गरीब (garib) is a poem by Laxmi Prasad Devkota. If you have been following poems in this site, you must know who Devkota is. He is a very famous poet in Nepal, given the title of ‘mahakavi’ (great poet).
गरीब (garib) means ‘Poor’ in Nepali. A poetry written about the wealth in poverty, you sure can expect a lot of literary intellect in this. गरीब (garib) is an interesting word because due to recent spelling reforms, the correct way now to write it is गरिब (garib). Notice the switch between hraswa and dirgha.
This is a grade 9 poem.
This is perhaps the last poetry work I will feature of him in this site. Thank you for all the wonderful poems, Devkota-ji! I have tried very hard to keep the translation literal and as it is. You have tons of vocabulary here!
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POEM
गरीब भन्छौ ? सुखको मझैं धनी मिल्दैन संसारभरी कतै पनि
विलासको लालस-दास छैनँ म मीठो छ मेरो रसिलो परिश्रम ।
प्रयासको पत्थरमा नदीसरि बहन्छु हाँसी म तरङ्गले भरी
म पोखरीझैं उहि ठाउँ जम्दिनँ छ शुद्ध यो जीवनको सबै कण ।
.
निधार मेरो पसिना-जडाउ छ मोती तिनैको अनमोल भाउ छ
छ शान्तिको सुन्दर दीप वासमा पीयूषको स्वाद छ गाँसगाँसमा ।
छ भोक मीठो, रसिलो प्यास छ अन्तमा व्यञ्जनको सुवास
छ थोर आवश्यकता पुगेपछि म बस्छु संसार नयाँ नयाँ रची ।
.
जगत् छ मेरो घरबार सुन्दर आकाश नीलो छ: तले मनोहर
छन् रत्न सारा उसमा भराभर छन् चन्द्रमा दीप तथा प्रभाकर ।
प्रभात सन्ध्याहरू रङ्ग भर्दछन् र मेघ आईकन दङ्ग पर्दछन्
छ नृत्य राम्रो ऋतुको समागम दृश्यादि पर्दा दिन-रातको क्रम ।
.
परीसरी फूल हिली झुलीकन टप्काउँछन् सुन्दर मोतिका कण
हजार गाना रसिलो निरूपम सुनाउँछन् पातविषे विहङ्गम ।
छ मख्मली घाँस बडो मुलायम म लेट्छु जस्माथि सकी परिश्रम
पङ्खा छ मेरो वटवृक्ष सुन्दर समीर हम्कीकन चल्छ सर्सर ।
.
आनन्दको एक कुटी छ झोपडी पुगिन्छ त्यसमा शिर शैलको चढी
समीरको खेल खुला वरीपरी अनन्त आकाश निलो शिरोपरि ।
अलग्ग, साधा र अनन्त बीचमा छ एक्लो, निर्झरको नजीकमा
यस्माथि ताराहरु झल्मलाउँछन् शशी हँसीली यसमा उदाउँछिन् ।
.
प्रभात सन्ध्या यसलाई सुन्दर पहाड, यी खेत बडा मनोहर
आनन्दमा बस्दछु न्यानु घाममा अनन्त मिल्दछ अन्धकारमा ।
विमान खासा मनको लिईकन म चन्द्र, तारा, पृथिवी घुमीकन
विहारको मोज लुटी लुटीकन फर्कन्छु फेरी उहि रम्य आँगन ।
.
पाई हँसीलो अलमस्त यौवन छाती फुकाई, जलका ठुला कण
पैह्रेर आभूषण, झल्किईकन गुलाब चल्छन् अलि ढल्किईकन ।
उद्यान मेरो भरमा परीहरू गुलाब मिठी , फूल नामका अरू
सुगन्धले मग्मग वस्त्र रङ्गीनले शोभित छन् भरीभर ।
.
