Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Tears, Idle Tears

by Lord Alfred Tennyson

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.

Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail,
That brings our friends up from the underworld,
Sad as the last which reddens over one
That sinks with all we love below the verge;
So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.

Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns
The earliest pipe of half-awakened birds
To dying ears, when unto dying eyes
The casement slowly grows a glimmering square;
So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.

Dear as remembered kisses after death,
And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feigned
On lips that are for others; deep as love,
Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;
O Death in Life, the days that are no more

Friday, May 16, 2008

Avatar

कवि: वेद व्यास

Poet: Ved Vyas

Translation: the maVerick

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत ।
अभ्युत्थानं अधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम ॥
Yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
Abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamyaham

O Bharat! Whenever, wherever
dharma is corrupted, on the decline
And adharma takes hold, I
manifest myself, in an avatar mine

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम ।
धर्म संस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवानि युगे युगे ॥

(महाभारत से)
Paritranaya saadhunam
vinashaya cha dushkrrtam
Dharm sansthapnarthaya
sambhavani yuge yuge
For the deliverance of the virtuous
and for destruction of evil
For the establishment of dharma
in every era, I become possible

(from the epic poem Mahabharata)


Hindi version - हिन्दी में
Translation: Anonymous
(Loose translation - transformation of first person to third person)

जब जब होए धरम की हानि
बाढ़ें असुर अधम अभिमानी
तब तब परभु ले मनुज सरीरा
नासें कस्ट हरें सब पीरा

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Karm (Duty)


कवि: वेद व्यास

Poet: Ved VyasTranslation: the maVerick
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते संगोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥

(महाभारत से)
Karmanyevadhikaraste ma faleshu kadachan
Ma karmfalheturburma te sangostvakarmane
You are entitled only to your assigned actions,
Don't hanker for the fruit of your labor
Do not think you caused the results,
And never from doing your duty waver

(from the epic poem Mahabharata)

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Fire and Ice

Poet: Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

A Poison Tree

Poet: William Blake

I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears
Night and morning with my tears,
And I sunned it with smiles
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright,
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine -

And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning, glad, I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

The Road Not Taken

Poet: Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Monday, December 31, 2007

O Do Not Love Too Long

Poet: William Butler Yeats

Sweetheart, do not love too long:
I loved long and long,
And grew to be out of fashion
Like an old song.
All through the years of our youth
Neither could have known
Their own thought from the other's,
We were so much at one.
But O, in a minute she changed -
O do not love too long,
Or you will grow out of fashion
Like an old song.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Love and Power

Poet: "Gurudev" Rabindranath Tagore

Power said to the world, "You are mine."
The world kept it prisoner on her throne.
Love said to the world, "I am thine."
The world gave it the freedom of her house.

(excerpt from his long poem "Stray Birds")

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

The Indian Serenade

Poet: Percy Bysshe Shelley

I arise from dreams of thee
In the first sweet sleep of night,
When the winds are breathing low,
And the stars are shining bright.
I arise from dreams of thee,
And a spirit in my feet
Has led me -who knows how?
To thy chamber-window, Sweet!

The wandering airs they faint
On the dark, the silent stream -
The champak odours fail
Like sweet thoughts in a dream;
The nightingale's complaint,
It dies upon her heart,
As I must die on thine,
O beloved as thou art!

Oh lift me from the grass!
I die! I faint! I fail!
Let thy love in kisses rain
On my lips and eyelids pale.
My cheek is cold and white, alas!
My heart beats loud and fast;
Oh press it close to thine again,
Where it will break at last!

Friday, September 14, 2007

Kabir ke Dohe (Kabir's Couplets)

कवि: कबीर

Poet: KabirTranslation: the maVerick
गुरु गोबिन्द दोउ खडे काके लागूँ पाँय
बलिहारी गुरु आपने गोबिन्द दियो बताय
Guru gobind dou khade,
kaake lagoon paay
Balihari guru aapne
gobind diyo batay

Guru and God both are here
to whom should I first bow
All glory be unto the guru
path to God who did bestow

कबीरा ते नर अंध है गुरु को कहते और
हरि रूठे गुरु ठौर है गुरु रूठे नही ठौर
Kabira te nar andh hai,
guru ko kahate aur
Hari roothe guru thaur hai,
guru roothe nahi thaur

O Kabir, that man is blind
who doesn't understand the guru
If God's angry, guru's the refuge
no refuge for one who angers guru

जो तोको काँटा बुवे ताहे बोव तू फूल
तोहे फूल को फूल है ताहे है तिरसूल
Jo toko kaanta buve,
taahe bov tu phool
Tohe phool ko phool hai,
taahe hai tirsool

For those who sow thorns for you
you should sow a flower
For you flower's a flower but
for them it's a spear dour

