4 verses · ~1 min
ज्यों निकल कर बादलों की गोद से थी अभी एक बूँद कुछ आगे बढ़ी सोचने फिर-फिर यही जी में लगी, आह! क्यों घर छोड़कर मैं यों कढ़ी?
देव मेरे भाग्य में क्या है बदा, मैं बचूँगी या मिलूँगी धूल में? या जलूँगी फिर अंगारे पर किसी, चू पडूँगी या कमल के फूल में?
बह गयी उस काल एक ऐसी हवा वह समुन्दर ओर आई अनमनी एक सुन्दर सीप का मुँह था खुला वह उसी में जा पड़ी मोती बनी
लोग यों ही हैं झिझकते, सोचते जबकि उनको छोड़ना पड़ता है घर किन्तु घर का छोड़ना अक्सर उन्हें बूँद लौं कुछ और ही देता है कर
इति
The Poet
अयोध्या सिंह उपाध्याय ‘हरिऔध’
Ayodhya Singh Upadhyay 'Hariaudh'
1865 · 1947
Ayodhya Singh Upadhyay, widely known by his pen name Hariaudh, fundamentally altered the course of modern Hindi poetry. Born in 1865 in Nizamabad, Uttar Pradesh, he initially wrote in Braj Bhasha before making a decisive shift to Khari Boli. This transition proved historic. In 1914, he published Priyapravas, universally recognized as the very first epic poem written in modern Hindi. Hariaudh did not just write a monumental text. He proved that the everyday language of the people possessed the aesthetic gravity necessary for grand mythological narratives. His poetry seamlessly blended profound devotion with contemporary social reform, reimagining the divine figures of Radha and Krishna as dedicated servants of humanity. He served for decades as a professor at Banaras Hindu University, mentoring an entire generation of modern writers. Passing away in 1947, Hariaudh left a legacy that permanently established the structural foundations of contemporary Hindi literature.
Paired Painting
Arjuna and Ulupi
This captivating illustration immortalizes a wondrous encounter from the Mahabharata, where the heroic Pandava prince Arjuna descends into the mystical watery realm and meets Ulupi, the luminous naga princess. Warwick Goble captures the ethereal grace of the serpent queen as she emerges from the lotus-strewn depths to greet the valiant warrior, whose bow and quiver rest ready upon his shoulder. The artwork serves as a profound bridge between Eastern epic storytelling and Western illustrative mastery, evoking a timeless realm where mortals and celestial beings entwine in destiny.
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