Daily Poetry — August 4, 2026

मधुशाला (Madhushala) - एक अंश

Composed by हरिवंश राय बच्चन

Original Hindi

मृदु भावों के अंगूरों की आज बना लाया हाला, प्रियतम, अपने हाथों से आज पिलाऊँगा प्याला, पहले भोग लगा लूँ तेरा, फिर प्रसाद जग पाएगा, सबसे पहले तेरा स्वागत करती मेरी मधुशाला। प्यासे को गर मिले न मदिरा, चिल्लाता है ‘हाहाकार’, किंतु मिला अंबर से भीगा मादक नवल पराग, मेरी मधुशाला में, प्यारे, मदिरा नहीं, केवल प्यार, प्यार ही प्रेम ही प्रेम ही मधुशाला।

English Translation

Today I've brought the wine made from the grapes of tender feelings, Beloved, with my own hands, today I will offer you the cup, First, I shall offer it to you, then the world may receive its blessing, My Madhushala first welcomes you. If the thirsty one finds no wine, he cries out 'Alas!', But here, they receive intoxicating new pollen drenched from the sky, In my Madhushala, my dear, there is no wine, only love, Love, indeed, love, only love, is my Madhushala.

AI Generated

AI Echo (Hindi)

जहाँ प्यासे मन के हर दुःख का मिलता है उपचार, हर एक कतरे में घुला हुआ जीवन का सार, न भेद कोई, न कोई बैर, न ऊँच-नीच का विचार, बस एक आस, एक विश्वास, बस प्रेम का संचार। यह मधुशाला नहीं केवल दीवारों का है घेरा, यह आत्मा का मिलन है, हर आत्मा का बसेरा, जहाँ हर शाम सजती है प्रेम की अमृत धारा, वही तो है सच्ची मधुशाला, वही सच्चा सहारा।

AI Generated

AI Echo (English)

Where every sorrow of the thirsty soul finds its cure, In every drop, the essence of life is pure, No distinction, no animosity, no thought of high or low, Just one hope, one faith, just the flow of love. This Madhushala is not just a circle of walls, It's the union of souls, every soul's resting place, Where every evening, the nectar of love flows, That indeed is the true Madhushala, that indeed the true solace.

Literary & Historical Context

"Madhushala" (The House of Wine) is one of the most iconic works of Harivansh Rai Bachchan, first published in 1935. It is a collection of rubaiyat (quatrains) that use the metaphor of wine, cup, and tavern to explore philosophical themes of life, death, the transient nature of existence, and spiritual quest. While superficially appearing to celebrate hedonism, the poem is deeply allegorical, with the 'wine' often symbolizing knowledge, love, or spiritual intoxication, and the 'tavern' representing the world or a place of divine communion. This particular excerpt highlights the spiritual interpretation, where the wine is made of "tender feelings" and offered to a "beloved," emphasizing that the true 'Madhushala' is a place of pure love and emotional connection, transcending material desires. Bachchan's simple yet profound language and musicality made "Madhushala" immensely popular, cementing his place as a pioneer of Chhayavaad (Romanticism) and Halawaad (a poetic style characterized by a fascination with wine, cups, and taverns as metaphors for deeper existential meanings) in Hindi literature. It remains a timeless classic, celebrated for its unique blend of accessibility and philosophical depth.

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