तिनका कबहु ना निन्दिये जो पांव तल्ले होए
कबहु उडि आंख पडे पीर घनेरी होए
Tinka kabahu na nindiye,
jo paanv talle hoye
Kabahu udi aankh pade,
peer ghaneri hoye

Don't insult even a speck
though it's under your foot
Think how painful it'd be if
it flew into your eye like soot

बड़ा हुआ तो क्या हुआ जैसे पेड़ खजूर
पंथी को छाया नहीं फल लागे अति दूर
Bada hua toh kya hua,
jaise ped khajoor
Panthi ko chhaya nahi,
phal laage ati door

Having stature is not enough
if one's like a tree of date
No shade to tired trekker
fruit's too high up to eat

बड़ा ना होवे गुणन बिन बिरद बड़ाई पाय
कहत धतूरे सो कनक गेंहू गरियो ना जाय
Bada na hove gunan bin,
birad badai paye
Kahat dhatoore so kanak,
genhu gariyo na jaye

No one's great without qualities
howmuchever they may be praised
Thornapple is called gold
wheat it still can't replace

ऐसी बानी बोलिए मन का आपा खोय
औरन को सीतल करे आपहु सीतल होय
Aisi baani boliye,
man ka aapa khoye
Auran ko seetal kare,
aapahu seetal hoye

Speak in words so sweet
that fill the heart with joy
Like a cool breeze in summer
for others and self to enjoy

बुरा जो देखन मैं चली बुरा ना मिल्या कोय
जो मन खोजा आपना मुझ से बुरा ना कोय
Bura jo dekhan mai chali,
bura na milya koi
Jo man khoja aapna,
mujhse bura na koi

I searched for evil
and I could find none
I looked in my heart,
found the biggest one

साधू ऐसा चाहिऐ जैसा सूप सुभाय
सार सार को गहि रहे थोथा देय उडाय
Saadhu aisa chahiye,
jaisa soop subhay
Saar saar ko gahi rahe,
thotha de udaay

A gentleman is like
a thresher in character
As it absorbs the core
fluff it lets skitter

माटी कहे कुम्हार से तू क्या रौंदे मोय
एक दिन ऐसा आएगा मैं रौंदूंगी तोय
Maati kahe kumhar se,
tu kya raunde moye
Ek din aisa aayega,
main raundoongi toye

Earth says to the potter
you think you knead me
One day soon you'll see
I'll knead you easily

काल करे सो आज कर आज करे सो अब
पल में परलै होयगी बहुरि करेगा कब
Kaal kare so aaj kar,
aaj kare so ab
Pal mein parlai hoyegi,
bahuri karega kab

Tomorrow's work, do today
today's work, do now
Life will end in a moment
when will you do it, how

धीरे धीरे रे मना धीरे सब कुछ होए
माली सींचे सौ घड़ा रुत आये फल होए
Dheere dheere re manaa,
dheere sab kuchh hoye
Maali seenche sau ghada,
rut aaye phal hoye

Gradually, my heart, gradually
everything happens in its due course
Gardner could water a hundred times
fruits are not borne by force

माया मरी ना मन मरा मर मर गए शरीर
आशा तृष्णा ना मरी कह गए दास कबीर
Maya mari na man maraa,
mar mar gaye sareer
Aasha trishna naa mari,
kah gaye daas Kabir

Illusions nor desires died
bodies died over and again
Hope and wants do not die
says Kabir, that's the game

कबिरा प्याला प्रेम का अंतर लिया लगाय
रोम रोम में रमी रहे और अमल क्या खाय
Kabira pyaala prem ka,
antar liya lagaye
Rom rom mein rami rahe,
aur amal kya khaye

Kabir, the cup of love
I've ingested, assimilated
It's in my every pore
nothing's more intoxicating

पोथी पढी पढी जग मुआ पंडित भया ना कोय
ढाई आखर प्रेम का पढे सो पंडित होय
Pothi padhi padhi jag mua,
pandit bhaya na koi
Dhai aakhar prem ka,
padhe so pandit hoye
Read all books in the world
it will not make you wise
Only wise ones are that know
four letter that love comprise

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Where the Mind is Without Fear

Poet: "Gurudev" Rabindranath Tagore

Where the mind is without fear
and the head is held high;

Where knowledge is free,
Where the world has not been
broken up into fragments
by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out
from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving
stretches its arm towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way
into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind
is led forward by thee into
ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom,
my Father, let my country awake.

