Daily Poetry — July 9, 2026

संध्या-सुंदरी (Sandhya Sundari)

Composed by सूर्यकांत त्रिपाठी 'निराला' (Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala')

Original Hindi

दिवसावसान का समय मेघमय आसमान से उतर रही है वह संध्या-सुंदरी परी-सी धीरे-धीरे, धीरे-धीरे। तिमिरांचल में चंचलता का नहीं कहीं आभास, मधुर-मधुर हैं दोनों उसके अधर, किन्तु नहीं है उनमें हास-विलास। हँसता है तो सिर्फ एक तारा, गुँथा हुआ उन घुँघराले काले केशों में हृदय-राज्य की रानी का वह अभिषेक-सा।

English Translation

The time of day's end, Descending from the cloudy sky, She, the Evening Beauty, like a fairy, Slowly, slowly, slowly. In her dark veil, no trace of restlessness, Sweet, sweet are both her lips, But in them, no laughter or gaiety. If anything laughs, it is only a single star, Entwined in her curly black tresses, Like the coronation of the queen of the heart's realm.

AI Generated

AI Echo (Hindi)

शांत है समीर, दीप बुझे, जग सोया है निद्रा में गहरा। प्रकृति की गोद में सिमटी, वह मौन खड़ी, सौंदर्य की लहर। न कोई ध्वनि, न कोई स्वर, बस एक असीम शांति का सागर। तारों की झिलमिल राहों पर, अदृश्य कदमों से चलती। रात की चादर बिछाती, स्वप्नों का संसार रचती। उसकी आँखों में गहनता, अनंत रहस्यों की छवि। वह संध्या-सुंदरी, चिरंतन, हर पल नवीन, हर पल कवि।

AI Generated

AI Echo (English)

The breeze is calm, lamps extinguished, The world sleeps deep in slumber. Nestled in nature's lap, She stands silent, a wave of beauty. No sound, no voice, Just an ocean of infinite peace. On the shimmering paths of stars, She walks with invisible steps. Spreading night's blanket, Creating a world of dreams. In her eyes, a deep intensity, The image of endless mysteries. That Evening Beauty, eternal, Ever new, ever poetic.

Literary & Historical Context

“Sandhya Sundari” (Evening Beauty) is a celebrated poem by Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala', a towering figure of the Chhayavad (Romanticism/Shadowism) movement in Hindi literature. Written in the early 20th century, the poem exemplifies Chhayavad's core tenets: personification of nature, introspection, a sense of ethereal beauty, and a departure from traditional poetic forms. Here, Nirala personifies the evening as a beautiful fairy-like woman descending slowly from the cloudy sky. She is serene, silent, and mysterious, embodying a quiet elegance free from the day's restlessness. The single star entwined in her hair is a poignant detail, hinting at a deep, unspoken beauty or perhaps a regal solitude. The poem's free verse structure was revolutionary for its time, breaking from conventional meter and rhyme schemes to allow for a more natural flow, reflecting the very essence of the Chhayavad era's emphasis on emotional expression and individualistic vision. It captures a moment of tranquil transformation, where day gracefully yields to night, imbued with a profound aesthetic and spiritual quality.