Worship: Tagore’s Bangla Devotional Songs in English Verse – III
Translated from the Original Bangla by Sreejit Datta
é bhārote rākho nityo probhu
(To listen to the original Bangla song, click here)
To this Bhārata[i], Lord! May You every day grant –
Thy blessings that are most benignant,
The courage that issues from Thy hand,
Thy Word immortal, unconquered; and
Thine undying faith – a hope that is constant!
The bright light of Dharma that never goes out –
May You kindle above all misery and doubt;
That in crises, in difficult hours may he keep
To Thy path – when him the tangled forests surround!
Fasten on his breast Thine armour inviolable,
That he may boldly fare, and in fear not tremble.
May he be steadfast, even seeing the wicked gain –
And forever in Thee his unflinching faith remain!
kār milawno chāo birohī
(To listen to the original Bangla song, click here)
Disunited Soul! with whom
Do you seek your union of bliss?
Why look for Him, in vain,
O Mind! joyless, bereft of peace,
Midst a jungle of a million worldly things –
In this deceitful, twisted abyss?
Behold – oh, behold! Upon the lotus-seat
Of your own heart, O Mind! in all its majesty,
Dwells the Divine pair of those Lotus Feet –
Aglow with immortal light, a singular beauty!
[i] Translator’s note: The word ‘Bhārata’ (‘Bhārot’ in Bangla), as used by Tagore in this song, may imply two (related) things: one, the Bhāratīya race or the Indian people taken as a whole unit, and equated with, or embodied by, the country (Bhāratavarṣa) herself; and two, a son/daughter of India, that is, Bhārata. It seems to the present translator that the second out of these two connotations sounds more meaningful and appropriate, when the implication of the whole song is taken into account.
