Daily Poetry — July 21, 2026

बीती विभावरी जाग री

Composed by जयशंकर प्रसाद

Original Hindi

बीती विभावरी जाग री! अम्बर पनघट में डुबो रही तारा-घट उषा नागरी! खग-कुल कुल-कुल सा बोल रहा, किसलय का अंचल डोल रहा, लो यह लतिका भी भर लाई मधु मुकुल नवल रस गागरी! अधरों में राग अमंद पिए, अलकों में मलयज बांधे हुए, तू अब तक सोई है आली! आँखों में भरे विहाग री!

English Translation

The night has passed, awaken now! In the sky-well, the dawn maiden dips Her star-pitchers. The bird-flocks are chirping sweetly, The hem of young leaves is swaying, Look, this creeper too has brought A new pot of honeyed buds! With a fervent song on your lips, With the scent of Malaya in your hair, You are still asleep, my dear! With the Raga 'Vihag' in your eyes!

AI Generated

AI Echo (Hindi)

क्यों अलसायी अब भी बैठी, समय नहीं यूँ गंवा री। किरणों की मृदु थाप पड़ी, ओस कणों में मोती भर दे। नवीनता की साँस ले तू, स्वप्न छोड़, यथार्थ को जी। जीवन का यह अनुपम पल, क्यों व्यर्थ ही जाने दे री। तेरी आँखों में जो ज्योति है, उसे फिर से प्रज्वलित कर तू। नव ऊर्जा से भर जा री, बीती विभावरी जाग री!

AI Generated

AI Echo (English)

Why are you still sitting lethargic, Do not waste time like this. The soft tap of sunbeams has fallen, Fill the dew drops with pearls. Breathe in the newness, Leave dreams, live reality. This unparalleled moment of life, Why let it go in vain, my dear. The light that is in your eyes, Ignite it once again. Fill yourself with new energy, The night has passed, awaken now!

Literary & Historical Context

Jaishankar Prasad (1889-1937) was one of the four principal pillars of the 'Chhayavaad' (Romanticism or Shadowism) era in Hindi literature. 'बीती विभावरी जाग री' is a classic Chhayavaadi poem, celebrated for its rich symbolism, personification, and lyrical beauty. Often interpreted as an 'Usha-geet' or a song of dawn, it transcends a mere description of sunrise. The 'dawn maiden' (Usha Nagari) dipping 'star-pitchers' in the 'sky-well' is a poignant metaphor for the fading stars at the onset of day. The poem serves as a metaphorical invitation to shed literal and spiritual slumber, urging the addressed 'आली' (friend/beloved) to awaken and embrace the vibrant beauty and fresh possibilities that each new day brings. It speaks to a deeper call for spiritual and emotional awakening, breaking free from inertia, and experiencing the profound essence of life, making it a timeless masterpiece in Hindi poetry.