Harvest Hymn Class 8: Summary, Themes, Explanation & Question Answers | NCERT Poorvi
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Summary of "Harvest Hymn"
The poem presents a beautiful and devotional celebration of nature, agriculture, human labour and the divine forces that sustain life. The speakers express their gratitude for the blessings that make their harvests prosperous. The Sun, rain and Earth are presented as essential sources of nourishment, while human beings contribute their labour to cultivate and harvest the land.
The poem begins with the people praising Surya, the Sun God, whose light and warmth help their crops grow and ripen. They acknowledge that the abundance of their fields and fruits is a divine blessing and offer songs, garlands and the produce of their harvest as expressions of gratitude. They then praise Varuna, associated with rain and water, recognising that rainfall and dew nourish the furrows and help their grain flourish. The wealth gathered from their fertile valleys is offered as a tribute.
The women's voices then turn towards Prithvi, Mother Earth, who is portrayed as a nurturing mother. Her fertile soil gives birth to crops and provides humanity with food and countless resources. The women offer their love, garlands and the gifts received from the Earth's abundance. Through this imagery, the poet emphasises the close relationship between human beings and the Earth and presents nature as a generous provider.
Finally, all the voices unite in praise of Brahma, the supreme divine power and source of all life. The divine is presented as the creator and sustainer of the universe. The references to the “Seed” and the “Scythe” symbolise the complete cycle of agriculture—from sowing and growth to harvesting. The people offer not only material gifts but also their lives and labour, seeking divine guidance, support and care.
Overall, the poem conveys a powerful message of gratitude, devotion and harmony between human beings, nature and the divine. It shows that a successful harvest depends upon the combined blessings of sunlight, rain and fertile Earth, along with human effort. Through its rich natural and spiritual imagery, the poem reminds us to respect nature, value human labour and remain grateful for the forces that sustain life.
Theme Explanation
Faith and Devotion
Faith and devotion form one of the central themes of the poem. The people have deep and unwavering faith in the divine power that governs their lives and provides them with prosperity. They recognise that their successful harvest, food, happiness, and well-being are not achieved through human effort alone but are also blessings of a higher power. The repeated references to the divine as the “lord” of the harvest, lotus, and morning show the people's reverence and dependence on the divine. Their devotion is expressed through songs, prayers, garlands, and offerings. The poem therefore presents religion not merely as a personal belief but as an important part of the community's life. Their faith gives them hope, gratitude, and a sense of security. It also teaches that human beings should remain humble and acknowledge the forces beyond their control that contribute to their happiness and prosperity.
Nature and Agriculture
Nature and agriculture are closely connected throughout the poem. The poet presents the natural world as the foundation of human existence and prosperity. Images of sowing, crops, harvest, rain, morning, and fertile land emphasise the importance of nature in sustaining human life. Agriculture is shown as a collective activity that depends on favourable natural conditions. Farmers may work hard to cultivate the land, but the success of their efforts ultimately depends on rain, sunlight, fertile soil, and the changing seasons. The poem beautifully reflects the traditional relationship between rural communities and nature, where the cycle of human life is closely linked with the agricultural cycle. Nature is therefore not presented merely as a background but as a life-giving force. Through agricultural imagery, the poem reminds us of the importance of respecting nature and recognising its essential contribution to food, livelihood, and human civilisation.
Gratitude and Collective Celebration
Gratitude and collective celebration are also important themes of the poem. The people do not keep their happiness and thankfulness to themselves; instead, they come together as a community to celebrate the blessings they have received. Their songs, garlands, offerings, and prayers become expressions of collective gratitude. The celebration of a successful harvest brings people together and strengthens their sense of belonging and unity. The poem suggests that prosperity becomes more meaningful when it is celebrated collectively and acknowledged with humility. The communal nature of the celebration also shows the importance of shared cultural and religious traditions in bringing people closer to one another. Through this theme, the poet conveys that gratitude should be expressed openly and that moments of abundance should create generosity, harmony, and togetherness. The poem ultimately presents celebration as a way of strengthening both faith and community bonds.
Textual Analysis
Stanza 1
Men’s Voices:
Lord of the lotus, lord of the harvest,
Bright and munificent lord of the morn!
Thine is the bounty that prospered our sowing,
Thine is the bounty that nurtured our corn.