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Not in Vain

Poet: Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

Friday, June 01, 2007

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Poet: Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Hope is the thing with Feathers

Poet: Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Confessions of a born spectator

Poet: Ogden Nash

One infant grows up and becomes a jockey
Another plays basketball or hockey

This one the prize ring hates to enter
That one becomes a tackle or center

I am just glad as glad can be
That I am not them, that they are not me

With all my heart I do admire
Athletes who sweat for fun or hire

Who take the field in gaudy pomp
And maim each other as they romp

My limp and bashful spirit feeds
On other people's heroic deeds

Now A runs ninety yards to score
B knocks the champion to the floor

Crisking vertebrae and spines
Lashes his steed across the line

You'd think my ego it would please
To swap positions with one of these

Well, ego it might be pleased enough
But zealous athletes play so rough

They do not ever in their dealings
Consider one another's feelings

I'm glad that when my struggle begins
'Twixt prudence and ego, prudence wins

When swollen eye meets gnarled first
When snaps the knee, and cracks the wrist

When officialdom demands
Is there a doctor in the stands?

My soul in true thanksgiving speaks
For this modest of physiques

"Athletes, I'll drink to you,
Or eat with you
Or anything except compete with you

Buy tickets worth their radium
To watch you gamble in the stadium

And reassure myself anew
That you are not me and I'm not you

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Time

Poet: Percy Bysshe Shelley

Unfathomable Sea! whose waves are years,
Ocean of Time, whose waters of deep woe
Are brackish with the salt of human tears!
Thou shoreless flood, which in thy ebb and flow
Claspest the limits of mortality,
And sick of prey, yet howling on for more,
Vomitest thy wrecks on its inhospitable shore;
Treacherous in calm, and terrible in storm,
Who shall put forth on thee,
Unfathomable Sea?

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Aur bhi doon (To give some more)

कवि: राम अवतार त्यागी

Poet: Ram Avtar Tyagi

Translation: the maVerick

मन समर्पित, तन समर्पित
और यह जीवन समर्पित
चाहता हूँ देश की धरती तुझे कुछ और भी दूं

Man samarpit, tan samarpit
Aur yah jeevan samarpit
Chaahtaa hoon desh ki dharti tujhey kuchh aur bhi doon


Soul is yours, body is yours
And my whole life is yours
Motherland, I want to give you some more

माँ तुम्हारा ॠण बहुत है, मैं अकिंचन
किन्तु इतना कर रहा फिर भी निवेदन
थाल में लाऊँ सजा कर भाल जब भी
कर दया स्वीकार लेना वह समर्पण

Ma tumhara rin bahut hai, mai akinchan
Kintu itna kar raha phir bhi nivedan
Thaal mein laoo saja kar bhaal jab bhi
Kar daya sweekar lena wah samarpan


Mother my debt to you is great, I'm tiny
Even so, here's my humble request
When I bring my sacrificial head
Please do accept the modest bequest

गान अर्पित, प्राण अर्पित
रक्त का कण कण समर्पित
चाहता हूँ देश की धरती तुझे कुछ और भी दूं

Gaan arpit, Praan arpit
Raqt ka kan kan samarpit
Chaahtaa hoon desh ki dharti tujhey kuchh aur bhi doon


Songs are yours, spirit is yours
Every drop of my blood is yours
Motherland, I want to give you some more

मांज दो तलवार, लाओ न देरी
बाँध दो कस कर क़मर पर ढाल मेरी
भाल पर मल दो चरण की धूल थोड़ी
शीश पर आशीष की छाया घनेरी

Maanj do talwaar, lao na deri
Bandh do kas kar kamar par dhaal meri
Bhaal par mal do charan ki dhool thodi
Sheesh par asheesh ki chhaya ghaneri


Whet the machete, don't delay
Tie the shield securely to my belt
Your blessings be my armor, and
On forehead, some dust from your feet

स्वप्न अर्पित, प्रश्न अर्पित
आयु का क्षण क्षण समर्पित
चाहता हूँ देश की धरती तुझे कुछ और भी दूं

Swapn arpit, prashn arpit
Aayu ka kshan kshan samarpit
Chaahtaa hoon desh ki dharti tujhey kuchh aur bhi doon


Dreams are yours, questions are yours
Every breath of my existence is yours
Motherland, I want to give you some more

तोड़ता हूँ मोह का बन्धन, क्षमा दो
गांव मेरे, द्वार, घर, आंगन क्षमा दो
आज सीधे हाथ में तलवार दे दो
और बायें हाथ में ध्वज को थमा दो

Todta hoon moh ka bandhan, kshama do
Gaon mere, dwar, ghar, aangan kshama do
Aaj seedhe haath mein talwaar de do
Aur bayeen haath mein dhwaj ko thama do


Breaking the bonds of love, and I beg pardon
Village, home, farm of mine, I beg pardon
Today, just give me a sword in the right
And in my left give me the banner emblem

यह सुमन लो, यह चमन लो
नीड़ का त्रण त्रण समर्पित
चाहता हूँ देश की धरती तुझे कुछ और भी दूं
Yah suman lo, yah chaman lo
Need ka tran tran samarpit
Chaahtaa hoon desh ki dharti tujhey kuchh aur bhi doon
Take this flower, take this garden
Every twig of my nest is yours
Motherland, I want to give you some more

