Geetanjali - by Ravindranatha Tagore

[Guest guest]

Yesterday night I bumped into the book by Tagore in my collection and was

captivated by it. Those who have not heard Tagore, he won Nobel prize for

his book - Geetanjali - It was originally written in Bengali and he himslef

translated it into English.

 

The book I had, had the introduction by the famous poet Yates.

 

When I was reading the poetry, I was deeply moved.

 

Geetaanjali - anjali means a reverential offering of handfull. Hence Tagore

offers these songs with reverential attitude to his master. Who is his

master you will know when you read.

 

Songs are the expressions of the longing of the innersoul for the divine. I

will try to transcribe to the extent I can. The parenthetical inserts are

my commets. Enjoy if you can.

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda

-----

 

Life of my life, I shall ever try to keep my body pure,

knowing that thy living touch is upon all my limbs.

 

I shall ever try to keep all untruths out from my thoughts.

knowing that thou art that truth which has kindled the light of reason in

my mind.

 

I shall ever try to drive all evils away from my heart and keep my love in

flower,

knowing that thou hast thy seat in the inmost shrine of my heart.

 

And it shall be my endeavour to reveal thee in my actions,

knowing it is thy power gives me strength to act.

 

 

 

-----------------

 

 

(As we were discussing about Krishna and gopies - Listerning to Krishna's

divine music: His flute plays all the time, to hear His music, and dance

like Gopies we need to open our hearts from where the music is sung. Here

is one listener to that music of the heart)

 

 

I know not how thou singest, my master!

I ever listen in silent amazement.

 

The light of thy music illumines the world.

The life breath of thy music runs from sky to sky.

 

The holy stream of thy music breaks through all stony obstacles and rushes on.

 

My heart longs to join in thy song, but vainly struggles for a voice.

 

I would speak, but speech breaks not into song,

and I cry out baffled.

 

Ah, thou hast made my heart captive in the endless meshes of thy music, my

master!

 

------

(Moment to be with his master)

 

I ask for a moment's indulgence to sit by thy side.

The works that I have in hand I will finish afterwards.

 

Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor respite,

and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil.

 

Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs;

and the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.

 

Now it is time to sit quiet, face to face with thee,

and to sing dedication of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.

 

------------

 

(A longing of a surrendering heart)

 

Pluck this little flower and take it, delay not!

I fear lest it droop and drop into the dust.

 

It may not find a place in thy garland,

but honour it with a touch of pain from thy hand and pluck it.

 

I fear lest the day end before I am aware,

and the time of offering go by.

 

Though its color be not deep and its smell be faint,

use this flower in thy service and pluck it while there is time.

 

--------------------

 

(Let His divine music flow though this body, a flute with seven holes)

 

My song has put off her adorements.

She has no pride of dress and decoration.

 

Ornaments would mar our union; they would come between thee and me; their

jingling would drown thy whispers.

 

My poet's vanity dies in shame before thy sight.

O master poet, I have sat down at thy feet.

 

Only let me make my life simple and straight,

like a flute of reed for thee to fill with music.

 

--------------------------

More later.

 

K. Sadananda

Code 6323

Naval Research Laboratory

Washington D.C. 20375

Voice (202)767-2117

Fax:(202)767-2623