Shanta

सेवा - 1

Seva - 1

2 min read 5 versesसेवाserviceजाति

5 verses · ~2 min

जो मिठाई में सुधा से है अधिक। खा सके वह रस भरा मेवा नहीं। तो भला जग में जिये तो क्या जिये। की गयी जो जाति की सेवा नहीं।1।

हो न जिसमें जातिहित का रंग कुछ। बात वह जी में ठनी तो क्या ठनी। हो सकी जब देश की सेवा नहीं। तब भला हमसे बनी तो क्या बनी।2।

बेकसों की बेकसी को देख कर। जब नहीं अपने सुखों को खो सके। तब चले क्या लोग सेवा के लिए। जब न सेवा पर निछावर हो सके।3।

तो न पाया दूसरों का दुख समझ। दीन दुखियों का सके जो दुख न हर। भाव सेवा का बसा जी में कहाँ। बेबसों का जो बसा पाया न घर।4।

उस कलेजे को कलेजा क्यों कहें। हों नहीं जिसमें कि हित धारें बहीं। भाव सेवा का सके तब जान क्या। कर सके जो लोक की सेवा नहीं।5।

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

Alms

In this poignant masterpiece, Raja Ravi Varma captures a timeless human interaction rooted in the sacred Indian ethos of charity and compassion, known as dharma. A young girl with cascading dark hair and a pristine white garment extends a gentle hand, offering sustenance to an elderly, weatherworn woman who leans on a humble staff. The canvas acts as a profound reflection on empathy, bridging the innocence of youth and the enduring dignity of age. Varma masterfully employs European academic realism to illuminate an intensely intimate cultural moment, inviting viewers to contemplate the spiritual grace found in simple acts of kindness.

Open the viewer →

If this held you