निद्रा सुशारे छ अपूर्व सुन्दरी जादू छ उसको सपना मिठोसरी
संसार बिर्सन्छु म अङ्कमालमा भाग्छे बिहानै लजिली मनोरमा ।
छ साथ मेरो दिन-रात ईश्वर ममा यहाँ छैन कतै कुनै डर
संसार यस्तो रसिलीविषे अहो मलाई राख्ने अति धन्य धन्य हो ।
.
TRANSLATION
गरीब भन्छौ ? सुखको मझैं धनी (garib bhanchau? sukha`ko ma jhai dhani)
मिल्दैन संसारभरी कतै पनि । (mildaina sansar`bhari katai pani)
विलासको लालस-दास छैनँ म (bilas ko laalas-daas chaina ma)
मीठो छ मेरो रसिलो परिश्रम । (mitho cha mero rasilo parishram)
= (You) say poor? Rich like me of peace
Cannot be obtained throughout the world nowhere also.
Avaricious slave of luxury not am I
Sweet is my succulent diligence
.
प्रयासको पत्थरमा नदीसरि (prayas`ko patthar ma nadi`sari)
बहन्छु हाँसी म तरङ्गले भरी । (bahanchu haasi ma taranga`le bhari)
म पोखरीझैं उहि ठाउँ जम्दिनँ (ma pokhari`jhai uhi thau jamdina)
छ शुद्ध यो जीवनको सबै कण । (cha suddha yo jiwan ko sabai kan)
= Equal to river In endeavour’s stone
I flow smiling, filled with waves.
I, unlike a river don’t accumulate at that place
Uncontaminated is this life’s every aspect
.
निधार मेरो पसिना-जडाउ छ (nidhar mero pasina-jadau cha)
मोती तिनैको अनमोल भाउ छ । (moti tinai`ko anmol bhau cha)
छ शान्तिको सुन्दर दीप वासमा (cha shanti`ko sundar dip baasma)
पीयूषको स्वाद छ गाँसगाँसमा । (piyus`ko swaad cha gasgas`ma)
= (On) Forehead my sweat sweat is adorned,
The pearl of that itself has a precious value.
Is there peace’s beautiful lamp in residence,
Ambrosia’s taste is lingering on my mouth.
.
छ भोक मीठो, रसिलो प्यास (cha bhok mitho, rasilo pyaas)
छ अन्तमा व्यञ्जनको सुवास । (cha anta`ma vyanjan`ko subaas)
छ थोर आवश्यकता पुगेपछि (cha thor aawasyakta pugepachi)
म बस्छु संसार नयाँ नयाँ रची । (ma baschu sansar naya naya rachi)
= Hunger is delicious, succulent (is) thirst
Is there in the end the fragrance of byanjan
After low requirement is fulfilled
I sit composing new-new world
.
जगत् छ मेरो घरबार सुन्दर (jagat cha mero gharbaar sundar)
आकाश नीलो छ: तले मनोहर । (aakaash nilo cha: tale manohar)
छन् रत्न सारा उसमा भराभर (chan ratna saara usma bharabhar)
छन् चन्द्रमा दीप तथा प्रभाकर । (chan chandrama dip tatha prabhakar)
= Ground is my residence beautiful
Sky blue six-storeyed captivation
Has jewels all in that – full,
Is the moon the lamp otherwise the sun
.
प्रभात सन्ध्याहरू रङ्ग भर्दछन् (prabhat sandhya`haru rang bhardachan)
र मेघ आईकन दङ्ग पर्दछन् । (ra megh aaikana danga pardachan)
छ नृत्य राम्रो ऋतुको समागम (cha nritya ramro ritu`ko samaagam)
दृश्यादि पर्दा दिन-रातको क्रम । (drishyadi parda din-raat`ko kram)
= Morning twilights fill colour,
And the clouds descend, astounded.
Is good the dance of the confluence of seasons
Progress of day and night the picturesque curtain
.
