Mar 27, 2010

A sudden anxious restlessness stirs your leaves

সহসা ডালপালা তোর উতলা-যে
shawhosha dal pala tor utola jey

A sudden anxious restlessness stirs your leaves
Oh Champa, Oh Karabi
Who is it that you sighted, amidst the skies, I know not
Floats the ecstasy of which tune, blown in with the winds
Oh Champa, Oh Karabi
Whose dancing bells is it that chime, I know not

In every moment, a thrill runs through you
Contemplation of which Unknown stirs within you
Sways in blossoms the euphoria of which colour
Oh Champa, Oh Karabi
Who is it that bedecked you in colours, I know not

Mar 26, 2010

The skies have filled me with radiance

আকাশ আমায় ভরল আলোয়
akash aamaay bhorlo aaloy (audio)

The skies have filled me with radiance
I will fill the skies with my songs
Invade the breeze with hues of song
The breeze pervading hues of dance
Oh Palash my dear Palash
With the flame of crimson colour
Set afire the ten directions
The sweet melodies in my heart
Flushed are they with colourful tunes
In southern breeze stays aflutter
The bossom of woodland flowers
In golden light of the blue skies
Young leaves ring out their anklet bells
Oh Shirish flower, Oh Shirish
Hiding behind a gentle smile
Suffuse the ether in fragrance
Your scent tugging at my heart to find voice

* Palash - a red flower that blooms in spring
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butea_monosperma

Say you may all, whatever you like

তোমরা যা বলো তাই বলো

Say you may all, whatever you like, touches it not my heart
My day goes by, gently does it go by, spent for no rhyme or reason
This delirious breeze, what song does it sing
Diffusing it around today in the deep blue skies
Touched me has that song, touched me deep inside my heart
What nectar is it, I search for, with the buzzing of the bees
Whose gaze is it that spans the skies
And touches me thus today, beholding my eye


Another version by Anandamayee Majumdar

My heart detaches
From extrinsic words, impressions
As my day unwinds
With aimlessness, bliss, freedom.

As I fully immerse
In the whispered melodies
Hovering in the air,
Sweeping the sky

Songs that take root in my heart
To make me seek
A strange, celestial honey
On trails of humming bees.

My eyes sink into the divine,
Into the open, endless gaze
Of an expansive blue sky


Mar 25, 2010

Again have they encircled my mind

আবার এরা ঘিরেছে মোর মন
aabaar era ghirechhey mor mon

Again have they encircled my mind
Again descends a screen upon my eyes
Again it is that varied thoughts build up
Wanders my heart in varied directions
Grows again the searing pain by and by
Again do I lose sight of your footsteps
Soundless your word, in the depths within
Be not drowned in the din of the many
Amidst one and all, may you be with me
Enveloped in you, forever keep me
Ever let alight on my consciousness
This bright world of yours so full of compassion

Mar 21, 2010

Dispirited day disjoined tasks

বিরস দিন বিরল কাজ

Dispirited day, disjoined tasks
In fierce revolt have come oh love
Today in royal procession
Alone, my mind in idleness
Hushed, in a corner of my home
Breaking down doors in which moment
Oh invincible one
Shadows caressing the forest
Clouds darkening the sky
As if Ganga gurgles, playing
With the locks of Shiva
Those who were on the way, gave way
When sped you that triumphant chariot
Eyes of your flashing like lightning
Desirous of deep sleep



Another version by Anandamayee Majumdar:

The days were listless, the hands idle.
When suddenly
Rebellious, raucous and majestic,
You stormed in, my Love.
I had been alone in my silent niche
Never noticing when you invaded your way,
My unbeatable!

Suddenly shadows had veiled the arbors,
Clouds heaped and heaved
The mighty Ganga billowed
Churning, caressing
The untamed locks of Nataraj*.

For you, everyone hastily cleared the path.
You charged in with your chariot,
Your eyes flashed with lightning,
In the drunkenness of
The deepest slumber.



*In Indian mythology, the divine dancer, the god of destruction, Shiva or Nataraj was said to have contained the mighty river Ganga in his locks.

Gathered together have the clouds

মেঘের পরে মেঘ জমেছে
megher pore megh jomechhey
(Tagore's own translation)

Gathered together have the clouds
A deep darkness descends
Why do you make me sit and wait
Alone at the doorstep
In many tasks on work days
With many folks I stay
Today it is I sit and wait
Seeking your assurance
If you do not come into view
Ignore me if you do
How do I get through this dark cloudy day
Gazing towards the distant far
All I can do is stare
The cry from my heart strays around
Drifting on restless winds

Mar 20, 2010

When fogged was my vision

আমি যখন ছিলেম অন্ধ
aami jokhon chhilem ondho

When fogged was my vision
Time went by playing with comfort
Acquire I did not happiness

Within the walls of my playhouse
Crazed I was in whims and fancies
When breaking through the plinth you came
I was freed from my bondage

The game of comfort pleases no more
Acquired have I happiness

My fearsome one, my furious one
Sleep eludes this small self of mine
In severe pain did you make anew
Make me dance to a new rhythm
The day you came in fiery garb
Came down to me to take my all
Replete that day, my doubts dispelled
At the edge of joy and sorrow
Acquired have I happiness

The very one it is I seek

আমি তারেই খুঁজে বেড়াই
aami taarei khuje berai

The very one it is I seek,
who lives within, within my mind
The one who is and therefore is
My sky spangled with stars at night
In the morn flowers bloom in my woods

The one who is and therefore is
In light reflecting from the eye
Myriad forms in play, a riot of colours
Amidst the endless black and white

With me who is and therefore
My body thrills in southern breeze
Words from that very one flit past
In tune to my song stirring inconscient

In sudden sorrowful swings, swaying me
Staying hidden in work, distracting me from work

Who is mine forever therefore
In that delight, time and again fills up my eye.

Mar 16, 2010

This weariness forgive me oh my Lord

ক্লান্তি আমার ক্ষমা কর প্রভু
klanti aamaar khawma kawro probhu

This weariness forgive me oh my Lord
If ever on my way I do fall back

This tremulous heart quivers today thus
This sorrow forgive oh forgive me Lord

This wretchedness, forgive me oh my Lord
If ever on my way look I do look back

In blistering heat of the fiery day
If withers my garland of prayer flowers
That listlessness, forgive me oh my Lord

When you were tuning the strings

যখন তুমি বাঁধছিলে তার
jokhon tumi bandhchhiley taar

When you were tuning the strings
Unbearable was the pain
Play the Veena, O Lord
Obliviate my woe filled saga

Till this day concealed that was
In your mind deep inside
Today on my heartstrings
Make known that missive to me

Delay no longer, I pray
There goes out the lantern
The deep dense darkness of night
Eavesdrops at my door

The tune you string the stars with
In infinite glowing flow
Play on my heart that tune
Show your eagerness to claim me