Thursday, February 08, 2007

The horseshoe nail

Poet: George Herbert

For the want of a nail
The shoe is lost

For the want of a shoe
The horse is lost

For the want of a horse
The rider is lost

For the want of a rider
The battle is lost

For the want of a battle
The kingdom is lost

And all for the loss
Of a horse shoe nail

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Jeevan nahi mara karta hai (Life - it does not die)

कवि: गोपाल दास "नीरज"

Poet: Gopal Das "Neeraj"

Translation: the maVerick

छिप छिप अश्रु बहाने वालो
मोती व्यर्थ लुटाने वालो
कुछ सपनो के मर जाने से
जीवन नही मरा करता है

Chhip chhip ashru bahaney walo
Moti vyarth lutaney walo
Kuchh sapno ke mar jaaney se
Jeevan nahi mara karta hai

O thee who stealthily shed tears
Who waste these pearls of their eye
If some dreams cease to be
Life doesn't end, it doesn't die

सपना क्या है, नयन सेज पर
सोया हुआ आंख का पानी
और टूटना है उसका ज्यों
जागे कच्ची नींद जवानी

Sapna kya hai, nayan sej par
Soya hua aankh ka paani
Aur tootna hai uska jyon
Jaagey kachchi neend jawani

What's a dream? Just a dew-drop
On your eye, amidst a siesta deep
And its dissipation is as if
Youth is woken-up mid-sleep

गीली उमर बनाने वालो
डूबे बिना नहाने वालो
कुछ पानी के बह जाने से
सावन नही मरा करता है

Geeli umar bananey walo
Doobey bina nahaney walo
Kuchh paani ke bah jaaney se
Saawan nahi mara karta hai

O thee who make their lives moist
Who bathe, but don't immerse, o why
If some water flows out and away
Monsoon doesn't end, it doesn't die

माला बिखर गई तो क्या
खुद ही हल हो गई समस्या
आँसू ग़र नीलाम हुए तो
समझो पूरी हुई तपस्या

Maala bikhar gai to kya
Khud hi hal ho gai samasya
Anshoo gar neelaam huey toh
Samjho poori hui tapasya

So what if the beads scattered
The problem is resolved per se
If your tears are auctioned off
Then your penance is complete

रूठे दिवस मनाने वालो
फटी कमीज़ सिलाने वालो
कुछ दीपों के बुझ जाने से
आंगन नही मरा करता है

Roothey diwas mananey walo
Fati kameez silaaney walo
Kuchh deepon ke bujh jaaney se
Aangan nahi mara karta hai

O thee who spend their days glum
Who sew their torn shirts and cry
If some lamps get extinguished
The porch stays, it doesn't die

खोता कुछ भी नहीं यहाँ पर
के़वल जिल्द बदलती पोथी
जैसे रात उतार चांदनी
पहने सुबह धूप की धोती

Khota kuchh bhi nahi yahan par
Kewal jild badalti pothi
Jaise raat utaar chaandni
Pehne subah dhoop ki dhoti

Nothing gets lost here
The book changes its cover
Like the night peels moonlight
In the morn to be sun-ray lover

वस्त्र बदलकर आने वालो
चाल बदलकर जाने वालो
चंद खिलौनों के खोने से
बचपन नही मरा करता है

Vastr badalkar aaney walo
Chaal badalkar jaaney walo
Chand khilono ke khoney se
Bachpan nahi mara karta hai

O thee who change clothes and come
Who go, but in new pomp and style
If lost is the moon you thought a toy
Childhood doesn't end, it doesn't die

लाखों बार गगरियां फूटीं
शि़क़न न आई पर पनघट पर
लाखों बार कश्तियां डूबीं
चहल पहल वोही है तट पर

Laakhon baar gagriyan phooti
Shikan na aayi par panghat par
Laakhon baar kashtiyan doobi
Chahal pahal woi hai tat par

Many, many pots n pails have broken
Not a crease on the well's face o muscle
Many, many boats have sunk
The shore has the same hustle-bustle

तम की उम्र बढाने वालो
लौ की आयु घटाने वालो
लाख करे पतझर कोशिश पर
उपवन नही मरा करता है

Tam ki umr badhaaney walo
Lau ki aayu ghataaney walo
Laakh kare patjhar koshish par
Upvan nahi mara karta hai

O thee who extend the darkness
Who reduce the life of light
Fall may try, and then try
The orchard lives, it doesn't die

लूट लिया माली ने उपवन
लुटी न लेकिन गंध फूल की
तूफानों तक ने छेड़ा पर
खिड़की बंद न हुई धूल की

Loot liya maali ne upvan
Lutee na lekin gandh phool ki
Toofaano tak ne chheda par
Khidki band na hui dhool ki

The gardener pillaged the garden
Flower's fragrance couldn't be stolen
Even storms tried playing with it
But window of dust would remain open