परीसरी फूल हिली झुलीकन (parisari phul hili julikana)
टप्काउँछन् सुन्दर मोतिका कण । (tapkaauchan sundar moti`ka kan)
हजार गाना रसिलो निरूपम (hajar gana sarilo nirupam)
सुनाउँछन् पातविषे विहङ्गम । (sunauchan paatbishe bihangam)
= Throughout the perimeter flowers stir, droop
Sticks beautiful specks of pearls,
Thousand songs succulent unparalleled
Makes (us) listen from leaves the birds.
.
छ मख्मली घाँस बडो मुलायम (cha makhmali ghas bado mulaayam)
म लेट्छु जस्माथि सकी परिश्रम । (ma letchu jas mathi saki parishram)
पङ्खा छ मेरो वटवृक्ष सुन्दर (pankha cha mero vatbriksha sundar)
समीर हम्कीकन चल्छ सर्सर । (samir hamkikana chalcha sarsar)
= Is velvet-like the grass, greatly soft
I lay down, over it after I finish hard work,
My wings are Banyan tree beautiful,
After the wind fans, it functions sarsar
.
आनन्दको एक कुटी छ झोपडी (aananda ko ek kuti cha jhopadi)
पुगिन्छ त्यसमा शिर शैलको चढी । (pugincha tyasma sir shail`ko chadhi)
समीरको खेल खुला वरीपरी (samir`ko khel khula waripari)
अनन्त आकाश निलो शिरोपरि । (ananta aakash nilo shiropari)
= Is (there) one hut of relaxation,
(I) reach there by climbing the hill of head.
Wind’s play open here-there,
Endless sky blue overhead.
.
अलग्ग, साधा र अनन्त बीचमा (alagga, sadha ra ananta bich`ma)
छ एक्लो, निर्झरको नजीकमा । (cha eklo nirjhar`ko najik maa)
यस्माथि ताराहरु झल्मलाउँछन् (yas`mathi tara`haru jhalmalaauchan)
शशी हँसीली यसमा उदाउँछिन् । (sashi hasili yas`ma udaauchan)
= Separate, ordinary and endless amongst
Is one, near cascade’s.
Over this stars shimmer,
Jovial moon on this (occasion) rises.
.
प्रभात सन्ध्या यसलाई सुन्दर (prabhat sandhya yaslai sundar)
पहाड, यी खेत बडा मनोहर । (pahad, yi khet bada manohar)
आनन्दमा बस्दछ न्यानु घाममा (aananda`ma basdacha nyaanu gham`ma)
अनन्त मिल्दछ अन्धकारमा । (ananta mildacha andhakar`ma)
= Morning twilight for this beautiful,
Hill, these fields greatly enchanting.
In relaxation sits in warm Sun,
(We can) get endless in darkness.
.
विमान खासा मनको लिईकन (biman khasa man`ko liikana)
म चन्द्र, तारा, पृथिवी घुमीकन (ma chandra, tara, prithiwi ghumikana)
विहारको मोज लुटी लुटीकन (bihar`ko moj luti luti kana)
फर्कन्छु फेरी उहि रम्य आँगन । (pharkinachu pheri uhi ramya aagana)
= After taking good heart’s flight
I after travelling the Moon, star, Earth
After stealing the fun of self-travel,
(I) return back to (that) same beautiful garden.
.
पाई हँसीलो अलमस्त यौवन (pai hasilo alamasta yauwan)
छाती फुकाई, जलका ठुला कण । (chhati phurkai, jal`ka thula kana)
पैह्रेर आभूषण झल्किईकन (paihrera aabhushan, jhalkiikana)
गुलाब चल्छन् अलि ढल्किईकन । (gulab chalchan ali dhalkiikana)
= Getting jovial worry-free youth,
Blowing chest, water’s big particle
Decorated, after shimmering jewelry
Rose moves by swaying a little.
.
उद्यान मेरो भरमा परीहरू (udyaan mero bhar`ma pari`haru)
गुलाब मिठी, फूल नामका अरू (gulab mithi, phul naam`ka aru)
सुगन्धले मग्मग वस्त्र (sugandha`le magmag vastra)
रङ्गीनले शोभित छन् भरीभर । (rangin`le shobhit chan bharibhar)
= Garden in my trust, fairies
Rose delicious,flower-named other
Fragrances fragrant clothing
They’re full of beaty due to Colour(ful).
