Translator’s note: These two hitherto untranslated songs of Tagore fall into the category “Prakriti” or Nature as per the system of categorisation followed in Gitabitan, Tagore’s anthology of song lyrics. Within that category, songs are further classified in accordance with the ṛtu or seasonal division that they pertain to. The two songs translated here pertain […]Read More

Translated from the original Bangla by Sreejit Datta Translator’s note: There exists not one but two separate English versions of “Gobhiro rɑːjonī nāmilo hridɑːye”, which is the second of the two profoundly meditative songs translated here. Both these English versions are attributed to Rabindranath, were published in 1918 and 1942 respectively, and they represent the […]Read More

Translator’s note: The first of the two songs translated here, namely, “Jodi jhɑːḍero meghero mɑːto āmi dhāi”, is a Bangla transcreation, if not exactly a translation, of three mantras taken from the Rig Vedic hymn “यदेमि प्रस्फु॒रन्निव दृतिर्न ध्मातो अद्रिवः। मृ॒ळा सुक्षत्र मृ॒ळय॥” etc. (Maṇḍala 7, Sūkta 89, Ṛk-s 2,3, and 4) by Rabindranath Tagore. […]Read More

Translator’s note:  I have proffered in this issue of Two Songs of Tagore a fresh new translation of the song “Jɑːḍāye āche bādhā chāḍāye jete chāi” (Fetters bind me, and I wish to break free), despite the fact that there already exists an English translation of it done by the poet himself. The reasons for […]Read More

Translated from the original Bangla by Sreejit Datta Nātho hé, premopɑːthe Lord, strike down all obstacles           On the path of Love. Do not keep anything in between, do not – Be not afar, be not! Amid people           Or in seclusion,  Whether within           Or without I would see Thee constantly. Tɑːbo premośudhārɑːśe metechi  […]Read More

Translated from the original Bangla by Sreejit Datta Niśitho śɑːyone bhebe rākhi mone ogo ɑːntɑːrojāmī In bed for the night’s rest, I tell myself, O Indwelling Lord of mine! That I shall look upon Thee, first thing in the morning, When mine eyes are open wide –          Hear me, O Indwelling Lord of mine! […]Read More

Translated from the original Bangla by Sreejit Datta Nibiḍo ghɑːno ā͂dhāre jwoliche dhrubotārā ’Midst a densely knit dark shines forth the Polaris;  Do not lose thy way, My Heart, in this shoreless abyss.  Overcome by despair, do not cease thy song yet; Fulfil thy Life by breaking open the prison of illusion.  Keep the Strength […]Read More

Translated from the Original Bangla by Sreejit Datta Bānī Tɑːbo Dhʌɪ  (“Thy Word Rushes”) Thy Word – It rushes through the infinite skies, infinite worlds; Thy Word is this planet, the moon, the radiant sun and the stars. Joy and sorrow are Thy Word, birth and death are Thy Word; Secluded and deep, Thy Word […]Read More