The Power of Music by Sukumar Ray
The Power of Music
by Sukumar Ray
Line by Line Paraphrase
1.In summer, we begin to hear the humming sound of Bhisma Lochan Sharma’s singing.
2. His singing can be heard everywhere—on hills, plains, from Delhi all the way to Burma.
3. He sings with extreme intensity, as if his life depends on it, as if he's determined to sing no matter what.
4. People get confused and shocked by his singing, and move away—even though they know he means no harm.
5. People run away in panic, some getting hurt, or they become pale and weak.
6.They beg him, saying, “Please stop singing! We cannot take it anymore—we may die!”
7. His terrible singing causes bullock-carts to topple over and horses to collapse on the road.
8. But Bhisma Lochan does not care—he continues to sing loudly and powerfully.
9. Animals hate the loud noise as soon as they hear it.
10. They cry, fall over with their feet up, or look around in utter confusion.
11. Even fish dive deep into the lake to escape the horrible sound.
12. Even trees shake violently and fall down; one can hear them crashing from a mile away.
13.Birds flying in the sky flip upside-down (turn turtle) during flight because of the noise.
14.Once again, people shout, “We are going to die—please stop singing!”
15. But Bhisma is so immersed in his singing that he does not listen to anyone’s complaints or requests.
16. Even the sky seems to cry at his screeching voice, and huge buildings collapse because of it.
17. Then a wise and clever billy goat arrives.
18. The goat lowers its horns and charges at Bhisma while bleating loudly in reply.
19. The goat’s attack violently interrupts and scatters Bhisma’s singing.
20. As a result, Bhisma finally stops singing — giving the world the precious gift of silence.
Line by Line Explanation + Poetic Devices
Line 1. Explanation: When summer arrives, everyone hears the humming sound of Bhisma’s singing voice.
Device:
• Alliteration: summer–comes, hear–hums
• Hyperbole: His singing is so widespread that everyone hears it.
Line 2. Explanation: His singing spreads everywhere—from hills to plains, from Delhi to far-off Burma.
Device:
• Exaggeration/Hyperbole: His voice reaching from Delhi to Burma.
• Internal rhyme: plain–strain.
Line 3. Explanation: He sings with extreme force as if he has put his entire life at risk and is determined to continue.
Device:
• Simile (implied): Singing with life-or-death intensity.
• Repetition: He sings… he sings…
Line 4. Explanation: People, confused and shocked, run away, though they know he means no harm.
Device:
• Internal rhyme: dazed–amazed.
• Irony: His “good intention” causes destruction.
Line 5. Explanation: The crowd runs away in panic, some getting crushed or turning pale and weak.
Device:
• Imagery: Visual description of panic.
Line 6. Explanation: People beg him to stop because they feel they cannot survive his singing.
Device:
• Hyperbole: “We’re near our end.”
• Rhyme: friend–end.
Line 7. Explanation: Even bullock carts topple and horses collapse due to the terrible noise.
Device:
• Exaggeration.
• Visual imagery.
Line 8. Explanation: Bhisma continues singing loudly, without caring about the chaos.
Device:
• Alliteration: booming–broadside.
• Irony: His confidence vs others’ suffering.
Line 9. Explanation: Animals hate the sound the moment they hear it.
Device:
• Alliteration: brutes–blare.
• Personification: Animals “resenting” the sound.
Line 10. Explanation: They cry, fall over with their legs up, or stare in confusion.
Device:
• Visual imagery.
Line 11. Explanation: Even fish dive deep underwater to escape his voice.
Device:
• Hyperbole.
• Personification: Fish searching for “silence.”
Line 12. Explanation: Trees shake violently and fall; the crash is audible from a mile away.
Device:
• Hyperbole.
• Auditory imagery.
Line 13. Explanation: Birds flip upside down while flying because of the noise.
Device:
• Visual imagery.
• Hyperbole.
Line 14. Explanation: People keep begging him to stop because they feel his singing is deadly.
Device:
• Repetition of cry: Shows desperation.
• Hyperbole.
Line 15. Explanation: Bhisma is lost in his singing and ignores all complaints.
Device:
• Metaphor: “Soared beyond our reach” = mentally absorbed.
• Alliteration: plead and grumble.
Line 16. Explanation: Even the sky seems to cry due to his loud singing, and big buildings collapse.
Device:
• Personification: Sky “weeps.”
• Hyperbole.
Line 17. Explanation: A clever billy goat appears.
Device:
• Irony: An animal acts more wisely than humans.
Line 18. Explanation: The goat lowers its horns and runs at Bhisma while bleating loudly.
