Tag: translation

The Awakening of the Fountain (translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s ???????? ??????????, an ode to joy and awakening if ever there was one!) — Oh what music this morn Did the morning bird play! Seemed to float gently in From the skies far far away! I know not how A lost tune of that song Made…

Translation of the Rabindrasangeet, “Bojre tomar baje bashi”. The link to the original song by Rabindranath Tagore is here. It’s in the thunder, that your flute sings, It’s no ordinary melody that rings! To this tune shall I awaken, bless me with ears that can hear. I shall not be deluded this time, My soul…

Debotar Gras (The Divine Seize) by Rabindranath Tagore Across the lands, the news spread like rage To the confluence shall the priest go on his voyage. To undertake the sacred bath. Companions joined him from lands far and wide The young, the old, men and women – all gathered at his side. Two boats lay…

Translation: Chhatradhara by Kalidas Roy   Year after year, class after class They troop in, en masse The leaves juvenile bloom into flowers merry Radiant in youth’s green glory   You care for them, learn the names of them all Keep meeting them, through summer and fall Discipline them, ensure they finish their lessons on…

Sanyasi je jagilo oi,? jagilo oi (The monk awakes) (Translation of the song, Sanyasi je jagilo oi by Rabindranath Tagore) O look, there he awakens, there awakes the monk To his left and to his right, his smile does flash He dusts himself off, frees his body of its paint of ash. Heaven’s clean lights…

Phagun haway ronge ronge (In the colours of the spring breeze) (A translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s Phagun Haway Ronge Ronge) The fountains wild with colours rain down the tress The rose, the amaranth, the parul and palash – in the spring breeze. There I fetch my soul whenever I can. To paint it in the…

Ekhon Bodhoy Phool Choranor Pala (Now might be the time to spread the flowers) A translation of the Bengali folk song, “Ekhon Bodhoy Phool Choranor Pala“. There is a fantastic rendition of this song by Anusheh Anadil, the wonderful singer from Bangladesh. Ekhon Bodhoy Phool Choranor Pala Etodine Phool kuralam, bhorlo moner daala Rai je…

Niruddesh Jatra by Rabindranath Tagore A translation of Tagore’s poem “Niruddesh Jatra” from his collection, “Shonar Toree” (The Golden Boat). The original can be found here. Voyage into the Unknown How farther shall you take me, O beautiful maiden? Your boat of gold will be moored In the harbour of which eden? Whenever I ask,…

Gandharir Abedan (Gandhari’s Plea) by Rabindranath Tagore The following is my translation of an extract from Rabindranath Tagore’s poem/ play Gandharir Abedan (Gandhari’s Plea). The initial section of the poem is a conversation between Dhritarashtra, the blind king of the Kauravas and his son, the prince Duryodhan. The conversation is taking place at a moment…

Bojhapora (An Understanding) by Rabindranath Tagore My first attempt at translating a Tagore poem. The original can be found here Tell thyself today, Whether the truth be stormy or breezy Let it on your mind sit easy. Some do love you While others can’t bring themselves to, Some are sold already, while the other Do…