Beloved Soil of My Motherland (O Amar Desher Mati)
Translation  © Monish R Chatterjee 2020
Soil
of my beloved land, I bow my head to you.
Upon
you is spread the anchal of she who permeates all
She
who is the Universal Mother.
Soil
of my beloved land, I bow my head to you.
You
have entered my flesh and blood, mingled with my heart and soul
Your
gentle, verdant and tranquil image is etched upon my being-
Soil
of my beloved land, I bow my head to you.
Mother-
in your lap was my birth, in your embrace, too, shall be my end
Upon you, Mother, my play forever in
happiness and sorrow.
You
assuaged my hunger with nourishing grains,
With cool
water quenched my thirst
You
are the all-enduring, ever tolerant Mother of Mothers.
Mother,
I have partaken much of your bounty, and received beyond measure
Yet
I know not what I have ever given you back in gratitude!
My
life, Mother, has been spent in aimless pursuits
I
spent my days whiling away my time within my four walls
O source of all strength- in vain,
alas, you vouchsafed to me my strength.
anchal: the flowing free end of a sari, usually cascaded over the shoulder.
YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhTVPj5dApA
The next song, Ayi Bhuvanamonomohini, was included among the prayer songs performed at Mahatma Gandhi's prayer gatherings. Cynthia Snodgrass used the version below as translated by this author in her dissertation, Sounds of Satyagraha (2011).
Peerless, Alluring Enchantress (Ayi Bhuvanamonomohini)
Translation  © Monish R Chatterjee 1992
Peerless,
alluring enchantress of the Earth!
Pure,
serene, sun-drenched- ageless Mother of all.
Feet awash in the blue waters of Sindhu,
Verdant anchal swaying gently
in the breeze-
Mighty Himachal, your vast
forehead
Peaks capped in virgin snow, lofty
and majestic
Rising to kiss the sky!
The
first Dawn, dispelling all darkness-
Appeared
in your skies;
The first glorious chants of Sama tunes
Arose from your forest hermitages;
From your woodlands and hamlets
Transmitted near and far-
The first words of Wisdom, Dharma,
Epics and fables of inspiration.
Ever-benevolent
Mother, glory, glory be to you-
Feeding
the hungry at home and abroad;
The waters of Jahnavi and Jamuna,
Streams of molten compassion
Carry from your breasts
The blessed nectar of eternal life!
Sindhu - another name for the river Indus.
Himachal - another
name for the Himalayas.
Sama - holy chants from
Vedic India, sung in hermitages.
Dharma
- Hindu concept of
the righteous path.
Jahnavi,
Jamuna- holy
rivers (Ganga and Yamuna) in India.
YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5m8QdqU328
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
