લઘુકાવ્યો (દુહા-મુક્તક-હાઈકુ) Short Poems (Duha, Muktak, Haiku)

નાનું કાવ્ય, જેમાં થોડી પંક્તિમાં મોટો ભાવ ભરેલો હોય.

A laghukavya is a poem small in size, where a big feeling or experience is expressed in just a few lines. Saying much in few words is the charm of these forms. The reader must savour every word, for not one is wasted.

દુહો બે પંક્તિનું માત્રામેળ છંદનું લોકસ્વરૂપ; ટૂંકમાં મોટો બોધ આપે.

The duha is an old, well-loved metrical form of Gujarati-Rajasthani folk literature. It has two lines (four charans) in a matra metre. A duha often delivers a lesson of morality, valour, love or life briefly and strikingly. Being easy to memorise, it has survived on people's lips across generations.

મુક્તક એ સ્વતંત્ર, પૂર્ણ અર્થવાળું નાનું કાવ્ય; એક જ ભાવ ચોટ સાથે રજૂ કરે.

A muktak is an independent little poem complete in its own meaning. 'Muktak' means one that is not part of any larger work but is whole in itself. It is usually four lines and presents a single thought or feeling with a sharp point. The last line often carries the crux or a twist.

હાઈકુ ત્રણ પંક્તિ, ૫-૭-૫ = સત્તર અક્ષરનું જાપાની લઘુ કાવ્ય; પ્રકૃતિ-ક્ષણને ઝીલે.

The haiku is originally a very short Japanese poetic form, which Sneharashmi developed specially in Gujarati. It has three lines and seventeen syllables in all (5-7-5). A haiku usually paints a picture of nature or a fleeting moment and stirs a deep feeling in the reader's mind - much in little.

ત્રણેય સ્વરૂપોમાં ખૂબી એક જ - ઓછા શબ્દોમાં ઊંડો અર્થ.

Duha, muktak and haiku - though different in form, share one thing: deep meaning in few words. These poems are easy to remember and touch the mind like a flash. That is why these short forms remain popular even today.