What do the singers bring as tribute in the first stanza of Men's Voices?

Songs and garlands and the gold of fields and fruit

What does "munificent" mean in the poem's praise of Surya as "bright and munificent lord of the morn"?

Extremely generous and bountiful

What does the phrase "Thine is the bounty that prospered our sowing" mean?

God's generous gift made their planting successful

The soil was poor but managed to grow crops

The seeds were given by the gods

What does the Women's Voices' address to Earth as "Sweet and omnipotent mother" suggest?

Earth is all-powerful and nurturing — both supremely mighty and gentle like a mother

Earth is only important for farming

Earth is the least powerful deity

What does "Thine is the womb where our riches have birth" mean in Women's Voices?

Women are responsible for wealth

The Earth's womb — her soil — is the source from which all crops and thus all wealth are born

All children are gifts of the Earth

What does the final All Voices stanza address Brahma as?

Lord of the Universe and Father eternal

What does the line "Thou art the Seed and the Scythe of our harvests" addressed to Brahma mean?

Brahma gives seeds and scythes as gifts

Brahma is both the beginning — the seed — and the end — the scythe of harvest — of all creation and sustenance

Brahma only gives tools to farmers

What is Surya associated with in the context of the poem?

The lotus and the morn — representing the sun and sunrise

How does the poem use the assignment of different deities to different aspects of agriculture to create a structured celebration?

By assigning Surya to the sun and sowing Varuna to rain and grain Prithvi to the earth and riches and Brahma to all of creation the poem creates a complete theological framework for the harvest

It shows the gods are in conflict

What is the significance of the poem being a "hymn" rather than a personal poem?

It is shorter than a personal poem

A hymn is a communal song of praise — the poem's form as a hymn mirrors the communal nature of a harvest which is celebrated by an entire farming community together

Hymns are more formal in grammar

How does Sarojini Naidu use the repetition of "We bring thee" and "we hail thee" throughout the poem?

The repetition creates a chant-like quality — rhythmically reinforcing the communal act of offering and praise and giving the poem a ritual ceremonial quality

The repetition shows limited vocabulary

What does the poem suggest about the farmers' understanding of the relationship between humans and nature?

The farmers see themselves as entirely dependent on divine forces — sun rain and earth — and approach nature with reverence gratitude and humility

Nature is an obstacle for farmers

How does the structure — moving from Men's Voices to Women's Voices to All Voices — create a sense of building unity?

It separates men and women permanently

The structure begins with divided voices that represent different aspects of nature's blessing and culminates in unified praise — suggesting that the harvest brings the whole community together in one voice

The structure creates disagreement

Men and women celebrate differently

What does the word "beneficent" mean in "great and beneficent lord of the main"?

Generously kind and doing good — especially as a ruler or deity

How does the poem use sensory imagery to create the atmosphere of a harvest celebration?

Through references to cymbals flutes drums gold garlands rain dewfall and the wealth of valleys ripened — the poem creates a rich multi-sensory picture of abundance and festivity

What does the phrase "Life of all life and all blessing" addressed to Brahma suggest about his position in the poem's theology?

Brahma is one of many equal gods

Brahma is presented as the supreme source — not just one deity among many but the underlying principle of all existence and all goodness

Which deities are praised in the poem and their respective domains?

Surya — sun and sowing / Varuna — rain and grain / Prithvi — earth and riches / Brahma — universe and all life

What does the poem suggest about the worldview of an agrarian community in its relationship with the divine?

Farmers have no connection to religion

An agrarian community sees every aspect of the harvest — from sunshine to rain to the earth's fertility — as divine blessing and responds with communal gratitude and ritual celebration

Farmers see nature as a mechanical process

Farmers only pray when crops fail

How does the poem function as both a celebration of nature and a form of spiritual philosophy?

The poem simultaneously describes the physical reality of the harvest and interprets it through a theological lens where each natural force is personified as divine — making it both an ecological and spiritual text

It describes farming techniques

What does the inclusion of four deities representing sun rain earth and the universe as a whole suggest about the poem's cosmic vision?

