Rashmirathi
March 24, 2006 at 3:29 pm blackmamba 63 comments
Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’
Listen (to Manas Baveja read)
The text can be found here( in pdf, 6 MB)[1] and some more cantos here (in pdf)[2].
Rashmirathi (The Sun Charioteer[3]) describes the events that lead to the war in Kurukshetra. It starts with Lord Krishna’s failed attempt at negotiating peace with the Kauravs. This failure leads Krishna to Karn, Kunti’s firstborn, the one she abandons as a child. He tries to woo Karn away from his friend Duryodhan. Karn strongly refuses to leave his friend and goes on to explain why he could not, would not, do that.
Mahabharat is high drama and controlled chaos at its very best, an intricate spider web. There are so many side stories, all of which link into each other, they help build and are built upon one another. Every one of these stories is more convoluted and complicated than the other. Hear one story and boom! you are trapped.
Growing up in India, there were stories from the Mahabharat in school, the television, comic books, school plays, films, in every language under the sun. But the voice of a great storyteller can make the same stories magically and tantalizingly new. And, Dinkar is among the best and most vibrant storytellers.
Then, there is this one poem from my 8th or 9th grade hindi textbook – Krishn ki Chetavani (which I discover now, with great glee, was in fact a snippet from Rashmirathi.) This is when Lord Krishna goes to the Kaurava court to try and negotiate peace. Things don’t turn out as planned (well, they never do in this epic). And he storms out of the court predicting a war like no other, the crazy violence, the bloodshed and the unfathomable destruction. Dinkar’s lines remain etched in my memory to this day.
The other cantos are new to me. Heard them for the first time, when I recieved these recordings from Manas and Sanket. The dialogue between Karn and Krishna, is simply spectacular.
Reciting hindi poetry is a fine art. One must do it with just the right amount of fire and anger, while maintaining a pace that tickles the mind, teases it to keep up and then, not forget to tell the story. So here, the first hindi poem on our blog :) Enjoy!
Wiki on Dinkar here.
[1] These are scanned images of the text Manas reads from and failed attempts at finding them online.
[2] Originally from here, and has been archived on our blog, as the downloads seem to be flaky.
[3] Yes, it has been translated! The English translation is equally hard to come by though. :(
[blackmamba]
Entry filed under: Black Mamba, Hindi, Manas Baveja, Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar'.
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pō\'ĭ-trē 
1.
PPM | March 24, 2006 at 3:44 pm
wonderful post mate. lovd it thoroughly. you have a good writing style.
2.
Falstaff | March 24, 2006 at 5:59 pm
WOW! That was absolutely brilliant. Such rhythm, such power. A truly glorious poem.
The pdf site didn’t seem to work too well though.
3.
The Black Mamba | March 24, 2006 at 7:02 pm
Thank you! Thanks to – Manas and Sanket!
And the pdf link is flaky, so have archived it with the recording and updated the link. It should work now.
4.
Pooja | June 1, 2006 at 4:49 pm
Krishna kii Chetavani is one of my favorites too. This was the poem that got me interested in Dinkar, and it will be not be an overstatement that my reflections on his Kurukshetra have had more effect on my mind than all worldly education combined. I remember two thirds kurukshetra by-heart, and that’s a compliment not just to the content but as much to the rhythm, the pace, the vigor with which the poet discusses the philosophy and throws references to what Mahabharat stands for.
My kudos for starting this thread.
5.
Confused | June 12, 2006 at 2:10 am
Blackmamba,
I cannot thank you enough for this glorious poem. I have already heard it twice and cannot get enough. What power, what images!
6. Life is a street car named Desire » Poetry Time | July 7, 2006 at 3:04 am
[…] And yes, if you have ever read Ramdhani Singh Dinkar and his immortal Rashmirathi, you absolutely cannot miss this rendition. […]
7.
Kavita | July 30, 2011 at 3:35 pm
I have read Rashmirathi as part of my M.A. and Now even after so many years, I am looking for to read it again…It does just etch on your mind…Thanks!
8.
