am but the dust from the pyre, the ash
Pata mera tujhe mitti kahegi, Where I am, the earth will tell you,
sama jisme chuka sau baar hun main. She who has consumed me a hundred times
.
Na dekhe vishva par mujhko ghrina se;Yet the world looks not with hatred upon me,
manuj hun srishti ka shringaar hun main. For I am a man, a wonder of creation
Pujarin! Dhuli se mujhko utha le, Oh Devotee, lift me from the dust where I lie!
tumhare devtaa ka haar hun main.I am a garland for your beloved God.
Chita ka dhulikann hun, kshaar hun main. I am but the dust from the pyre, the ash
Pata mera tujhe mitti kahegi, Where I am, the earth will tell you,
sama jisme chuka sau baar hun main. She who has consumed me a hundred times
.
Na dekhe vishva par mujhko ghrina se;Yet the world looks not with hatred upon me,
manuj hun srishti ka shringaar hun main. For I am a man, a wonder of creation
Pujarin! Dhuli se mujhko utha le, Oh Devotee, lift me from the dust where I lie!
tumhare devtaa ka haar hun main.I am a garland for your beloved God.
Sunnu kya sindhu, main garjan tumhara?Oh mighty ocean, what shall I make of your roar?
Svayam yudh dharma ki hunnkaar hun main.I am a voice, loud, of this age and its mores
Kathin nirgosh hun bheeshan ashani ka;A hard fearsome voice of lightning,
pralay gaandeev ka tankaar hun main.I am the twang of catastrophe's bow,
Dabi si aag hun bheeshan kshuddha ki; The suppressed fire of a ravenous hunger,
dalit ka maun hahakaar hun main.I am the wordless wail of the suffering.
Sajag sansaar tu nij ko samhaale;Oh vigilant world, take care, beware!
pralay ka ksubdh paravaar hun main. I am the tumultuous ocean of catastrophe.
Bandha toofan hun, chalna mana hai,A captive storm, forbidden motion,
bandhi uddaam nirjhar-dhaar hun main; I am a waterfall dammed.
kahun kya kaun hun, kya aag meri?Who am I, what is my desire,
Bandhi hai lekhni, laachaar hun main I am helpless, a pen constrained.
by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
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About the Poet: Ramdhari Singh Dinkar ( 1908-1974) is considered one of the most important modern hindi poets. His poetry inspired thousands during India's struggle for freedom. During his lifetime Dinkar received several awards and honors for his work , including , Jnanpith award, Padmabhushan and Sahitya Academy Award. Parichay is one of Dinkars best loved poems with each and every line beautiful and profound .
References:
1. The translation is from http://vgr.sulekha.com/blog/post/1999/11/i-parichay-by-dinkar-i-a-translation.htm
2.Read more about Dinkar's life at wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramdhari_Singh
3. Read Parichay in Hindi script at http://www.prayogshala.com/poems/dinkar-parichay
Image Information: This image is from http://www.flickr.com/photos/esti/317841450/
