Introduction
Here are 5 Poems from Madhushala that I have collected and tried to explain the meaning in this post. Moreover, I have a feeling and my interpretation of Madhushala by Harivansh Rai Bachchan. I tried to put the meaning of the Madhushala poems that I have selected. Let us see the 20 poems from Madhushala and their meaning.
Table of Contents
Madhushala by Harivansh Rai Bachchan
I have written a post on Harivansh Rai Bachchan and hope you have already gone through it. I have translated some poems and found deep meaning inscribed in these poems. You must read my posts like Agnipath and Need Ka Nirman Fir-Fir and comment or provide suggestions.
Returning to the topic, Madhushala is a collection of quatrain poems, and each quatrain is a complete poem. Harivansh Rai Bachchan would have worked very hard to write and had a super imaginary power, so he came up with lines inspired by life.
Madhushala has 135 quatrains (called rubai in Hindi). Madhushala means a place to drink. A place to drink alcohol. In all his quatrains of Madhhushala, Harivansh Rai Bachchan has mentioned words like Saaki, Haala, Madhughat, Pyala, and Madhushala.
Saaki means the girl who serves alcohol. Haala is the alcohol itself, and Madhughat is the jar using which the alcohol is served. Pyala is a glass to drink, mainly made of an earthen pot. Madhushala is the place to drink.
Harivansh Rai Bachchan is said to be the best poet of Chhayavaad. This means he was an illusionist of the words. In my view, he has written Madhushala, which became famous as people think it is about drinking. However, in my view, it is spirituality or humanity that Harivansh Rai Bachchan wants to denote. In some places, it denotes freedom of thought and an independent life.
Somewhere, we are making a mistake in taking the literal meaning of Madhushala. Let us see if I can derive some meaning related to life from his poems. I have collected 5 poems from Madhushala or 5 quatrains from Madhushala and tried to explain.
#1. Madushala Rubai – Love and Compassion
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“Pyaas tujhe to, Vishwa tapakar purna nikalunga haala, Ek paaon se saaki bankar naachunga lekar pyala, Jeevan ki madhuta to tere oopar kabka vaar chuka, aaj nichhawar kar doonga main tujhpar jag ki madhushala.”
Interpreted Meaning (Madhushala Meaning in English)
This is an expression of love where the poet says, if you want to drink, or if you are thirsty, I will extract the nectar of the world and bring it for you. I will dance on one foot with holding the glass in my hands. I have already given you the sweetness of my life. Today, I will bring and sacrifice if there is pure nectar in the world.
If you demand, I will bring all the luxuries for you. The life is boundless and flowing with the life is similar to the sense that you get after drinking alcohol. That the poet says that he has already sacrificed for his beloved, which means his life’s goals and meanings are for his beloved. Moreover, whatever the worldly matters he is involved in and takes pleasure with. All are for the beloved.
#2. Madhushala Rubai – Salvation and Inner-Peace
Madiralaya Jaane Ko Ghar Se Chalta Hai Peenewala, Kis Path se Jaaun? Asmanjas Me Hai Wah Bhola-Bhala, Alag-Alag Path Batlate Sab Par Main Yeh Batlata Hoon – Raah Pakad Tu Ek Chala Chal, Paa Jaayega MadhuShala.
If you look at the literal meaning of this poem, here it describes a person searching for a place to drink. He is unsure about the path to take. People are telling him different ways; however, I (the poet) tell him to follow only one path and he will be able to reach the Madhushala or the place to drink.
Interpreted Meaning (Madhushala Meaning in English)
The lines are simple, however, a word maestro like Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s word would make some meaning to me. As per me, these lines are following a path of spirituality and the ultimate goal is to achieve peace or salvation. Here the Madhushala means salvation or peace.
Anyone, who is confused about the path or the spiritual path that he wants to take to achieve inner peace or salvation. He is asking many people or looking for many sources to achieve it. Like, following a religious practice, maybe the understanding of right and wrong. With different views and suggestions of people, he is confused. However, the poet suggests, whatever path you select or take, stick to the path and ultimately you will be able to reach the final goal. (Madhushala here is the inner peace)
What do you think? Please comment.
#3. Madhushala Rubai – Dreams and Aspirations
Haathon me aane se pehle naaz dikhayega pyala, adharon par aane se pehle ada dikhayegi haala, Bahutere inkaar karega saaki aane se pehle, pathik, na ghabra jana, pehle maan karegi madhushala.