Amitabh | July 20, 2006 at 11:33 pm
I heard Manas Baveja’s rendition of Rashmirathi. Good attempt but couldn’t be further from my grandfather’s rendition of Rashmirathi. I have heard both my grandfather (Dinkarji) and father’s rendition of Rashmirathi. Did you know that in early years Dinkarji used to recite Rashmirathi by singing it? I still have some old scratchy rendition of Nilkusum and Parashuram ki Prateeksha on tape. I wish I could make it available at your web site for everyone to hear.
Keep up the good work!
9.
Lalan | May 2, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Its nice to know you are grandson of Dinkarji. Rashmirathi is my favorite poem.
10.
Anvita | August 5, 2009 at 11:21 am
yes, i was just talkng to vibha chachi and she told me how aditya mamu n bhola mamu use to recite .. she added, it was poweful and worth listening as they had better voice than mr amitabh bachchan..
11.
Brajendra | May 12, 2010 at 9:11 am
My dear Ami,
The kind GOD has favoured you to be the grand son of great Dinkar.I had the oppotunity to hear Dinkar in MFP. I am fond of his poetry .I have read Rashmi..,Parshuram…….Urvashi ,etc and Sanskriti ke char……Dinkar provided glory to hindi poem.I want a society to be formed to propagate Dinkar’s creation among new generation.Will you take a lead?
12.
M. Sarkar | August 13, 2006 at 3:38 pm
Rashmirathi- The immoral epic on Karna by Rashra Kavi overwhelmed me as a child of twelve years, way back in 1972. My journney of reading more literature on Maharathi Karna commenced. I read Mrinytunjay by Shivaji Sawant, Karna- Kunti Samwad by Tagore himself etc.
13.
Anita Om | August 22, 2006 at 4:48 pm
Shandar prayaas hai,jiski bahut dino se pratiksha thi,aaj mere bete ke prayaas se mujhe yeh site mili hai,thanks a lot,mai bhi shamil hona chati hun…bataiyega kya karna hai?
14.
blackmamba | August 23, 2006 at 2:14 am
Anita Om: Thank you! Shamil hona bahut aasaan hai. Aap koi bhi kavita record kijiye and email kar dijiye. Aur Jaankari yahaan :https://audiopoetry.wordpress.com/faq/
15.
MUKHIYA JEE | September 13, 2006 at 7:08 am
Excellent :)
16.
bharat srivastava | December 15, 2006 at 3:57 am
kudos to u people..
i was searching 4 rashmirathi from the time i read “krishna ki chetawani”..
i must admit that u r doin agr8 service for hindi poetry lovers…
17.
Umesh Kumar | December 26, 2006 at 2:20 am
This is very good. Thank you very much.
18.
Hare Ram Ray | December 31, 2006 at 6:28 pm
I was searching Rashmi Rathi since many months. Enter a search on googles and got which was most awaited. The audi tape by Manas is very good, I would suggest to be bit slow
Regards,
Hare
USA
19.
lalan | January 15, 2007 at 9:29 pm
bahut achha . bahut khoob. rashirathi is so alive to me.
in class 8th we use to read rashmirathi,
karan is always my favorite.
dinkarji is great.
if any has more resources about rashmirathi or karan..please email me at lkindia@yahoo.com.
20.
soni | January 20, 2007 at 5:54 am
dear if you want to read more about KARAN than u must read MRITUNJNAY.
Regards
21.
Tushar. | February 19, 2007 at 10:04 am
Rashmirathi is avery nice poem. The recitation is excellent. Please recite the other parts also.
22.
daisy | May 8, 2007 at 8:18 am
it is mind blowing…
23.
Animesh Singh | July 4, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Excellent work…. Thank You.
Can anyone tell where to find Rashmirathi Saptam Sarga?
24.
Animesh Singh | July 4, 2007 at 1:11 pm
I mean the audio for Saptam Sarga
25.
sprana | July 20, 2007 at 4:31 am
this is best i like it too much
26.
sprana | July 20, 2007 at 4:32 am
this is very nice
27.
Animesh Singh | August 2, 2007 at 7:51 am
Hi,
Still waiting for my queries.
Also can anyone tell how to contact “Manas Baveja”
28.
blackmamba | August 3, 2007 at 12:11 am
Animesh googling the name would do, I think.
29.