The poem is confused about religion

The poem presents a holistic vision where the divine is not a single force but a network of cosmic powers — each essential to the harvest — suggesting the farmers' worldview is both pluralistic and interconnected

The poem represents only Hindu mythology

How does Sarojini Naidu use language to elevate the ordinary act of harvest into a sublime spiritual experience?

By using technical agricultural terms

By using elevated vocabulary — munificent beneficent omnipotent ineffable — combined with rich imagery and ritual repetition she transforms the physical act of harvest into a transcendent communal prayer

By avoiding any religious language

NCERT Solutions Class 8 English - Poorvi Chapter 4.2 – Harvest Hymn

Name: Harvest Hymn – Class 8 English - Poorvi
Uploaded: 2026-07-24T09:24:20+00:00
Description: “Harvest Hymn” is a tribute to nature and its bounties, praising the sun, rain, earth, and the divine for nurturing crops and sustaining life. It celebrates gratitude, abundance, and the cycle of harvest.

Class 8 English - Poorvi

Last Updated: 24 July 2026

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Chapter Introduction

“Harvest Hymn” is a tribute to nature and its bounties, praising the sun, rain, earth, and the divine for nurturing crops and sustaining life. It celebrates gratitude, abundance, and the cycle of harvest.

हिंदी में (Hindi)

“हार्वेस्ट हाइम्न” प्रकृति और उसकी उपज की स्तुति है, जिसमें सूर्य, वर्षा, पृथ्वी और ईश्वर का धन्यवाद किया गया है। यह आभार, समृद्धि और फसल के चक्र का उत्सव है।

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Important Points

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Practice MCQ Questions (33 questions)

Q1. Who wrote the poem "Harvest Hymn"?

Q2. To which deity do the Men's Voices sing praise first in the poem?

Q3. To which deity do the Men's Voices sing praise second?

Q4. To which deity do the Women's Voices sing praise?

Q5. Which deity do All Voices praise together at the end of the poem?

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Tough Words (Glossary)

lotus

Meaning: A type of flower, sacred in India

अर्थ: कमल

"The lotus blooms in the pond."

munificent

Meaning: Very generous

अर्थ: अत्यंत उदार

"The king was munificent in his charity."

bounty

Meaning: Generous gifts or abundance

अर्थ: प्रचुरता / उपहार

"The farmers thanked God for the bounty of crops."

prospered

Meaning: To be successful and flourish

अर्थ: समृद्ध होना

"The village prospered after good rainfall."

sowing

Meaning: Planting seeds in the ground

अर्थ: बुवाई

"Farmers are busy in sowing seeds."

nurtured

Meaning: Cared for and helped to grow

अर्थ: पालन-पोषण करना

"The gardener nurtured the plants with love."

tribute

Meaning: A gift or praise to show respect

अर्थ: श्रद्धांजलि / भेंट

"They sang songs as a tribute to the hero."

garlands

Meaning: Strings of flowers

अर्थ: मालाएँ

"They welcomed the guests with garlands."

mellowing

Meaning: Becoming softer or gentler

अर्थ: परिपक्व होना

"The mellowing sun set behind the hills."

radiance

Meaning: Bright, glowing light

अर्थ: तेज / आभा

"The moon’s radiance lit up the sky."

cymbal

Meaning: A round brass instrument used in music

अर्थ: झांझ

"The musician struck the cymbal loudly."

beneficent

Meaning: Doing good, generous

अर्थ: कल्याणकारी

"The beneficent ruler cared for his people."

main

Meaning: The sea or ocean

अर्थ: समुद्र

"Sailors crossed the main to reach new lands."

cherished

Meaning: Loved and cared for deeply

अर्थ: संजोया हुआ

"She cherished the memories of her childhood."

furrows

Meaning: Narrow trenches in the soil for planting

अर्थ: मेड़ / हल की लकीरें

"Farmers made furrows in the field for seeds."

fostered

Meaning: Encouraged or promoted growth

अर्थ: पोषित किया

"The teacher fostered creativity in her students."

valleys

Meaning: Low areas between hills

अर्थ: घाटियाँ

"The valleys were full of flowers."

dewfall

Meaning: The fall of dew drops in the night

अर्थ: ओस गिरना

"The grass was wet from the dewfall."

omnipotent

Meaning: All-powerful

अर्थ: सर्वशक्तिमान

"God is believed to be omnipotent."