.
निद्रा सुशारे छ अपूर्व सुन्दरी (nidra sushare cha apurwa sundari)
जादू छ उसको सपना मिठोसरी । (jadu cha usko sapana mitho`sari)
संसार बिर्सन्छु म अङ्कमालमा (sansar birsanchu ma angkamaal`ma)
भाग्छे बिहानै लजिली मनोरमा । (bhagche bihanai lajili manorma)
= Sleep is (the) helper, the previously never seen beauty,
Magic there is (in) her delicious-like dream,
I forget the world in a hug,
Runs away in the morning the shy beauty
.
छ साथ मेरो दिन-रात ईश्वर (cha sath mero din-rat ishwar)
ममा यहाँ छैन कतै कुनै डर । (ma`maa yaha chaina katai kunai dar)
संसार यस्तो रसिलीविषे अहो (sansar yasto rasilibishe aho)
मलाई राख्ने अति धन्य धन्य हो । (malai rakhne ati dhanya dhanya ho)
= Is with me day-night The lord,
In me, there is no fear present.
The world (is) this succulent, aho!
Grateful for keeping me here.
_
VOCABULARY
भरी (bhari) = Full
विलास (bilas) = Luxury
लालस-दास (lalas-das) = Avaricious slave; a slave to greed
रसिलो (rasilo) = Succulent; Juicy
परिश्रम (parishram) = Diligence; Hard work
प्रयास (prayas) = Effort; Endeavour
पत्थर (patthar) = Rock; Stone
बहन्छु (bahanchu) = A form of the verb ‘बहनु’ (bahanu) which means ‘To flow’
तरङ्ग (taranga) = Wave
जम्दिनँ (jamdina) = A form of the verb ‘जम्नु’ (jamnu) which means ‘To gather/accumulate’. Also can mean ‘To freeze’
शुद्ध (suddha) = Pure; Unadulterated
कण (kan) = Particle; Speck
पसिना (pasina) = Sweat
जडाउ (jadau) = Joining
मोती (moti) = Pearl
अनमोल (anmol) = Valuable
शान्ति (shanti) = Peace
दीप (dip) = Lamp
वास (baas) = Residence
पीयूष (piyush) = Ambriosia
गाँस (gaas) = The aftertaste of food
प्यास (pyas) = Thirst
अन्त (anta) = End
व्यञ्जन (byanjan) = Variety; Variety of food
सुवास (subaas)/ सुगन्ध (sugandha) = Fragnance; Good smell
थोर (thor) = Less
आवश्यकता (aawashyakta) = Requirement
रची (rachi) = A form of the verb ‘रच्नु’ (rachnu) which means ‘To compose’
जगत् (jagat) = Earth; Ground
घरबार (gharbar) = Household
तले (tale) = Storied
मनोहर (manohar) = Heart-melting; Charming; Enchanting
रत्न (ratna) = Jewel
सारा (sara) = Every
भराभर (bharabhar) = Full
प्रभाकर (prabhakar) = Sun
प्रभात (prabhat) = Morning
सन्ध्या (sandhya) = Twilight
भर्दछन् (bhardachan) = A form of the verb ‘भर्नु’ (bharnu) which means ‘To fill’
मेघ (megh) = Cloud
दङ्ग (danga) = Shocked; Surprised
नृत्य (nritya) = Dance
ऋतु (ritu) = Season
समागम (samaagam) = Meeting
दृश्यादि (dryisyaadi) = Picturesque
क्रम (kram) = Accordance; Progress
कन (kana) = Suffix added after verbs to mean ‘after’
हिली झुली (hili jhuli) = Swaying-Drooping
टप्काउँछन् (tapkaauchan) = A form of the verb ‘ टप्काउनु’ (tapkaaunu) which means ‘To encrust’
निरूपम (nirupam) = Unparalleled; Incomparable
विषे (bishe) = From
विहङ्गम (bihangam) = 1) Birds 2) Moon
मख्मली (makhmali) = Velvet-like
मुलायम (mulayam) = Soft