Manas | August 3, 2007 at 6:45 am
Hey Animesh,
Apologies for the delayed response. I have tried recording the Saptam Sarga, still in the works man…Saptam Sarga is so powerful that everytime I recite it I feel I have not done justice to it. In case you wish to contact me, do not send me an email at my Stanford account, it expires in 2 days…send an email at (dot) (at) gmail (dot) com…ofcourse my first name and last name
Blackmamba: hope you are doing fine, you r doing a great job with the site, keep it up…Hope I will able to send you my version of the Saptam Sarga soon.
30.
rahul | August 31, 2007 at 9:10 am
hi all………..awesom poet,,,,,,,it,s very touch to heart.when i was listening i was not here i was in kuruchatre dinker ji is great poet they actually know how to play with words.
Thanks
rahul
31.
Vineet Agrwal | November 23, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Manas
Let us have a live recital. You rock
Vineet
32.
Sharang Dhar Sharma | November 26, 2007 at 6:53 am
Rashmi rathi == is my ideal guide line for my life .
I am electronics engineer working as project manager .
jati jati kaya puch rahe hoo .Jati puchana hoo to puch mere bhuj dand koo.
what you are asking about my cast if at all you want to know about my cast ask the power of my arms .it indicates the Karma of human beings . i realy love this poem and the great poed Dr Ramdhari singh Dinker.from Munger (Bihar) india.
I will be greatful if some one can provide me its hindi font poem regards
Sahrang (project manager)
33.
ajit | February 9, 2008 at 9:41 am
Rashmi rathi == is my ideal guide line for my life .
34.
Sharad | February 14, 2008 at 3:05 am
Wow. This has been my favourite poem since childhood and having read in my school days I memorized this. I don’t know how i stumbled on this site and listened to the rendition by Manas Baweja.. Fantastic effort. Kudos to Blackmamba and team for the fine effort. You guys are amazing…
35.
Sudhir Ashta | April 1, 2008 at 3:34 pm
It is a wonderful effort. I studied at a small Rajasthan School in Bagar. I read the Poem in 1972 as it was a Lesson in our Text Book then, in the Class VIII. It was learnt by all by heart and we used to recite it a lot. Times changed, Locations changed. I moved to Jaipur and then to Baroda, Mumbai, Assam & Mumbai. The Poetry kept ringing within me and my memories. Peesa Jaata Jab Ikshu Dand.. Behti Ras Kee Dhaara Akhand. I tried to locate the poetry.. the Book or the Collection.. no result… now in this part of the world.. money is more powerful than the words. I was making frantic efforts to search the web by providing different “Clues”.. day-in-n-day-out… and finally on 01-04-2008, I got the poetry..here..on this site… Could not believe myself… could not believe my eyes that I have located this piece.. Thanks so much.. so very much. Keep it up.
36.
Arun Kaimal | April 22, 2008 at 11:13 am
Its a great work .Heard this first from a friend in college . was good to find the whole poem .
Thank You Very Much
37.
Mahipal | April 30, 2008 at 11:49 am
Rashmi Rathi is the best creation of Dr. Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Dinkar is my favourie poet. I offenly hum the excerpts of the opem.
Thank you very much.
38.
Lalita | July 23, 2008 at 8:05 pm
We were honored to have Manas recite from Rashmirathi at the wedding of our daughter to his friend recently .It was electrifying and all we can say is a big Thank you Manas for bringing to life this great piece of our heritage from Ramdari Singh Dinkar
39.
sridhar | July 25, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Why is the whole book not scanned? Why does the PDF file start from page 32? I wish i could read the whole book from page 1.
40.
shashi kant | August 7, 2008 at 9:09 pm
rashmirathi is my ever green kavya i read , iwanted to read some more from dinkar .
41.
shashi kant | August 7, 2008 at 9:23 pm
rashmirathi is my ever green kavya i read , iwanted to read some more from dinkar .
due to i always away from my country and very busy too even i try to always memorise. what a fantastic creation .
thank u mr. dinkar
42.
sanjeev | September 27, 2008 at 7:12 am
Great poem Great rend
It remind you the power of great compositions
I wish I can get access to all poem wj\hich we learned during our school days I tried a lot bot could not get much on net
this poem is graet – a story and philosphy also
43.
shashiyadav | October 7, 2008 at 10:00 am
Ramdhari singh dinkar is the great poeat.
