Nov 25, 2011

Flows a cascade of eternal joy

বহে নিরন্তর অনন্ত আনন্দধারা
bahe nirantar ananta anandadhara (audio)

Flows a cascade of eternal joy
Everlasting and endless
Echoes in the boundless beyond
A sound sans beginning sans end
Awaken the sun, moon and stars
So uncountably infinite

In this kingdom of His creation
So unique and complete in itself
Reigns the Supreme One
The Greatest Emperor of all

In awe-struck amazement
In unblinking wonder
Bows the universe at His feet
Countless His devotees
Stunned into spellbound silence

Nov 24, 2011

Every day I shall bow to you

আজি প্রণমি তোমারে চলিব 
 Aji pronomi tomare (audio: Sagar Sen)

Every day I shall bow to you
master, in all my worldly tasks.
Hold my gaze in my heart.

You are housed within me
Remind me you are here.
When sinful thoughts seek me out
let them die in reprimand.

In all confusion all day long
play your music on and on.
I shall meet others on my path,
remind me that you are there.

Moment by moment
in all I see and all I speak
in all my tasks and all I think
make wholesome melodies with my heart.


A guiding star lights a deep dark night

নিবিড় ঘন আঁধারে   জ্বলিছে ধ্রুবতারা
Nibiro ghono aa(n)dhare jolichhe dhrubotara (audio: Srabani Sen)

A guiding star lights a deep dark night.
Do not surrender, my wavering mind!

Bleak with misery, don't stop your song.
End the phantom, realize your light.

Keep your power and an endless faith.
Keep your love for this beautiful earth.

Whether sad or happy, walk in sync.
Fill your heart with the heavenly drink.

Nov 22, 2011

I am aware of your boundless love

তুমি যে আমারে চাও 
Tumi je amare chao
Audio: Debabrata Biswas

I am aware of your boundless love
Your poignant desire, for me.
I am aware, why, even so
You make me cry.

I can comprehend
Why you hide,
Ensconcing your face
In mazes of light and shade,
Evoking your call
During my earthly errands
Through ethereal, vibrant tunes

After the bartering of hearts
Is done for the day
After we have exchanged
Every song,
I understand, why you sail away
In the last craft of twilight.

Nov 21, 2011

The small world I live in

অল্প লইয়া থাকি 
Olpo loiya thaki tai
Audio: Subinoy Roy

In the small world I live  in
My losses, deprivations
Seem fateful.
I mourn the smallest sacrifice
That comes my way.

I am like the river-shore
That tries to own
Every passing drift
Yet the waves come up to me,
Break my heart, and heave away

What I may have
And what I may not
Are all riches for you to keep
Why can't I see, nothing is lost
In your prodigious cosmos?

How many moons and suns
You contain, my lord,
How many grains and atoms
Are in your command,
And yet, nothing is ever lost
However small
In your safekeeping.

Won't the little that I lose
Find a space to fill, too,
In your magnum opus,
At your grand seat?

My heart heard a whisper

নিশীথে কী কয়ে গেল মনে 
Nisheethe ki koye gyalo mone
Audio: Hemanta Mukherjee

My heart heard a whisper
Maybe in my wakefulness,
Maybe, my slumber
It was dark.

As I travel, or pause,
My day meshed in hustle,
Chores, judgements,
Tumble down my path

Yet, the secret speaks to me
In silence, ever so often,
Like a chant, like a dream.

I am unsure
If this feels like a strange hurt
If it is a chill of fear
Or victory

I listen to the quiet voice
Echo, 'Stop here,'
In swerving tunes, whisper,
'Far you go!'

Could it be
A resonance in my heart
Or the sky ladling songs?

I wonder if you have come to me

তুমি কি এসেছ মোর দ্বারে
Tumi ki eshecho mor (audio)

I wonder if you have come to me
In quest of my sleeping heart.

Your call wakes blossoms
on winter trees.

It clears path for
verdant grass yet unseen
to move the earth.

With the call dawn appears
showers light
responds to you
from the great unseen.

Who do you look for

কার মিলন চাও বিরহী
Kar milono chao birohi
Audio: Suchitra Mitra

Who do you look for
as if you lost your love.
Who do you look for
in a wild world.