Device:
• Alliteration: bellow–bellow.
• Imagery.
Line 19. Explanation: The goat’s attack violently breaks the flow of Bhisma’s singing.
Device:
• Metaphor: Attack shown as “blast of violence.”
Line 20. Explanation: At last, Bhisma stops singing, giving the world the precious “gift” of silence.
Device:
• Metaphor: Silence = “golden gift.”
• Irony: Silence is more valuable than his singing.
Summary of the Power of Music
The poem “When summer comes, we hear the hums — Bhisma Lochan Sharma,” written in a humorous and exaggerated style, describes the disastrous effects of Bhisma Lochan Sharma’s singing voice. Bhisma is an extremely enthusiastic singer who believes that he sings beautifully and passionately. However, in reality, his voice is unbearably loud and harsh, causing widespread chaos wherever it is heard. The poet uses hyperbole, irony, and comic imagery to portray how everything in nature — people, animals, birds, trees, and even the sky — suffers from Bhisma’s singing.
As summer arrives, the entire region becomes disturbed by the humming, booming voice of Bhisma. His singing spreads over hills, plains, and even from Delhi down to Burma, showing the vastness of his terrible reach. He sings with such intensity, as though his life depends on it, and continues with unstoppable determination. Although his intentions are good and he does not mean to harm anyone, people become utterly shocked and frightened. They run away in panic, get trampled, turn pale, and even fall sick due to the unbearable sound.
The poem humorously describes how animals react even more dramatically than humans. Bullock carts overturn, horses collapse on the roadside, and various creatures feel distressed. They whine, fall over with their legs in the air, and stare helplessly, bewildered by the noise. Even fish dive deep into the water to escape the terrible sound, and birds lose their balance in the sky, turning upside down as they try to escape. The trees, too, shake violently and fall, and their crashing sounds can be heard from miles away. The poet exaggerates further by saying that mighty buildings tremble and the sky itself seems to cry upon hearing Bhisma’s voice.
Despite all this chaos and the desperate cries of the people who plead with him to stop, Bhisma Lochan Sharma remains completely unaware of the suffering he is causing. Lost in his musical enthusiasm, he continues singing loudly, believing that he is offering something beautiful to the world.
Finally, a surprising comic twist occurs: a sagacious (wise) billy goat appears. Seeing the destruction caused by Bhisma’s singing, the goat acts courageously. It lowers its horns and charges straight at Bhisma while bleating loudly. The violent impact of the goat’s attack disturbs the flow of Bhisma’s singing, tossing and breaking the musical “strains.” At last, because of the goat’s intervention, Bhisma stops singing. The poem ends humorously by saying that the world receives the “golden gift of silence,” implying that silence is far more precious than his singing.
In essence, the poem is a satire on people who are overly confident about their talents but lack self-awareness. Through exaggeration and humour, the poet shows how harmful unchecked enthusiasm can be and how sometimes silence is more valuable than noise.
Short Summary
The poem humorously describes the disastrous effects of Bhisma Lochan Sharma’s terrible singing. His voice is so loud and unbearable that people panic, animals collapse, fish dive into lakes, birds fall from the sky, and buildings shake. Despite everyone’s pleas, Bhisma continues singing with enthusiasm. Finally, a wise billy goat charges at him, and the force of this attack makes Bhisma stop singing. The world is relieved and happily receives the “golden gift of silence.”
Short Question and Answers
1. Why do people run away when Bhisma starts singing?
People run away because his singing is unbearably loud and unpleasant, causing confusion, fear, and even physical harm.
2. What happens to animals when they hear Bhisma’s voice?
Animals panic: bullocks overturn carts, horses collapse, animals whine and fall, fish dive for silence, and birds turn upside down in flight.
3. How does the poet use exaggeration in the poem?
The poet exaggerates by describing trees falling, buildings tumbling, birds flipping, and fish diving, all because of Bhisma’s voice, creating a humorous effect.
4. Why does Bhisma ignore people’s pleas to stop singing?
He is so lost in his own enthusiasm that he cannot understand or hear their suffering, and he believes he is singing well.
5. Who finally stops Bhisma and how?
A clever billy goat charges at him with its horns and interrupts his singing through force, making him stop.
6. What is meant by the “golden gift of silence”?
It means that silence is precious and welcome after the disturbance caused by Bhisma’s singing.
7. What is the tone of the poem?
The poem is humorous and satirical, exaggerating events to create comedy.
8. What central idea does the poem convey?
The poem shows that enthusiasm without talent can create chaos, and sometimes silence is more valuable than noise.
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