We bring thee our songs and our garlands for tribute,
The gold of our fields and the gold of our fruit;
O giver of mellowing radiance, we hail thee,
We praise thee, O Surya, with cymbal and flute.
Word Meaning
- Munificent - Very generous; giving abundantly
- Bounty - A generous gift or plentiful supply
- Sowing - The act of planting seeds
- Mellowing radiance - Gentle and ripening light
- Hail - To greet or praise enthusiastically or to welcome
- Cymbal - A musical instrument made of two metal plates
Explanation
In the first stanza, the men praise Surya, the Sun God, whom they regard as the lord of the morning and the harvest. They express their gratitude for the sunlight that helped their crops grow successfully. The sun's warmth and light are presented as essential forces that nurture the fields and bring prosperity.
The farmers offer songs, flower garlands, crops and fruits as expressions of their gratitude. They recognise that the abundance of their harvest is not solely the result of human effort but is also connected with the blessings of nature. The use of musical instruments such as cymbals and flutes creates a joyful and devotional atmosphere.
Stanza 2
Lord of the rainbow, lord of the harvest,
Great and beneficent lord of the main!
Thine is the mercy that cherished our furrows,
Thine is the mercy that fostered our grain.
We bring thee our thanks and our garlands for tribute,
The wealth of our valleys, new-garnered and ripe;
O sender of rain and the dewfall, we hail thee,
We praise thee, Varuna, with cymbal and pipe.
Word Meaning
Explanation
In the second stanza, the men turn their praise towards Varuna, the divine force associated with rain and water. They thank him for providing the rain and dew that nourish the soil and help their crops grow.
The poet describes the rain as a form of mercy because it protects the fields and supports the growth of grain. The farmers offer their thanks, flower garlands and the newly harvested wealth of their valleys as tribute.
The stanza highlights the importance of water in agriculture. Along with sunlight, rain is presented as a vital natural force responsible for the prosperity of farmers. The musical and devotional imagery creates a feeling of celebration and gratitude.
Stanza 3
Women’s Voices:
Word Meaning
Explanation
In this stanza, the women praise Prithvi, Mother Earth. The Earth is portrayed as a loving and powerful mother who provides food and gives birth to the wealth and resources needed for human life.
The poet uses images of the bosom and womb of the Earth to emphasise her nurturing and life-giving qualities. Just as a mother nourishes her children, the Earth provides food, crops and countless natural resources to humanity.
The women offer their love, garlands and gifts in gratitude. The stanza therefore celebrates the intimate relationship between human beings and the Earth. It presents nature not merely as a resource but as a mother who deserves love, respect and gratitude.
Stanza 4
All Voices:
Lord of the Universe, Lord of our being,
Father eternal, ineffable Om!
Thou art the Seed and the Scythe of our harvests,
Thou art our Hands and our Heart and our Home.
We bring thee our lives and our labours for tribute,
Grant us thy succour, thy counsel, thy care.
O Life of all life and all blessing, we hail thee,
We praise thee, O Bramha, with cymbal and prayer.
[SAROJINI NAIDU]
Word Meaning
Explanation
In the final stanza, all the voices unite in praising the supreme divine power. The deity is described as the eternal Father and the source of all existence. The reference to “Seed” and “Scythe” symbolically connects the divine with both the beginning of agricultural life and the harvesting of its results.
The speakers offer not only flowers and crops but also their lives and labour as tribute. They ask the divine power for support, guidance and care. The poem concludes with a universal expression of faith and gratitude.
The stanza brings together the ideas expressed earlier. The Sun, rain, Earth and human labour are all connected with the larger divine order of life. The final prayer creates a sense of unity among human beings, nature and the divine.
Let us discuss
I Write the stanza number for the main idea of each stanza given below. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
| Write the stanza number for the main idea of each stanza given below. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher. | |
|---|---|
| 1. The speakers recognise the lord’s kindness and praise him for nourishing the field. | |
| 2. The speakers praise the generosity of the creator of the universe who ensures a rich harvest. | |
| 3. The speakers devote their lives and work as a mark of respect to the lord and seek his support, wisdom, and care. | |
| 4. The speakers pay homage to the Earth and appreciate her role in supporting life, by dedicating their harvest. | |
Answer:
| Main Idea | Stanza No. |
|---|---|
| 1. The speakers recognise the lord’s kindness and praise him for nourishing the field. | 1 |
| 2. The speakers praise the generosity of the creator of the universe who ensures a rich harvest. | 2 |
| 3. The speakers devote their lives and work as a mark of respect to the lord and seek his support, wisdom, and care. | 3 |
| 4. The speakers pay homage to the Earth and appreciate her role in supporting life, by dedicating their harvest. | 4 |
II Fill in the blanks by choosing the appropriate words or phrases from within the brackets.
