A Nobleman and a Maiden in a Palace Interior

ShringaraAdvanced

मोहिबो निछोहिबो सनेह में तो नयो नाहिं

Mohibo Nichohibo Saneh Mein To Nayo Nahin

1 min read 1 versesLove Complaint

1 verses · ~1 min

मोहिबो निछोहिबो सनेह में तो नयो नाहिं, भले ही निठुर भये, काहे को लजाइये। तन मन रावरे सो मतों के मगन हेतु, उचरि गये ते कहा तुम्हें खोरि लाइये॥ चित लाग्यो जित, जैहै तितही ’रहीम’ नित, धाधवे के हित इत एक बार आइये। जान हुरसी उर बसी है तिहारे उर, मोसों प्रीति बसी तऊ हँसी न कराइये॥

इति

Rasa: Shringara
Stanzas: 1
Lines: 8
Reading time: ~1 min
Form: Kavitta
Metre: kavitta
Rhyme: irregular

The poem evokes a sophisticated atmosphere of bittersweet longing and playful reproach, captured within the intimate yet formal setting of a courtly chamber. A painting would depict a lover standing with a poised, slightly mocking expression, perhaps holding a veil or a fan to half-conceal a smile as they address their distant beloved, whose gaze remains fixed elsewhere. The scene is saturated with the tension between deep, soul-binding affection and the sting of social detachment, using the metaphor of a heart anchored elsewhere to illustrate a volatile, unrequited devotion. The overall tone is one of elegant irony, balancing the ache of a rejected heart with the sharp, witty intellect of a courtly poet who demands recognition even while acknowledging the cruel unpredictability of love.

मोहिबो निछोहिबो सनेह में तो नयो नाहिं (Mohibo Nichohibo Saneh Mein To Nayo Nahin), by Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan runs to 8 lines, set as Two stanzas of four lines each. Its governing rasa is Shringara. The metre is kavitta. Rhyme falls as irregular.

A courtly love poem (Sringara) exploring the emotional shifts of lovers.

Read it for प्रेम में प्रिय की निष्ठुरता का वर्णन and लोक-लाज और प्रेम की मर्यादा. 3 words in it carry older or regional senses, so the poem rewards a second pass.

The verse is hung beside A Nobleman and a Maiden in a Palace Interior: Steeped in an atmosphere of quiet tension and tender intimacy, the scene captures a dramatic courtly encounter between a resolute nobleman and a delicate, hesitant maiden within the opulent confines of a historic…

Words worth pausing on

निछोहिबो: स्नेह रहित होना या विरक्त होना
रावरे: आपके
खोरि: दोष या भूल

Threads

Love Complaint

The Poet

अब्दुल रहीम खान-ए-खाना

Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan

1556 · 1627

Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan represents one of the most remarkable literary and cultural convergences in Indian history. Born in 1556 as the son of Bairam Khan, Rahim grew up to become one of the Navaratnas (Nine Gems) in the court of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Despite his high rank as a military commander and a powerful courtier, his true immortality lies in his poetry. Rahim wrote couplets (dohas) in flawless Brajbhasha and Awadhi that captured the essence of Hindu mythology, practical wisdom, and the philosophy of Bhakti. He seamlessly merged his deep knowledge of Sanskrit texts with his Islamic heritage, proving that cultural boundaries were fully permeable for a brilliant mind. His dohas on human nature, friendship, and morality remain universally known across Northern India. Rahim was not just a poet of the royal court; he was a bridge between civilizational worlds.

Paired Painting

A Nobleman and a Maiden in a Palace Interior

This captivating painting by Mahadev Vishwanath Dhurandhar invites us into a quiet yet emotionally charged moment within a historic palace interior. Dhurandhar, a master of academic realism in India, brilliantly fuses European academic techniques with deeply traditional Indian narratives. The canvas portrays a powerful nobleman, distinguished by his elaborate attire and resolute gaze, interacting with a delicate maiden whose expressive face conveys a poignant mixture of hesitation and urgency. Through subtle gestures and masterful lighting, the artist breathes life into the architectural stone and opulent fabrics, capturing the complex psychological undercurrents of courtly life with immense reverence and grace.

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