कुछ काम करो / Do Some Work

Today I’m going to share an inspiring poem written by the famous Hindi poet, Shri Maithili Sharan Gupt, who was once called by Gandhi ji “Rashtra Kavi” (The Poet of the Nation). He has written several uplifting poems, mostly based on patriotic and religious themes. His prominent works include Saket, Panchavati, Yashodhara, Bharat Bharti etc.

Maithili Sharan Gupt

This is the poem I used to read and quote during my school and college days. I had memorised it then, and have not yet forgotten. The poem used to fill us with zeal and enthusiasm. Here it is with English translation…

कुछ काम करो, कुछ काम करो
जग में रह कर कुछ नाम करो
यह जन्म हुआ किस अर्थ अहो
समझो जिसमें यह व्यर्थ न हो
कुछ तो उपयुक्त करो तन को
नर हो, न निराश करो मन को।

संभलो कि सुयोग न जाय चला
कब व्यर्थ हुआ सदुपाय भला
समझो जग को न निरा सपना
पथ आप प्रशस्त करो अपना
अखिलेश्वर है अवलंबन को
नर हो, न निराश करो मन को।

जब प्राप्त तुम्हें सब तत्त्व यहाँ
फिर जा सकता वह सत्त्व कहाँ
तुम स्वत्त्व सुधा रस पान करो
उठके अमरत्व विधान करो
दवरूप रहो भव कानन को
नर हो न निराश करो मन को।

निज गौरव का नित ज्ञान रहे
हम भी कुछ हैं यह ध्यान रहे
मरणोंत्‍तर गुंजित गान रहे
सब जाय अभी पर मान रहे
कुछ हो न तजो निज साधन को
नर हो, न निराश करो मन को।

प्रभु ने तुमको कर दान किए
सब वांछित वस्तु विधान किए
तुम प्राप्‍त करो उनको न अहो
फिर है यह किसका दोष कहो
समझो न अलभ्य किसी धन को
नर हो, न निराश करो मन को।

किस गौरव के तुम योग्य नहीं
कब कौन तुम्हें सुख भोग्य नहीं
जन हो तुम भी जगदीश्वर के
सब है जिसके अपने घर के
फिर दुर्लभ क्या उसके जन को
नर हो, न निराश करो मन को।

करके विधि वाद न खेद करो
निज लक्ष्य निरन्तर भेद करो
बनता बस उद्‌यम ही विधि है
मिलती जिससे सुख की निधि है
समझो धिक् निष्क्रिय जीवन को
नर हो, न निराश करो मन को
कुछ काम करो, कुछ काम करो।

– मैथिली शरण गुप्त
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

Hawa Mahal

Do some work, do some work
living in this world create your name
what is the purpose of your birth?
understand and don’t waste it
make some use of your body
you’re a human being, don’t lose heart

Be careful that the opportunity is not lost
a good effort never goes waste
don’t take the world only as a dream
be the guide of your own path
God of the world is your refuge
you’re a human being, don’t lose heart

When you have got all the elements here
then where can the basic ingredient go?
drink the nectar of your existence
awake and achieve immortality
be like god in this forest of the world
you’re a human being, don’t lose heart

You should know your pride
be aware that you’re also special
your songs should reverberate even after death
honour should remain intact even if you lose everything
whatever may happen but don’t leave your effort
you’re a human being, don’t lose heart

God has given you hands
He has created all the things you wished
oh! if you can’t achieve them
then tell me whose fault it is
don’t think anything unachievable
you’re a human being, don’t lose heart

Which is the glory you are not capable of?
which is the happiness that you cannot enjoy?
you are also the progeny of God
like others you also belong to His own family
what cannot be achieved by His own people?
you’re a human being, don’t lose heart

Don’t feel sorry discussing about fate
always aim at your destination
your hard work only becomes your fate
only then you can get the treasure of happiness
understand it and condemn the inactive life
you’re a human being, don’t lose heart
do some work, do some work…

The Taj and Gateway of India

–Maithili Sharan Gupt

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