लेट्छु (letchu) = A form of the verb ‘लेट्नु’ (letnu) which means ‘To rest’
पङ्खा (pangkha) = Wings
वटवृक्ष (batbriksha) = Banyan Tree
समीर (samir) = Wind
हम्कीकन (hamkikana) = A form of the verb ‘ हम्कनु’ (hamkanu) which means ‘To fan’
सर्सर (sarsar) = Onomatopoeia showing the sound of wind moving
आनन्द (ananda) = Relaxation
कुटी(kuti)/ झोपडी (jhupadi) = Hut; Hovel
शैल (shail) = Summit
वरीपरी (waripari) = Around
अनन्त (ananta) = Endless; Infinite
शिरोपरि (shiropari) = Above the head
अलग्ग (alagga) = Separate
साधा (sadha) = Ordinary; Plain
निर्झर (nirjhar) = Cascade
झल्मलाउँछन् (jhalmalaauchan) = A form of the verb ‘ झल्मलाउनु’ (jhalmalaaunu) which means ‘To shimmer’
शशी (sashi) = Moon
हँसीली (hasili)/ हँसीलो (hasilo) = Cheerful; Bubbly
उदाउँछिन् (udauchin) = A form of the verb ‘ उदाउनु’ (udaunu) which means ‘To rise (Sun/Moon)’
न्यानु (nyanu) = Warm
अन्धकार (andhakar) = Darkness
विमान (biman) = Flight
खासा (khasa) = Good
विहार (bihar) = Solo-travel (by an individual)
मोज (moj) = Fun
रम्य (ramya) = Beautiful
आँगन (aagan)/ उद्यान (udyaan) = Garden
अलमस्त (alamasta) = Without any worry
यौवन (yauwan) = Youth
जल (jal) = Water
पैह्रेर (paihrera) = A form of the verb ‘ पैह्रनु’ (paihranu) which means ‘To stud/decorate/adorn’
आभूषण (abhushan) = Jewelry
झल्किईकन (jhalkiikana) = A form of the verb ‘ झल्कनु’ (jhalkanu) which means ‘To shine/shimmer’
ढल्किईकन (dhalikana) = A form of the verb ‘ढल्कनु’ (dhalkanu) which means ‘To rest on something’
मग्मग (magmag) = Onomatopoeia showing the ‘sound’ of fragnant smells
वस्त्र (bastra) = Clothes
रङ्गीन (rangin) = Colourful
शोभित (shobhit) = With beauty
निद्रा (nidra) = Sleep
सुशारे (sushare) = Helper
अपूर्व (apurwa) = New/Novel; Never-seen-before
जादू (jaadu) = Magic
अङ्कमाल (ankamaal) = Hug; Embrace
लजिली (lajili) = Shy
मनोरमा (manorma) = A woman of splendid charm and beauty
अहो (aho) = An exclamation of surprise
धन्य (dhanya) = Thankful
_
MEANING
The main message is that despite being poor in material wealth, a poor person can be rich in many ways. He is rich in peace and sweet is his hard work. that person does not stay stagnant but keeps moving about. There is no adulteration in their life. Peace stays in their residence, ambrosia (food of gods) lingers in their mouth. Even hunger is delicious. The whole world is their house, with the sky being their roof, the sun and the moon being the lamps. It is almost like a stage; the clouds the players, the morning the starting call, the dance of the seasons, the final curtain being the progression of day and night. The birds sing of many sweet songs, the flowers sway. A person can be rich in many different ways. No need for mattresses when the grass beneath is soft. They are content with what beauty they have.
_
QUESTION
Write a paragraph about poverty in Nepal. (in Nepali of course)