नफरत गले लगाने वालो
सब पर धूल उडाने वालो
कुछ मुखडों की नाराज़ी से
दर्पन नही मरा करता है
Nafrat galey lagaaney walo
Sab par dhool udaaney walo
Kuchh mukhdon ki naaraazi se
Darpan nahi mara karta hai
O thee who embrace hatered
Who throw dirt on every guy
Even if some faces are upset
The mirror stays, it doesn't die

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Shakti aur Kshama (Strength and Mercy)

कवि: रामधारी सिंह "दिनकर"

Poet: Ramdhari Singh "Dinkar"Translation: the maVerick
क्षमा, दया, तप, त्याग, मनोबल
सबका लिया सहारा
पर नर व्याघ सुयोधन तुमसे
कहो कहाँ कब हारा?

Kshama, daya, tap, tyaag, manobal
Sabka liya sahara
Par nar vyagh Suyodhan tumse
Kaho kahan kab haara?

Mercy, resolve, tact, tolerance
You've tried everything and some
But o my king of men
When did Suyodhan succumb?

क्षमाशील हो ॠपु-सक्षम
तुम हुये विनीत जितना ही
दुष्ट कौरवों ने तुमको
कायर समझा उतना ही

Kshamasheel ho rrpu-saksham
Tum huye vineet jitna hi
Dusht Kauravon ne tumko
Kaayar samjha utna hi

The more forgiving you were
In your humane compassion
The more these rouge Kauravas
Pegged you as cowardly ashen

अत्याचार सहन करने का
कुफल यही होता है
पौरुष का आतंक मनुज
कोमल होकर खोता है

Atyachar sahan karne ka
Kufal yahi hota hai
Paurush ka aatank manuj
Komal hokar khota hai

This is the consequence
Of tolerating atrocities
The awe of machismo is lost
When one's gentle n kindly

क्षमा शोभती उस भुजंग को
जिसके पास गरल है
उसका क्या जो दंतहीन
विषरहित विनीत सरल है

Kshama shobhti us bhujang ko
Jiske paas garal hai
Uska kya jo dantheen
Vishrahit vineet saral hai

Forgiveness is becoming of
The serpent that's got venom
None cares for the toothless,
Poisonless, kind, gentle one

तीन दिवस तक पंथ मांगते
रघुपति सिंधु किनारे
बैठे पढते रहे छन्द
अनुनय के प्यारे प्यारे

Teen divas tak panth mangte
Raghupati sindhu kinare
Baithey padhtey rahey chhand
Anunay ke pyaare pyaare

For three days Lord Raam kept
Asking the ocean for a passage
Sitting there he petitioned
Using the sweetest words to engage

उत्तर में जब एक नाद भी
उठा नही सागर से
उठी अधीर धधक पौरुष की
आग राम के शर से

Uttar mein jab ek naad bhi
Utha nahi saagar se
Uthi adheer dhadhak paurush ki
Aag raam ke shar se

When in response there was
Not a whisper from the sea
A raging fire of endeavor
Rose from Raam's body

सिंधु देह धर त्राहि-त्राहि
करता आ गिरा शरण में
चरण पूज दासता गृहण की
बंधा मूढ़ बन्धन में

Sindhu deh dhar trahi-trahi
Karta aa gira sharan mein
Charan pooj daasta grrhan ki
Bandha moodh bandhan mein

The ocean took human-form
'N supplicated to Raam
Touched his feet, was subservient
A slave he had become

सच पूछो तो शर में ही
बसती है दीप्ति विनय की
संधिवचन सम्पूज्य उसीका
जिसमे शक्ति विजय की

Sach poochho to shar mein hi
Basti hai deepti vinay ki
Sandhivachan sampoojya usika
Jisme shakti vijay ki

Truth be told, it's in the quiver
That lies the gleam of modesty
Only his peace-talk is reputable
Who is capable of victory

सहनशीलता, क्षमा, दया को
तभी पूजता जग है
बल का दर्प चमकता उसके
पीछे जब जगमग है
Sahansheelta, kshama, daya ko
Tabhi poojta jag hai
Bal ka darp chamakta uskey
Peechhey jab jagmag hai
Tolerance, forgiveness and clemency
Are respected by the world
Only when the glow of strength
From behind them is unfurled

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Success is counted sweetest

Poet: Emily Dickinson

Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory!

As he, defeated, dying,
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Ozymandius

Poet: Percy Bysshe Shelley

I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert... Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal these words appear:
My name is Ozymandius, King of Kings,
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Khooni Hastakshar (Bloody Signature)

कवि: गोपाल प्रसाद व्यास

Poet: Gopal Prasad VyasTranslation: the maVerick
वह ख़ून कहो किस मतलब का
जिसमें उबाल का नाम नहीं!
वह ख़ून कहो किस मतलब का
आ सके देश के काम नहीं!

