তোমার পূজার ছলে তোমায় ভুলেই থাকি
tomar pujar chholey tomay bhulei thaki
In pretence of pious prayer
I remain oblivious of You
I fail to grasp when You slip away
I find not a way to Your feet
From behind the floral garlands
Luminous lamps, fragrant fumes
I conceal You in a veil of hymns
I make false fanfare to see You
When my own eyes thirst for a glimpse
Crying out to You in distress
What need have I of the temple
A place I will make
In one corner of my own heart
In simplicity and silence
I will call out to You.
- 28th March 1917
tomar pujar chholey tomay bhulei thaki
In pretence of pious prayer
I remain oblivious of You
I fail to grasp when You slip away
I find not a way to Your feet
From behind the floral garlands
Luminous lamps, fragrant fumes
I conceal You in a veil of hymns
I make false fanfare to see You
When my own eyes thirst for a glimpse
Crying out to You in distress
What need have I of the temple
A place I will make
In one corner of my own heart
In simplicity and silence
I will call out to You.
- 28th March 1917
A version by Anindya Chaudhuri:
ReplyDeleteIn pretence of prayer, I forget Thee
Only to realise You have deserted me
The garlands at thy feet
The incense sticks that burn
The candles that are lit
Around thy holy urn
Create an endless street
As I struggle to reach thy feet
Wishful longing of mine to see thy radiant glow
Tempest of tears, in streams do they flow
Temples, churches, Thy sacred abode
Will never ever be my road
Deep inside my heart will dwell
Thy cosy seat, Thy Holy bell
Feelings profound in a silent song
To let you know where I belong
A version by Suman Dasgupta
ReplyDeleteIn worship of your images
So stupefied I've become,
...That thoughts of You, O Lord
Have slipped my forgetful mind.
I knew not
When You deserted me.
Garlands, incense sticks, holy smoke
Are all at your fore
Shielding You from me,
Not giving a chance to touch Your feet.
Have let Yourself drown, O Lord
In loud chanting of hymns.
Futile are these grandeurs
Laid out for the meeting with You, O Lord.
When my thirst craving eyes
Can themselves discover Youself easily.
Why you do have
To visit temples,
If you can lay down your prayer-mat
At one corner of your own heart?
In simplicity and in silence
I can offer my prayer to You.