Two Songs of Tagore – XIV
Translated from the original Bangla by Sreejit Datta
Pinākete Lāge Ṭaṅkār
(To listen to the original Bangla song, click here)
A terrible twang from the Pināka bow is issued –
And tremors of fear from beneath the terranean ribs ensued.
Yonder in the sky, a violent tempest whirls,
And the very fabric of Creation thus unfurls;
With roars of a dreadful thunder, the final dissolution’s trumpeting.
The heavens are crying out for help, for the gods are held captive,
There, ’midst that unbearable dark of night, their chains keep clanking.
Now, reproaching the Dānava’s arrogance, the Rudra has roared in wrath;
Anon the sky-high conceit of the unrighteous comes crashing down on earth.
Jayo Bhoirabo Jayo Śaṅkaro
(To listen to the original Bangla song, click here)
Victory unto Bhairava, victory unto Shankara,
O Great Extirpator! All victory to Thee – Shankara! Shankara!
Victory to the Dispeller of Doubts, victory to the breaker of bonds,
Victory unto Him who rids us of crises – Shankara! Shankara!
O Thou who penetrate the heart of darkness!
O Thou who set conflagrations ablaze!
O Thou who roam the dreary crematoria – Shankara! Shankara!
O Thou whose speech is the rumbling of thunder,
O Thou who are Rudra – the Trident-wielder!
O Thou who traversed the ocean of death – Shankara! Shankara!