Wah khoon kaho kis matlab ka
Jisme ubaal ka naam nahi
Wah khoon kaho kis matlab ka
Aa sakey desh ke kaam nahi

Of what good is the blood
that can't come to a boil?
Of what good is the blood
that can't protect its soil?

वह ख़ून कहो किस मतलब का
जिसमें जीवन, न रवानी है!
जो परवश में होकर बहता है,
वह ख़ून नहीं है, पानी है!

Wah khoon kaho kis matlab ka
Jisme jeevan na ravaani hai
Jo parvash mein hokar behta hai
Wah khoon nahi hai paani hai

Of what good is the blood
that's not alive with ardor?
The blood that flows not free
it's not blood, it's water!

उस दिन लोगों ने सही सही
खूँ की कीमत पहचानी थी.
जिस दिन सुभाष ने बर्मा में
मांगी उनसे कुर्बानी थी.

Us din logon ne sahee sahee
Khoon ki keemat pehchaani thi
Jis din Subhash ne Burma mein
Maangi unsey qurbaani thi

The day blood got appreciated,
when people realized its worth
was in Burma when Subhash asked
them to sacrifice for their earth.

बोले, "स्वतंत्रता की खातिर,
बलिदान तुम्हें करना होगा.
तुम बहुत जी चुके हो जग में,
लेकिन आगे मरना होगा.

Bole swatantrata ki khatir
Balidaan tumhe karna hoga
Tum bahut ji chuke ho jag mein
Lekin aage marna hoga

He said, "For your freedom,
you'll have to sacrifice.
You've lived enough in the world;
now death is freedom's price.

आज़ादी के चरणों में जो
जयमाल चढाई जाएगी,
वह सुनो, तुम्हारे शीशों के
फूलों से गूंथी जाएगी.

Aazadi ke charno mein jo
jayamaal chadhai jayegi
Vah suno tumhare sheeshon ke
phoolon se goonthi jayegi

In the feet of freedom,
the gardland that is spread,
Listen! It will be woven
with your severed heads.

आज़ादी का संग्राम कहीं
पैसे पर खेला जाता है?
यह शीश कटाने का सौदा
नंगे सर झेला जाता है.

Aazadi ka sangram kahi
Paise par khela jata hai?
Ye sheesh katane ka sauda
Nange sar jhela jata hai

The battle for independence
isn't won on money, be sure.
Commitment to supreme sacrifice
is on barenecks endured.

आज़ादी का इतिहास कहीं
काली स्याही लिख पाती है?
इसके लिखने के लिए
खून की नदी बहाई जाती है."

Aazadi ka itihaas kahin
Kaali syaahi likh paati hai
Iske likhne ke liye
Khoon ki nadi bahai jaati hai

The history of freedom struggle,
in black ink isn't written or read.
For its sake, bravehearts have
let loose floods of blood red."

यूँ कहते कहते वक्ता की
आँखों में खून उतर आया.
मुख रक्त वर्ण हो गया
दमक उठी उनकी रक्तिम काया!

Yoon kahate kahate waqta ki
Ankhon mein khoon utar aaya
Mukh raqt varn ho gaya
Damk uthi unki raqtim kaya

In so saying the speaker's
eyes had become blood shot,
face had acquired blood's hue
blood-red body glowed, so hot.

आजानु बाहु ऊंची करके,
वे बोले, "रक्त मुझे देना.
इसके बदले में भारत की
आज़ादी तुम मुझसे लेना."

Aajaanu baahu oonchi karkey
Ve boley raqt mujhey dena
Iske badle mein Bharat ki
Aazadi tum mujhsey lena

He raised his hands, declared,
"Give me your blood, come.
And in fair exchange,
I will give you freedom."

हो गई सभा में उथल पुथल,
सीने में दिल न समाते थे.
स्वर इंकलाब के नारों के
कोसों तक झाए जाते थे.

Ho gai sabha mein uthal puthal
Seene mein dil na samate the
Swar inqlaab ke naaro ke
Koson tak chhaye jaate the

There was a tumult in the crowd,
hearts couldn't contain the joy.
Rallying cries traveled miles,
reaching the hoi polloi.

"हम देंगे देंगे ख़ून"
शब्द बस यही सुनाई देते थे.
रण में जाने को युवक खड़े
तैयार दिखाई देते थे.

Hum denge denge khoon
shabd bas yahi sunai dete the
Rann mein jaane ko yuvak khade
Tayyar dikhai dete the

"We are, we are ready to bleed"
Only these words could be heard.
To go into the battlefield,
men stood ready, undeterred.

बोले सुभाष, "इस तरह नहीं
बातों से मतलब सरता है.
लो, यह कागज़ है, कौन यहाँ
आकर हस्ताक्षर करता है?