You try to find him
in shades and puzzles
strange and unseen.
See His Master's feet
touch your lotus heart
in beauty and light.

Nov 18, 2011

Here you are, my Beauty!

এই লভিনু সঙ্গ তব
 Ei lobhinu shongo tobo (audio)

Here you are, my Beauty!
My limbs are blessed,
My heart is humbled
I am transformed!

My eyes unfold
with the dawn in wonder.

Sweetness spreads with the wind
in my inner sky.


My heart blooms with your touch.
Your presence fills me with joy.
Give me rebirth.

Many lives in one, my Beauty!

Timeless friend, strength and peace

চিরবন্ধু চিরনির্ভর চিরশান্তি
Chirobondhu chironirbhoro chiroshaanti (audio: Dwijen Mekhopadhyay)


Timeless friend, strength and peace
there is so much wellness in your world

in all my life, my companion.
Your love rains down on my heart
it is here you live.

Songs celebrate you in your world
moment by moment, day and night. 

(another version by Rumela)

You are O Lord forever
My friend, my guide, my peace

You are forever the source of well-being
The constant companion my whole life long

O Lord of my heart
You are the fountain of love forever
Your world sings your glorious song 
Forever through night and day

Nov 15, 2011

Tonight my beloved is up

জাগে নাথ জোছনারাতে 
jaage natho jochona raate (audio)

Tonight my beloved 

is up in the moonshine.
Come and meet him, dear heart.
Do not close your eyes.


The silence of the moon,
the muteness of the stars
are musical.

The earth and the sky 
are fully awake
with Beauty.

Nov 14, 2011

Shower your sun on the sightless

অন্ধজনে দেহো আলো
Ondho jone deho alo
audio: Maya Sen

Shower your sun on the sightless
Lavish your breath on the dead.
You are a magical river of love,
let your grace water my heart.

My breath has been sapped,
my eyes turned to ice,
move me to tears
with your loving bliss.

Embrace he, who lost you
contain the confused heart.
Refresh my thirst
with your nectarine tenderness.

I found you once
but I lost you with my indifference
When did I fall asleep?

As I rise, all is dark.
I can not divulge my tears,
I have failed to soothe my thirst.

For eternity,
I have not heard you speak
I have sorely missed
your loving voice

Will you accept my suffering,
and show up,
will you surprise my lonely heart?

Nov 13, 2011

Each moment, master

প্রতিদিন আমি, হে জীবনস্বামী
Protidino ami he jeebonoshami
audio: Kanika Banerjee

Each moment, master

with an easy bow
I shall face you
as I stand.

Under the sprawling sky
in solitude and simplicity
with  tears and humility
I shall face you
as I stand.

In the human conundrum
in many errands
among everyone
I shall face you
as I stand.

When my task in your world
is all over and done
alone and silent
I shall face you
as I stand.




(another version by Rumela Sengupta:)

Each day I’ll stand in front of you
O Lord of my life
I’ll stand in front of you with folded hands
O Lord of this world

Beneath your boundless blue skies
With humble heart and tearful eyes
I’ll stand in front of you in secluded solitude

In this world of myriad shades
Beyond the shores of action and activity
Amidst the multitudes that throng your world
I’ll stand in front of you face to face

When my work in your world is done
O King of kings
I’ll stand in front of you alone in silence

Nov 8, 2011

Sweet yet is separation

বিরহ মধুর হল আজি মধুরাতে
birawho modhuro holo aaji (audio)

Sweet yet is separation
In this night so enchanting
Plays a melody profound
Strumming the pain deep within

An anxious thirst
A restless yen
A desire invisible
Pervades this Poornima night
And deludes my perception
With a piteous mirage

Adrift on a balmy breeze
A fragrance from far beyond
Wanders into my being
Tosses, turns, twirls around
A wayfarer lost and forlorn

Whose plaintive voice do I hear?
In the music of murmurs
To the rhythm of rustles
The sweet symphony of leaves
Tinkles with it my anklet
Pulsating to the same beat

(another version by Anondo)

A heartache sweet with sorrow
A night flushed with moonlight
To catch a fleeting glance
sleepless eyes
are easily deceived

A sinuous fragrance from faraway
weighs down the breeze
My journey is lost in trance

Whispering webs of leaves
brings alive a lyrical message
with a beat
Ankle-bells rebound within