Daily Poetry — August 15, 2026

हिमगिरि के उत्तुंग शिखर पर (कामायानी से एक अंश)

Composed by जयशंकर प्रसाद

Original Hindi

हिमगिरि के उत्तुंग शिखर पर, बैठ शिला की शीतल छाँह, एक पुरुष भीगे नयनों से, देख रहा था प्रलय प्रवाह। नीचे जल था, ऊपर हिम था, एक तरल था, एक सघन, एक तत्व की ही प्रधानता, कहो उसे जड़ या चेतन। दूर-दूर तक विस्तृत था हिम, स्तब्ध उसी के हृदय समान, नीरवता-सी शिला-चरण पर, हिमशिला चरण पर हिमशिला समान। पवन ऊर्मियाँ भी थीं शांत, जीवन का स्पंदन था मौन, फिर भी चेतनता का उन्मेष, शांत प्रकृति का था अवगूण।

English Translation

On the lofty peak of the Himalayas, Seated in the cool shade of a rock, A man, with tear-filled eyes, Was watching the current of the deluge. Below was water, above was snow, One was liquid, one was dense, The dominance of a single element, Call it inert or conscious. Far and wide, snow was spread, Motionless like his heart, Silence at the foot of the rock, Like an ice-slab at the foot of an ice-slab. Even the wind's waves were calm, Life's pulsation was silent, Yet the awakening of consciousness, Was the inherent quality of tranquil nature.

AI Generated

AI Echo (Hindi)

प्रलय के उस शांत क्षण में, था मनु अकेला, मौन खड़ा, स्मृति में भूला सृजन का क्षण, नव जीवन का बीजारोपण। हिम की चादर ओढ़े धरती, कर रही थी नव सृष्टि की आस, चेतनता की आहट फिर से, खुली आँखों में था विश्वास। शांत जल में प्रतिबिंबित, उठती आशा की किरण, एक नया अध्याय लिखेगी, मानवता की अमर कहानी।

AI Generated

AI Echo (English)

In that silent moment of deluge, Manu stood alone, quiet and still, Forgetting the moment of creation in memory, The seeding of a new life. Earth, draped in a blanket of snow, Yearned for a new creation, The stir of consciousness once more, Faith was in his open eyes. Reflected in the calm waters, A ray of rising hope, Will write a new chapter, The immortal story of humanity.

Literary & Historical Context

"हिमगिरि के उत्तुंग शिखर पर" is the iconic opening stanza of Jaishankar Prasad's epic poem "Kamayani," a seminal work in Hindi literature and a prime example of the 'Chhayavad' (Romanticism) era. Published in 1936, "Kamayani" is an allegorical epic that delves into the origins of humanity, psychology, and philosophy, drawing inspiration from the ancient Hindu myth of Manu and Shraddha after a great flood. This excerpt introduces Manu, the sole survivor, on the peaks of the Himalayas, observing the aftermath of a devastating deluge. It masterfully uses natural imagery—the vast snow-clad mountains, the tranquil yet powerful water—to depict profound solitude, contemplation, and the dawn of a new era. Prasad's language is rich with Sanskritized vocabulary and evocative metaphors, characteristic of Chhayavad, exploring themes of creation, destruction, consciousness, and the inherent human struggle for meaning and rebirth. The poem is considered a profound philosophical and poetic statement, representing the peak of Prasad's literary genius and a cornerstone of modern Hindi poetry.

← Prev Poem Browse All Poems Next Poem →

Feedback | Was this useful?