Boley Subhash is tarah nahi
Baaton se matlab sarta hai
Lo yah kagaz hai kaun yahan
Aakar hastakshar karta hai

Subhash dared, "Not like this!
For they say talk is cheap.
Seal your commitment now
by signing on this sheet.

इसको भरनेवाले जन को
सर्वस्व-समर्पण करना है.
अपना तन-मन-धन-जन-जीवन
माता को अर्पण करना है.

Isko bharne wale jan ko
Sarvasv samarpan karna hai
Apna tan man dhan jan jeevan
Maata ko arpan karna hai

The person signing up here
has to dedicate his all -
possessions, relations, body, soul,
whole life to this clarion call.

पर यह साधारण पत्र नहीं,
आज़ादी का परवाना है.
इस पर तुमको अपने तन का
कुछ उज्ज्वल रक्त गिराना है!

Par yah saadhaaran patr nahi
Aazaadi ka parwana hai
Ispar tumko apney tan ka
Kuchh ujjval raqt girana hai

But this is no ordinary letter;
It's a declaration of independence.
Drop some virile blood of your body
on it, I give you the chance.

वह आगे आए जिसके तन में
खून भारतीय बहता हो!
वह आगे आए जो अपने को
हिन्दुस्तानी कहता हो!

Wah aage aaye jiske tan mein
Khoon bhartiya bahata ho
Wah aage aaye jo apne ko
Hindustani kahata ho

Step forward and be counted
if Indian blood's in your veins.
Step forward and be counted
if you call yourself Indians.

वह आगे आए, जो इस पर
खूनी हस्ताक्षर देता हो!
मैं कफन बढाता हूँ, आए
जो इसको हँसकर लेता हो!"

Wah aage aaye jo ispar
khooni hastakshar deta ho
Main qafan badhata hoon aaye
Jo isko hanskar leta ho

Step forward and be counted
by signing here in blood.
I offer a shroud, come,
to go with a smile into the mud."

सारी जनता हुंकार उठी -
हम आते हैं, हम आते हैं!
माता के चरणों में यह लो,
हम अपना रक्त चढाते हैं!

Saari janta hunkaar uthi
Hum aatey hain, hum aatey hain
Maataa ke charnon mein yah lo
Hum apna raqt chadhaate hain

Everyone shouted back,
here we come, here we come.
In the cause of the motherland,
we'll give our blood some.

साहस से बढे युवक उस दिन,
देखा, बढ़ते ही आते थे!
चाकू-छुरी कटारियों से,
अपना रक्त गिराते थे!

Saahas se badhey yuvak us din
Dekha badhtey hi aatey they
Chaaku chhuri kataariyon se
Apna raqt giraatey they

The youth advanced with courage,
and they kept climbing the stairs.
With blades, knives, and steel,
they'd drop some blood of theirs.

फिर उसी रक्त की स्याही में,
वे अपनी कलम डुबोते थे!
आज़ादी के परवाने पर
हस्ताक्षर करते जाते थे!

Phir usi raqt ki syaahi mein
Ve apna kalam dubotey they
Aazaadi ke parwaney par
Hastakshar kartey jatey they

Then in the ink of that blood,
they'd dip the nibs of their pen
and make their signatures on
the declaration of independence.

उस दिन तारों ने देखा था
हिन्दुस्तानी विश्वास नया.
जब लिखा था रणवीरों ने
खूँ से अपना इतिहास नया.
Us din taaron ne dekha tha
Hindustaani vishwas naya
Jab likha tha ranveeron ne
Khoon se apna itihaas naya
That day the stars of the sky
saw an Indian faith all new,
when with their blood, the braves
wrote India's history anew.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Partition

Poet: W.H.Auden
(the poem tells of how Sir Cyril Radcliffe was sent to fix the borders of the new countries)

Unbiased at least he was when he arrived on his mission,
Having never set eyes on the land he was called to partition
Between two peoples fanatically at odds,
With their different diets and incompatible gods.
"Time," they had briefed him in London, "is short. It's too late
For mutual reconciliation or rational debate:
The only solution now lies in separation.
The Viceroy thinks, as you will see from his letter,
That the less you are seen in his company the better,
So we've arranged to provide you with other accommodation.
We can give you four judges, two Moslem and two Hindu,
To consult with, but the final decision must rest with you."

Shut up in a lonely mansion, with police night and day
Patrolling the gardens to keep the assassins away,
He got down to work, to the task of settling the fate
Of millions. The maps at his disposal were out of date
And the Census Returns almost certainly incorrect,
But there was no time to check them, no time to inspect
Contested areas. The weather was frightfully hot,
And a bout of dysentery kept him constantly on the trot,
But in seven weeks it was done, the frontiers decided,
A continent for better or worse divided.

