Doha (poetry)
Doha (Hindi: दोहा, Urdu: دوہا ) is a form of self-contained rhyming couplet in poetry. This genre of poetry first became common in Apabhramsha and was commonly used in Hindi and Urdu poetry.
Among the most famous dohas are those of Sarahpa, Kabir, Rahim, Tulsidas, Jamiluddin Aali and Surdas.
A Doha is a couplet consisting of two lines, each of 24 instants (Matras). The rules for distinguishing light and heavy syllables is slightly different from Sanskrit. Each line has 13 instants in first part and 11 instants in the second. The first and third quarters of Doha have 13 instants which must parse as 6-4-3.
Many Hindi poets have created several books which explain whole stories and epics in the form of dohas. The most popular is Tulasidas' Ramcharitmanas, a popular rendition of the Sanskrit epic, Ramayana.
Examples
निन्द(३)क निय(३) रे (२) राखि(३)ए(२) आँगन (४) कुटी छ(४) वाय(३)==> 13/11
बिनु पा(४)नी सा(४) बुन बि(३) ना(२) निर्मल (४) करे सु(४) भाय(३)==> 13/11
[Parenthesized numbers indicate mAtraa-counts.]
Here is a Doha by Rahim:
जो रहीम उत्तम प्रकृति का कर सकत कुसंग |
2 121 211 111/ 2 11 111 121 ==> 13/11
चन्दन विष व्यापत नहीं लिपटे रहत भुजंग ||
211 11 211 12/ 112 111 121 ==> 13/11
Says Rahim, one who is of inherently noble nature, will remain unaffected even when he associates with bad people. The sandalwood plant does not absorb poison when the snakes wind around it.
See also
- Chaupai (poetry)
- Songs of realization
- Chhand (poetry)
- Doha (Indian literature)
External links
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