1. The setting of the poem is a rural landscape, possibly during a __________________________ (harvest/religious) festival.
Answer: harvest
2. The tone of the poem is respectful and celebratory because it praises ___________________ (the men and women/ nature and the Lord) with deep respect and gratitude.
Answer: nature and the Lord
3. In the line ‘Thou art our Hands and our Heart and our Home’, the letter ‘h’ is capitalised in ‘Hands’, ‘Heart’ and ‘Home’ because ___________________. (it represents the hard work of farmers/God resides in them)
Answer: God resides in them
III Identify the poetic device used in the following lines from the poem.
• Bright and munificent lord of the morn!
• We bring thee our lives and our labours for tribute
Answer:
- Alliteration — the sound /m/ is repeated in munificent and morn.
- Alliteration — the /l/ sound is repeated in lives and labours.
IV Match the lines from the poem in Column 1 with their expressions in Column 2. Choose the appropriate poetic device from the box given below and write in Column 3.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. sweet and omnipotent mother | (i) creates a clear description of the scene and appeals to the senses | |
| 2. The wealth of our valleys, new-garnered and ripe | (ii) implied comparison of growth and reaping with beginning and end of all life | |
| 3. Thou art the Seed and the Scythe | (iii) the earth is being given human-like qualities |
1. Sweet and omnipotent mother — Personification
2. The wealth of our valleys, new-garnered and ripe — Imagery
3. Thou art the Seed and the Scythe — Metaphor
V Certain words or phrases are repeated in the same line of the poem.
For example, The gold of our fields and the gold of our fruit;
Find more such repetitions from the poem. What is the poet’s purpose of using repetition in the poem?
Answer: Apart from “The gold of our fields and the gold of our fruit”, the following examples show repetition:
- “Lord of the lotus, lord of the harvest” – repetition of “lord of”.
- “Thine is the bounty that prospered our sowing, / Thine is the bounty that nurtured our corn.” – repetition of “Thine is the bounty”.
- “Thou art our Hands and our Heart and our Home” – repetition of the structure “our H…” and the conjunction “and”.
- “Our Hands and our Heart and our Home” – repetition of “our”.
VI The poem uses symbolism to convey deeper meanings. Match the symbols in Column 1 with the meanings they convey in Column 2.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. Prithvi (the Earth) | (i) light, energy, life—representing the giver of warmth and prosperity |
| 2. Surya (the Sun) | (ii) mercy and nourishment—crucial for agriculture and sustenance |
| 3. Varuna (Rain) | (iii) fertile land, motherhood, nurturing— the source of all life |
Answer:
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| 1. Prithvi (the Earth) | (iii) fertile land, motherhood, nurturing— the source of all life |
| 2. Surya (the Sun) | (i) light, energy, life—representing the giver of warmth and prosperity |
| 3. Varuna (Rain) | (ii) mercy and nourishment—crucial for agriculture and sustenance |
Let us think and reflect
I Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
(i) What does the act of bringing songs and garlands as tribute suggest about the people’s relationship with the divine?
A. They fear the gods and wish to calm them in any way possible.
B. They have a deep sense of reverence and gratitude towards the divine.
C. They are forced to perform rituals without understanding the divine.
D. They depend on the gods for their daily needs and activities.
Answer: B. They have a deep sense of reverence and gratitude towards the divine.
(ii) Complete the following sentence suitably.
The word ‘gold’ in the phrases ‘the gold of our fields’ and ‘the gold of our fruit’ symbolises ________________.
Answer: The word ‘gold’ symbolises the richness, abundance and valuable produce of the fields and fruits.
(iii) How does the description ‘O giver of mellowing radiance’ help us understand Surya’s role in the harvest?