44.
aparajita | October 17, 2008 at 9:16 am
i first heard a rendition of rashmirathi by a friend on a guitar.needless to say it was a passionate performance.one of the most beautiful lines written.i almost go into a nameless trance whenever i read rashmirathi.im now a proud owner of a copy and ill cherish it forever for the kind of passion it evoked in me which i felt never existed.one of the greatest poems ever written
45.
SATYENDRA KUMAR | February 19, 2009 at 7:48 am
sansar ki jitni v aouj purn kavita hai usme dinkar ki kavita ka koi j
ora nahi.itne sadharan word se itani achachhi kavita hona ashambhav hai. chalo aek meri kavita v suno. chukana agar mullay tujhe mata ke dular aur mamta ka . to la do sansar me aek bar. phir wahi tareta ka ram raj. jan jan me la do phir wahi satya dharm bart aek bar. tum maa ke dudh nahi to payar ke karj se mukt dikho ge jag me pahli bar.
46.
SATYENDRA KUMAR | February 19, 2009 at 7:50 am
wah biplav ki kavita tujh achachha ko likh hi nahi sakta
47.
vinay kumar sharma | April 5, 2009 at 5:23 pm
this rhythem is realy a fantastic i like it and givs thanks
48.
siddhartha | May 12, 2009 at 6:49 pm
this is just one chapter. it is beautifully rendered. can we have more? i mean the entire poem and other poems too!
49.
Swasti | June 2, 2009 at 8:04 pm
woww! :)
50.
Swasti | June 2, 2009 at 8:09 pm
ditto siddharta!
51.
anvita | August 1, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Dinkar the true sunshine. Manas, your contribution to his poetry has added to the beauty to it.. keep up you work.. this one is for my daughter. waiting for more to come. thanks
52.
Anvita | August 1, 2009 at 4:07 pm
रात यों कहने लगा मुझसे गगन का चाँद,
आदमी भी क्या अनोखा जीव होता है!
उलझनें अपनी बनाकर आप ही फँसता,
और फिर बेचैन हो जगता, न सोता है। this one is for all of us,, very true even now.
53.
swapnil Deshpande | August 13, 2009 at 7:12 am
i wanted thi since years i got it fiannlly… thanks…
54.
Enthusiast | October 31, 2009 at 3:14 am
Why are you fighting in the poem???? yeh kavita path nahi kavita yudh hai… aapne kabhi kavita path kiya hai… aisa lag raha hai koi pandit shloko se yudh kar raha hai… AAP NE MARM (THEME) KHO DIYA… AISA GAYA HAI… AAP KO KRISHAN KI CHETAVANI TO YAAD THI TO WOH THODA CHAL RAHI HAI PAR BAKI NAHI… puri yaad kar ke marm nikalo bhai ji… nyways great attempt… main jaldi koshish karunga is kavita ko upload karne ki
55.
Enthusiast | October 31, 2009 at 3:17 am
Varn vichar ko samjhe… laghu guru ko samjhe… tab maja ayega
56.
What connects Anurag Kashyap, Rashmirathi and Les Liaisons Dangereuses? « Gonzo – Using an unconventional, exaggerated and highly subjective style, often when the reporter is part of the story | December 14, 2009 at 12:07 pm
[…] Complete audio rendition of Rashmirathi. And scanned copy of the text (parts). Links here. Youtube link of oration by Manas […]
57.
amit(sunny) | January 10, 2011 at 11:56 am
audio clip seems to be scary…there is a very fine line between enthusiastic poetry and vociferous one.it has really taken down the real grace of dinkar sir’s poem.his poems are always like magma down the veins….however i appreciate the attempt made by you people…it’s actually not your fault.its the aura created by dinkar poem that never allows us to accept the the thing that is not up-to the level of imagination that generate while going through his poetry.
58.
empangeni accommodation | August 1, 2011 at 6:51 am
Hi there, You have done a great job. I’ll definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m confident they’ll be benefited from this web site.
59.
Punyodaya Singh | August 2, 2011 at 6:52 pm
awesome poem ever written…
60.
achint | July 26, 2012 at 10:07 am
this is awesome to say the least..but i have been waiting for years now for the other parts to be posted..plz tell me when u r doing so..thanks..
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