Daily Poetry — September 4, 2026

कुरुक्षेत्र (Kurukshetra) - एक अंश

Composed by रामधारी सिंह 'दिनकर'

Original Hindi

क्या है स्वर्ग? नरक क्या है? यह जग क्या है? जग के भीतर क्यों मनुष्य से मनुष्य का है क्षण-क्षण इतना प्रबल रण? क्या मनुष्य का दोष है इसमें, या विधाता का दिया श्राप? क्यों बार-बार जन्म लेता है यह हिंसा का महापाप? क्या प्रकृति की यह रीति है, या मन की विकृत वासना? क्या यही मानव की नियति है, या मुक्ति की है कोई आशा? क्या ज्ञान की यह राह नहीं, जो हमें शांति दे सकती है? क्या हृदय की यह पुकार नहीं, जो नव-सृष्टि रच सकती है?

English Translation

What is heaven? What is hell? What is this world? And within it, Why is there such a fierce battle Moment by moment, between man and man? Is this humanity's fault, Or a curse bestowed by fate? Why does this great sin of violence Take birth again and again? Is this the way of nature, Or a distorted desire of the mind? Is this humanity's destiny, Or is there any hope for liberation? Is there no path of knowledge, That can bestow peace upon us? Is there no call from the heart, That can create a new world?

AI Generated

AI Echo (Hindi)

युगों से खोजी हमने राहें, बाहर, भीतर, चारों ओर। पर सत्य एक ही कहता है, मन का द्वेष है मूल छोर। जब तक हृदय न निर्मल हो, सद्भाव न जीवन में रमे। ज्ञान व्यर्थ, कर्म व्यर्थ हैं, शांति कहीं न फिर थमे। मिटे युद्ध, मिटेगी हिंसा, जब प्रेम का होगा राज। आत्मा से आत्मा जुड़ेगी, फिर बजेगा सृजन का साज़।

AI Generated

AI Echo (English)

For ages we have searched for paths, Outside, inside, all around. But one truth echoes clearly, Hatred in the mind is the root cause. Until the heart is pure, And goodwill pervades life. Knowledge is vain, deeds are futile, Peace will never truly arrive. Wars will cease, violence will end, When love reigns supreme. Soul will connect with soul, Then creation's music will gleam.

Literary & Historical Context

Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' (1908-1974), a towering figure in modern Hindi literature, earned the title 'Rashtrakavi' (National Poet) for his powerful, patriotic, and philosophically rich compositions. His epic poem "Kurukshetra," published in 1946, is a profound reflection on the devastation of war and humanity's perennial struggle with violence, set against the backdrop of the Mahabharata. Written in the immediate aftermath of World War II, it interrogates whether progress in knowledge has truly led to human betterment or merely fueled more destructive conflicts. The selected excerpt encapsulates Dinkar's deep introspection into the human condition, questioning the source of perpetual conflict—whether it's an inherent flaw, a curse, or a result of distorted desires. It implicitly seeks a path towards peace and a 'new creation' rooted in wisdom and compassion, lamenting the absence of a collective 'call from the heart' to resolve these existential dilemmas. The poem remains significant for its timeless exploration of dharma, justice, and the moral responsibilities of humanity.

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