Answer: The description ‘O giver of mellowing radiance’ shows that Surya (the Sun God) provides the warmth and light needed for crops and fruits to ripen. Thus, he plays an important role in bringing the harvest to maturity.
(iv) Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option from those given in the brackets. The use of cymbal and flute signifies ________________. (joy and celebration/meditation and worship)
Answer: joy and celebration
2. All Voices:
(i) In the phrase ‘Lord of our being,’ what does the word ‘being’ most likely refer to?
A. Our physical body
B. Our entire existence
C. Our spiritual practices
D. Our earthly possessions
Answer: B. Our entire existence
(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false.
The imagery of ‘the Seed and the Scythe’ symbolises the divine’s role as both the beginning (creation) and the end (harvest) of the agricultural cycle.
Answer: True.
The ‘Seed’ represents the beginning of growth and creation, while the ‘Scythe’ represents the cutting and gathering of the mature crop at harvest.
(iii) Identify the phrases from the extract that mean the following:
A. The divine as a timeless, everlasting presence
B. Beyond human comprehension or description
Answer:
A. The divine as a timeless, everlasting presence — “Father eternal”
B. Beyond human comprehension or description — “ineffable Om”
(iv) How do we know that these lines from the extract are spoken as a chorus?
Answer: The lines are spoken as a chorus because the section is specifically presented as “All Voices”. The repeated use of “Thou art” creates a collective, rhythmic expression of praise by the entire community.
II Answer the following questions.
1. Why do the farmers hail the God of rain?
Answer: The farmers hail the God of rain because rain is essential for agriculture and the growth of crops. It provides the water necessary for their fields and helps ensure a successful harvest. Since their livelihood depends greatly on rainfall, they express their gratitude to the divine power that blesses their land with rain.
2. What is being referred to as ‘wealth of our valleys’? Why?
Answer: The crops, fruits and other agricultural produce of the valleys are referred to as their ‘wealth’. They are called wealth because the prosperity and well-being of the rural people depend on the abundance of their harvest. The fertile valleys provide them with food and the means to support their lives.
3. State one reason why the women refer to the Earth as a ‘source of manifold gladness’.
Answer: The women call the Earth a ‘source of manifold gladness’ because it provides abundant crops, fruits and flowers that bring food, prosperity, beauty and happiness to the people. The Earth sustains their lives and makes their community prosperous.
4. Why does everyone in the poem offer their ‘labours for tribute’?
Answer: Everyone offers their ‘labours for tribute’ because they believe that their ability to work and the fruits of their labour are blessings of the divine. By offering their work as tribute, they express their gratitude, devotion and respect towards the divine power that supports their lives and harvests.
5. Why has the poet presented the poem as voices of men, women, and all voices?
Answer: The poet presents the poem through the voices of men, women and all voices to show that the entire rural community participates in the celebration. Each group expresses gratitude for different blessings, while the ‘All Voices’ section unites everyone in collective worship. This gives the poem a strong sense of community, unity and shared devotion.
6. How does the poet create the joyous atmosphere of rural India at harvesting time?
Answer: The poet creates a joyous atmosphere through images of golden fields, ripe fruits, flowers, music and celebration. References to songs, garlands, cymbals and flutes create a festive mood. The repeated expressions of praise and gratitude towards the divine further convey the happiness of the people after a successful harvest.
7. Why is the poem presented as a hymn?
Answer: The poem is presented as a hymn because it is a collective song of praise, worship and gratitude to the divine. The people acknowledge the divine power as the source of their crops, prosperity, strength and happiness. The division into Men’s Voices, Women’s Voices and All Voices, along with its musical language and repeated prayers, gives the poem the character of a traditional hymn.
Competency-Based Question Answers
1. The farmers depend on nature for their livelihood, yet they also recognise the role of divine blessings. What does this reveal about their attitude towards nature and life?
2. Imagine that a village experiences an exceptionally successful harvest after a difficult agricultural season. Based on the poem, how might the villagers celebrate the occasion?
3. The poem gives importance to both human labour and divine blessings. Why is it important to recognise both in agricultural life?
4. If the poem were written from the perspective of modern farmers facing climate change, what message from Harvest Hymn would still remain relevant?
5. The poem includes the voices of men, women and the entire community. What can students learn from this structure about working together?
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