plentiful

Meaning: Available in large quantities

अर्थ: प्रचुर मात्रा में

"Mangoes are plentiful in summer."

opulent

Meaning: Rich and luxurious

अर्थ: वैभवशाली

"The palace was filled with opulent furniture."

manifold

Meaning: Many and varied

अर्थ: अनेक प्रकार का

"The project faced manifold challenges."

ineffable

Meaning: Too great to be expressed in words

अर्थ: अकथनीय

"The beauty of the sunrise was ineffable."

scythe

Meaning: A tool with a curved blade for cutting crops

अर्थ: दरांती

"The farmer cut the wheat with a scythe."

succour

Meaning: Help in times of need

अर्थ: सहायता

"The charity provided succour to the homeless."

counsel

Meaning: Advice or guidance

अर्थ: परामर्श

"He gave me good counsel during hard times."

hail

Meaning: To greet or praise enthusiastically

अर्थ: जयकार करना / अभिनंदन करना

"The crowd hailed the leader with cheers."

eternal

Meaning: Lasting forever

अर्थ: शाश्वत

"The soul is eternal."

bosom

Meaning: The chest or heart, symbol of closeness

अर्थ: वक्षस्थल / हृदय

"She held the baby close to her bosom."

ineffable Om

Meaning: The sacred sound beyond words

अर्थ: अकथनीय ॐ

"Saints meditate on the ineffable Om."

NCERT Solutions Class 8 English - Poorvi Chapter 4.2 – Harvest Hymn

Chapter Introduction

Watch Video Lecture

Important Points

Practice MCQ Questions (33 questions)

Q1. Who wrote the poem "Harvest Hymn"?

Q2. To which deity do the Men's Voices sing praise first in the poem?

Q3. To which deity do the Men's Voices sing praise second?

Q4. To which deity do the Women's Voices sing praise?

Q5. Which deity do All Voices praise together at the end of the poem?

Q6. What do the singers bring as tribute in the first stanza of Men's Voices?

Q7. What instruments are mentioned in the poem for praising Surya?

Q8. What instruments are mentioned for praising Varuna?

Q9. What instruments are mentioned for praising Prithvi?

Q10. What instruments are mentioned for praising Brahma in All Voices?

Q11. What does "munificent" mean in the poem's praise of Surya as "bright and munificent lord of the morn"?

Q12. What does the phrase "Thine is the bounty that prospered our sowing" mean?

Q13. What does the Women's Voices' address to Earth as "Sweet and omnipotent mother" suggest?

Q14. What does "Thine is the womb where our riches have birth" mean in Women's Voices?

Q15. How many separate groups of voices are used in the poem?

Q16. What does the final All Voices stanza address Brahma as?

Q17. What does the line "Thou art the Seed and the Scythe of our harvests" addressed to Brahma mean?

Q18. What do the All Voices bring as tribute to Brahma?

Q19. What do All Voices ask Brahma to grant them?

Q20. What is Surya associated with in the context of the poem?

Q21. How does the poem use the assignment of different deities to different aspects of agriculture to create a structured celebration?

Q22. What is the significance of the poem being a "hymn" rather than a personal poem?

Q23. How does Sarojini Naidu use the repetition of "We bring thee" and "we hail thee" throughout the poem?

Q24. What does the poem suggest about the farmers' understanding of the relationship between humans and nature?

Q25. How does the structure — moving from Men's Voices to Women's Voices to All Voices — create a sense of building unity?

Q26. What does the word "beneficent" mean in "great and beneficent lord of the main"?

Q27. How does the poem use sensory imagery to create the atmosphere of a harvest celebration?

Q28. What does the phrase "Life of all life and all blessing" addressed to Brahma suggest about his position in the poem's theology?

Q29. Which deities are praised in the poem and their respective domains?

Q30. What does the poem suggest about the worldview of an agrarian community in its relationship with the divine?

Q31. How does the poem function as both a celebration of nature and a form of spiritual philosophy?

Q32. What does the inclusion of four deities representing sun rain earth and the universe as a whole suggest about the poem's cosmic vision?

Q33. How does Sarojini Naidu use language to elevate the ordinary act of harvest into a sublime spiritual experience?