Daily Poetry — August 19, 2026

भिक्षुक (Bhikshuk)

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

Original Hindi

वह आता दो टूक कलेजे के करता पछताता पथ पर आता। पेट पीठ दोनों मिलकर हैं एक, चल रहा लकुटिया टेक। मुट्ठी भर दाने को भूख मिटाने को मुँह फटी पुरानी झोली को फैलाता, दो टूक कलेजे के करता पछताता पथ पर आता। साथ दो बच्चे भी हैं सदा हाथ फैलाये, बाएँ से वे मलते हुए पेट को चलते, और दाहिने दया-दृष्टि पाने की ओर बढ़ाये। भूख से सूख ओठ जब जाते दाता-भाग्य विधाता से क्या पाते? घूँट आँसुओं के पीकर रह जाते।

English Translation

He comes, Heartbroken, remorseful, he comes upon the path. His belly and back are one, Walking with the support of a stick. For a handful of grains, to quell the hunger, He spreads his old, torn bag, Heartbroken, remorseful, he comes upon the path. Two children accompany him, always with outstretched hands, With their left hands, they rub their bellies as they walk, And with their right, they extend them towards the hope of compassion. When lips dry up from hunger, What do they receive from givers, from fate's creator? They simply swallow gulps of tears.

AI Generated

AI Echo (Hindi)

यह कैसा समाज, यह कैसा विधान? जहाँ मानवता होती है नीलाम। भूख से बिलखते बच्चों की पुकार, गूँजती दर-दर, पर कहाँ है उदार? एक निवाला, एक बूँद पानी की आस, सूखे कंठों में बसती है प्यास। क्या कोई न समझे इन प्राणों का मोल? या बंद हैं सभी संवेदन के बोल? यह हृदय विदारक दृश्य कब तक? कब तक चलेगा यह अमानवीय कृत्य?

AI Generated

AI Echo (English)

What kind of society is this, what kind of law? Where humanity is auctioned off. The cries of children weeping from hunger, Echo door to door, but where is generosity? A single morsel, a drop of water they hope for, Thirst resides in their dry throats. Will no one understand the worth of these lives? Or are all words of compassion sealed? How long will this heartbreaking sight endure? How long will this inhuman act continue?

Literary & Historical Context

"भिक्षुक" (The Beggar) by Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala' is one of the most poignant and socially significant poems of the Chhayavaad (Romanticism) era in Hindi literature, though it transcends pure romanticism to embrace realism. Written in 1923, it starkly portrays the agonizing reality of poverty and the dehumanizing struggle for survival in early 20th-century India. Nirala, a pioneer of 'मुक्तछंद' (free verse) in Hindi poetry, masterfully uses simple yet powerful language to evoke deep empathy for the beggar and his starving children. The repeated line, "दो टूक कलेजे के करता पछताता पथ पर आता" (Heartbroken, remorseful, he comes upon the path), emphasizes the beggar's internal suffering and the societal indifference. The poem is a sharp social commentary, exposing the stark contrast between the haves and have-nots, and implicitly questioning the moral fabric of a society that allows such suffering. It remains a powerful symbol of Nirala's progressive thought and his commitment to addressing social inequalities through his art.

← Prev Poem Browse All Poems Next Poem →

Feedback | Was this useful?