3 verses · ~1 min
साईं अपने भ्रात को, कबहुं न दीजै त्रास पलक दूर नहिं कीजिये, सदा राखिये पास
सदा राखिये पास, त्रास कबहूं नहिं दीजै त्रास दियो लंकेश, ताहि की गति सुन लीजै
कह गिरिधर कविराइ, राम सों मिलियो जाई पाय विभीषण राज, लंकपति बाजयो साईं
इति
The Poet
गिरिधर
Giridhar Kavirai
1713 · 1740s
In the vast tradition of Indian poetry, most writers sought the patronage of kings or wrote exclusively in devotion to the divine. Giridhar Kavirai chose a different path entirely. He directed his verse toward the ordinary householder trying to navigate the practical complexities of daily life. Active in the eighteenth century, Giridhar perfected the Kundaliya, a demanding six-line poetic form that circles back on its opening word. He used this structure not for romantic subjects, but to deliver sharp and pragmatic wisdom. His verses served as a survival guide for the common man. He addressed everything from the unpredictable nature of wealth to the difficulty of identifying true friends. He wrote in an accessible, straightforward dialect of Braj and Awadhi. These practical maxims resonated so deeply with rural populations that people memorized them across generations without ever needing printed books. Giridhar Kavirai remains a poet of lived experience, offering grounded moral clarity for an unpredictable world.
Paired Painting
Mandodari Repressing the Wrath of Ravana
This profound work captures a poignant and dramatic moment from the great epic of the Ramayana, set against the verdant and melancholic backdrop of the Ashoka Vatika. Ravana, the mighty sovereign of Lanka, stands consumed by fierce anger, his hand resting on his jeweled sword, while his righteous and devoted queen, Mandodari, gently yet courageously intervenes to stay his hand and temper his destructive wrath. Kneeling nearby in serene devotion and quiet suffering is Sita, radiating divine grace amidst adversity, while a watchful guardian lingers in the shadows. The artist brilliantly balances the turbulent emotions of pride and fury with the calming presence of wisdom and virtue, inviting the viewer to witness a timeless human drama of morality, loyalty, and restraint.
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