Such simple lines, and I do not think it is so simple. Before you can hold the glass in your hands, the glass will refuse many times. Before you can take a gulp or sip the Haala (Alcoholic drink) it will refuse too. Many times the saaki (the woman to serve the drink) will refuse. But, be patient, before you can enter Madhushala, it will refuse in the beginning.
Interpreted Meaning (Madhushala Meaning in English)
Here Madhushala means something you want to achieve. A dream to achieve. Pyala is the object or resource that will enable you to achieve the goal. Haala is the essence of your dreams. Saaki is the help you need to get success. All these things make a dream or a goal that you want to achieve. Initially, all these things will be tough to get and you will feel that the dream is impossible to achieve. But, you need to hold your dreams and aspirations. You should not panic or lose patience. Initially, every goal in life seems to be impossible.
This is a meaning that I was able to draw. What do you think?
#4. Madhushala Rubai – Self-Realization
Dharmagranth sab jala chuki hai, jiske antar ki jwala. Mandir, Masjid, Girje, sab ko jo tod chuka jo matwala. Pandit, momin, padariyon ke fande ko jo kaat chuka. Kar sakti hai aaj usi ka swagat meri madhushala.
The one whose inner sense has burnt the religious texts. In his thoughts, the one who has demolished the religious places. The one who is free from so-called religious preachers or priests. He is the only one welcomed into my Madhhushala.
Interpreted Meaning (Madhushala Meaning in English)
Seriously! after so many writings on religion, and getting free from religion, Harivansh Rai Bachchan welcomes you to a place to drink? No! this is not the actual meaning as per my understanding.
Here Madhushala is self-realization in my views. A person can attain self-realization or he is welcomed to self-realization, if he is free from all other factors. Self-realization cannot be done by religious texts or following a traditional practice without knowing its cause. Going to temples, mosques, and churches is not going to help either. Taking the help of priests, momins or the father of the churches will not help you either. Someone, who is free from all these factors and walks on his path and thoughts can achieve self-realization.
I have written 2 posts on Swami Vivekananda and Swami Vivekananda’s Transformation to a Monk. When he talks about self-realization, it is free from all boundaries. I think that is worth reading.
#5. Madhushala Rubai – An Experience of Life
Bina piye jo Madhushala ko Bura kahe, wah matwala, pee lene par to uske muh par pad jaayega taala, daas drohiyon dono me hai jeet sura ki, pyale ki, vishwavijayini bankar jag me aayi meri madhushala.
If someone says bad about Madhushala is senseless. If he drinks he will be able to understand and would not be able to speak a word. People serving you and your enemies, both are defeated by the drink and the glass. My Madhushala is the one who conquered the world.
Interpreted Meaning (Madhushala Meaning in English)
Here Madhushala is my experience of life, or can say the poet’s experience of life? Someone who has not experienced what I have experienced, and condemns my thoughts is a senseless being. Do not care about such foolish people. If he had experienced the way I have experienced life, he would not be able to speak even a word wrong about it.
People below you or the people who envy you, cannot reach your level. Someone below you or serving you, respects you, because you faced life and your experience of life is better than theirs. Someone, who envies you has not gone through your experience. So, in both places and with both kinds of people, your own experience of life matters. So, my experience of life is superior to anyone’s life in this world.
These lines give you self-confidence. Your experience of life is yours and it is better than anyone’s experience, because, you too can never experience anyone’s life.
Do you think, I am making a sense? If yes, please comment.
Conclusion – Madhushala Meaning
There are 135 rubai or quatrians in Madhushala. I have read Madhushala multiple times. Madhushala Meaning in different quatrains or rubai is different. Somewhere, Mashushala means desires, somewhere it means life, somewhere it means freedom.
As I wrote earlier, my experience of life cannot be your experience of life. So, you should must read and trust me, Mashushala meaning will change the way of life you live.
Moreover, I do not think that a maestro like Harivansh Rai Bachchan would have spent his life writing praise of a place to drink (bar). There are hidden meanings of Madhushala that you need to find out. I am giving a few more rubais here, think and interpret your meaning. I would love to hear that.
| A | B | C | D | E |
| F | G | H | I | J |
| K | L | M | N | O |
| P | Q | R | S | T |
| U | V | W | X | Y |
| Z |
