A song by Rajanikanta Sen, translated
This is a very modest attempt in translating a devotional song written by Rajanikanta Sen. If interested, you may listen to the song sung by Krishna Chatterjee by clicking here
Bengali
কবে তৃষিত এ মরু ছাড়িয়া যাইব
তোমারি রসালো নন্দনে
কবে তাপীত এ চিত করিব শীতল
তোমারি করুনা চন্দনে।
কবে তোমাতে হয়ে যাব
আমার আমি হারা
তোমারি নাম নিতে
নয়নে ববে ধারা
ভেবে ও শিহরিবে, ব্যাকুল হবে প্রাণ
বিপুল পুলক স্পন্দনে।
কবে ভবের সুখদুঃখ চরণে দলিয়া
যাত্রা করিব গো শ্রী হরি বলিয়া,
চরণ টলিবে না, হৃদয় গলিবে না
কাহার আকুল ক্রন্দনে।
Translated into English
When will I traverse
This thirsty desert
To reach your luscious abode,
When will this frenzied heart
Heal in your magical ode
That soothes like a chandan* balm.
When will my pride immerse,
When will I lose myself in you,
When will tears stream from my eyes
As soon as I take your name?
I will shiver in my thoughts
My soul will yearn
My heart will beat
Without guilt or shame!
When will I trample
All earthly joy and woes
When will I embark
By calling out Srihari*
When will my
Feet not tremble,
Heart not melt
Despite anyone’s
Wailing, lament.
chandan* – it is a paste made out of sandalwood; traditionally it is applied on deities and also on the face of disciples, gurus, sadhus to physically cleanse one’s face from sins.
Srihari* – Srihari is the name of a Hindu God Vishnu, also known as the Supreme friend
Translated into French
C’est un essai très modeste de traduire une chanson spirituelle écrite par Rajanikanta Sen. Si vous voulez, vous pouvez écouter la chanson chantée par la chanteuse Krishna Chatterjee en cliquant ici
Quand vais-je traverser ce désert assoiffé
Pour atteindre votre somptueuse demeure,
Quand est-ce que ce cœur frénétique
Va guérir à l’aide de votre ode magique
Tout comme un baume chandan*.
Quand ma fierté plongera-t-elle,
Quand vais-je me perdre en vous,
Quand couleront-elles les larmes de mes yeux
Dès que je prends votre nom?
Je vais trembler dans mes pensées
Mon âme aspirera, mon cœur battra
Sans culpabilité ni honte!
Quand vais-je piétiner
Toute joie et tous les malheurs terrestres,
Quand vais-je embarquer
En criant votre nom de Srihari*
Quand les pieds ne tremblent plus,
Le cœur ne fond plus
Malgré le gémissement
De n’importe qui, de n’importe où.
chandan* – c’est une pâte faite de bois de santal; il est traditionnellement appliqué sur les divinités et également sur le visage des disciples, des gourous, ou des sadhus pour nettoyer physiquement son visage des péchés.
Srihari* – Srihari est le nom d’un dieu hindou Vishnu, également connu comme l’ami suprème.
A very romantic poem skilfully translated into two languages which shows your versatility.
This means I have passed. Thank you very much Luigi.
Sorry Goth for this delay. I was laughing my lungs out upon reading the last paragraph! I am amazed at how a foreigner sees my script. You are very right, romantic love or transcendentalism was never rushed for time, it came to us very slowly and I agree that literature in our part of the world came out of immeasurable opulence. However, through time, literature also flourished out of extreme poverty, famine for example, where the full moon was compared to that of a burnt ruti (chapati), poets were writing about the stark differences between the poor and the rich.… Read more »
This is such a lovely song yearning for the Supreme Love. Bengali Literature is rich in devotional songs where divine love is described with passion, akin to romantic love, and renunciation is an important ingredient of reaching that goal. You have done a commendable, almost literal translation, without losing any of the inferred meanings. Kudos to you! Thanks for bringing this song to my notice.
Thank you Sumita for reading and commenting so authentically. I say authentically because you are also a bengali and your comments count here very much. Slowly, start contributing here. It’s a genuine site for readers and writers. You may also introduce your published English novel The Heart of Donna Rai in parts and see how it is taken here. I am delighted to translate your book in Bengali and French. Let’s keep writing.
Blessings
Supratik
Thank you, Supratik, for your thoughtful advice. I will post some of my poems, and then extracts from my book.
All the very best!