The next day he sailed for England, where he could quickly forget
The case, as a good lawyer must. Return he would not,
Afraid, as he told his Club, that he might get shot.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

If (Dacă / Yadi)

Poet: Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Romanian version - În Limba RomânaHindi version - हिन्दी में
Translation: Anonymous

Translation: the maVerick

Dacă te poti stăpâni, când norodul din jur se frământă,
Brav înfruntând insolentul repros, cu liniste sfântă,
Dacă-ti păstrezi, în virtute, credinta si-ncaleci sfiala,
Când se îndoieste de tine multimea, si-ti ierti îndoiala
Dacă astepti cu nădejde si nu te răpune-asteptarea,
Dacă minciunii, stăpână pe lume, îi spulberi chemarea,
Dacă asaltul mâniei te lasă senin, fără ură,
Dacă păsesti peste dorul de-a fi cel dintâi, cu măsură

यदि कठिन परिस्थिति में धीरज मति खोये नहीं
भले सब विवेक खोकर तुमको उत्तरदायी कहें
यदि सबके संदेह से भी आत्मविश्वास सोये नहीं
और फिर भी उनकी शंका को भी अनुयादी रहे
यदि कर सको प्रतीक्षा, और प्रतीक्षा से थको नहीं
यदि वंचे जाने पर भी असत्य से सम्बध्द न हो
यदि कुछ से घ्रणित होकर भी घृणा किसी से करो नहीं
किंतु दिखलाओ न स्वयं को गुणी, न चतुर वचन कहो

Dacă te leagănă visul, dar stărui stăpân peste vise,
Dacă din gânduri mărete renunti să-ti faci teluri prezise,
Dacă cuvântul, izvor de ispite si cruntul dezastru,
Nu-s pentru tine oprelisti, nici vâsle in drumul spre astru
Dacă suporti să auzi, despre spusele tale cinstite,
Gânduri jelene, scornite de răi, pentru gloate smintite,
Dacă din opera s-au ales doar ruine si spatii,
Singur, cu scule stricate, de poti s-o refaci, din fundatii

यदि देख सको स्वप्न - स्वप्नों के दास न होकर
यदि हो सको विचारशील - विचारों को लक्ष्य न मानकर
यदि स्वीकारो विजय का चुम्बन व पराजय का ठोकर
दोनों ही छलियों बहुरूपियों को एक सा जानकर
यदि धैर्य से सुन सको अपने कहे सत्य को होता भ्रन्षित
धूर्तों द्वारा, जैसे पाश सा मूर्खों के आखेट के
या देख सको अपने जीवनभर के श्रमफल को होता खण्डित
और झुककर पुनर्निर्माण करो अपने जीर्ण उपकरणों से

Dacă pierzând, într-o clipă de risc pe o sansă, avutul,
Poti să începi, de la capăt, uitând în tăcere trecutul,
Ferm adunând cu răbdare, întregul pe lungă durată,
Fără să sufli o vorbă, de pierderea grea îndurată
Dacă superb prin vointă fortezi, când îti vine sorocul,
Inima, capul, tăria, să nu îsi astâmpere jocul
Gol de puterea vietii, urmându-ti destinul spre tinte,
Tare, cu vrerea din tine, ce-ti spune mereu înainte!

यदि अपने सम्पूर्ण अर्जन को एक स्थान पर एकत्र करो
और दाँव पर लगा दो भाग्य के चंचल भाव पर कहीं
और हारो, और पुनः प्रारम्भ से प्रारम्भ करो
और एक शब्द भी उस हानि का जिव्हा से फूटे नहीं
यदि कर सको विवश अपने ह्रदय, शिरा और धमनी
को कि वो अक्षम निशक्त हो भी पालन करे जो तुम कहो
और जुटे रहो तब भी कि जब तुममें शेष न हो श्वास भी
उस एक जिजीविषा के अतिरिक्त जो कहे "जुटे रहो"

Dacă multimilor poti să vorbesti cu deprinderi egale,
Dacă, constant, îti păstrezi modestia si-n cercuri regale,
Dacă esti vulnerabil, la prieteni, la cei cu pornire,
Dacă pe toti îi stimezi îndeajuns, însă nu peste fire
Dacă momentul cumplit al prăpădului crâncen si mare
Calm vei putea să-l asemeni, în timp, c-un minut oarecare,
Lumea cu tot ce cuprinde va fi stăpânită de tine,
Tu, peste toti vei răzbate : om al puterii depline!
यदि चल सको जनसमूह में, अपने गुण खोये बिना
अथवा राजसी संगत में न भूलो सामान्य विनय
यदि तुम्हें ठेस पहुँचा सके शत्रु न स्नेही घना
सभी तुमको महत्व रखें, किंतु नहीं कोई अतिशय
यदि भर सको एक निष्ठुर पल को
साठ क्षणों सम दौडी दूरी से हर सत्र
तुम्हारी होगी पृथ्वी और इसमें है जो
और महती - बन चुके होगे पुरुष, मेरे पुत्र