Doha (poetry)

Doha (Urdu: دوہا, Hindi: दोहा, Punjabi: ਦੋਹਾ) is a form of self-contained rhyming couplet in poetry composed in Mātrika metre.

The rules for distinguishing light and heavy syllables is slightly different from Sanskrit.

Many Hindi poets have created several books which explain whole stories and epics in the form of dohas.

Here is a Doha by Rahim: जो रहीम उत्तम प्रकृति का कर सकत कुसंग। चन्दन विष व्यापत नहीं लिपटे रहत भुजंग॥ Jo rahīma uttama prakṛti kā kara sakata kusaṃga.

Says Rahim, one who is of inherently noble nature, will remain unaffected even when he associates with bad people.