Rashmirathi

(This review is one of Hindi poem by Indian Poet Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' I wrote this review assuming reader know about overall Mahabharata story)

I was listening to random Hindi poems read by on youtube channel Hindi Kavita. I came across a part of Rashmirathi read by Manoj Bajpayee. Then I got curious and got the book. I started reading and got addicted to it. Though I Knew the Hindi language before but I had not read much Hindi literature. Now I have started to read Hindi literature thanks to Rashmirathi.

Coming back to Rashmirathi, It was written by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar during 1950 and published on 1952. Dinkar is gifted word engineering as if goddess Saraswati is sitting on his tongue.

Literally, rashmirathi means Sun's Charioteer (Rasmi: Sun rays Rathi: Charioteer) It's a poetic story of Karna. Karna is an Illegitimate son of Kunti which happened to be born when she was unmarried. Kunti abandons the child which was found by a childless couple, Adhiratha (charioteer of King Dhritarashtra) and his wife Radha (several times in poem Radheya - son of Radha Name used for Karna). He inherited an interest in warfare and wanted to learn the art of war from guru Drona but he refused to accept him as a student. Later Karna learned and earned his skills from Parshuram. Being a child of charioteer he was neglected insulted and he had a hard time in society. In Fact, he was denied entry in the competition of archery for not being from the royal family and was insulted in front of the audience. But Duryodhana came forward and gave him respect and land made him king. He became a friend of Duryodhana pledged to fight for him for the lifetime. In Spite of hurdles in his path became one of the best warriors of Mahabharata.

Rashmirathi is a masterpiece of Hindi literature by Dinkar. This powerful story of Karna is presented by Dinkar in a very passionate way. The whole book is magical and sometimes gives goosebumps to me and the book is capable of giving an experience of profound emotions in scenes.

The story of rashmirathi starts with the competition incidence between Arjuna and Karna where he was insulted. Everyone present there was watching insult especially the Kunti mother who saw her child being insulted but she was helpless and did not have the courage to tell the world he is her child. Dinkar has derived character of Kunti showing her intense emotions of guilt and love for the son.

और हाय, रनिवास चला वापस जब राजभवन को, सबके पीछे चली एक विकला मसोसती मन को।

उजड़ गये हों स्वप्न कि जैसे हार गयी हो दाँव, नहीं उठाये भी उठ पाते थे कुन्ती के पाँव।

The second chapter explains his study and relation with Parshuram and very interesting and sad part of his life when Parshuram Find out he is not Brahmin and curse him. The intensity of gratitude and love towards guru By Karna led to the anger of Parashurama brings the twist to the story.

Then Poem progresses through the main story of Mahabharata creating out main events and ends into Mahabharata war and ultimately the end of Karna by Arjuna. Many events like a meeting between Kunti and Karna especially touched my soul. The part of book which I read again, again and again, is an event when Lord Krishna Come to Hastinapura to make peace and asked 5 villages for the Pandavas but Duryodhana rejected offer and instead he ordered to chain Lord then Krishana says

“मैत्री की राह बताने को, सबको सुमार्ग पर लाने को,

दुर्योधन को समझाने को, भीषण विध्वंस बचाने को,

भगवान् हस्तिनापुर आये, पांडव का संदेशा लाये।

'दो न्याय अगर तो आधा दो, पर, इसमें भी यदि बाधा हो,

तो दे दो केवल पाँच ग्राम, रक्खो अपनी धरती तमाम।

हम वहीं खुशी से खायेंगे, परिजन पर असि न उठायेंगे!

दुर्योधन वह भी दे ना सका, आशिष समाज की ले न सका,

उलटे, हरि को बाँधने चला, जो था असाध्य, साधने चला।

जब नाश मनुज पर छाता है, पहले विवेक मर जाता है।

हरि ने भीषण हुंकार किया, अपना स्वरूप-विस्तार किया,

डगमग-डगमग दिग्गज डोले, भगवान् कुपित होकर बोले-

'जंजीर बढ़ा कर साध मुझे, हाँ, हाँ दुर्योधन! बाँध मुझे।

यह देख, गगन मुझमें लय है, यह देख, पवन मुझमें लय है,

मुझमें विलीन झंकार सकल, मुझमें लय है संसार सकल।

अमरत्व फूलता है मुझमें, संहार झूलता है मुझमें।

'उदयाचल मेरा दीप्त भाल,भूमंडल वक्षस्थल विशाल,

भुज परिधि-बन्ध को घेरे हैं, मैनाक-मेरु पग मेरे हैं।

दिपते जो ग्रह नक्षत्र निकर, सब हैं मेरे मुख के अन्दर।

'दृग हों तो दृश्य अकाण्ड देख, मुझमें सारा ब्रह्माण्ड देख,

चर-अचर जीव, जग, क्षर-अक्षर, नश्वर मनुष्य सुरजाति अमर।

शत कोटि सूर्य, शत कोटि चन्द्र, शत कोटि सरित, सर, सिन्धु मन्द्र।

For English readers, there is an English translation of the book is available by Mauritian cultural an activist Leela Gujadhur Sarup. But reading in native language has a different level of involvement. Overall book is really good if you want to start with Hindi literature. It's one of the best books I have read in recent Indian Literature.