Tagore in Gitanjali

When my foot steps will not be printed on

this road,
I shall not be there to row my little boat
across this pier,
All businesses closed,
I would repay all my debts,
Cease to visit this village market-place
One may choose not to remember me
May not recall me gazing up the sky.
Dust would cover the strings of my lute,
Thorny bushes take over the doorways of my
apartment, Wow!
My flower garden would put on wild robes,
Algae should infest the banks of the pond
One may choose not to remember me
May not recall me gazing up the sky.
Well, the flute will sound as it does now,
As it sounds at the central arena of the
village,
Days will pass as it does forever, Wow!
Boats will be loaded from each pier,
Cattle will graze, shephards will play in the
field,
One may choose not to remember me
May not recall me gazing up the sky.
Who is not sure, dear, to find me on the
morning.
It is me, who would take part in each game,
Wow!
A new name for me,
A new pair of hands to surround my neck
I shall continue to come and go, that is me
as ever.
One may choose not to remember me
May not recall me gazing up the sky.

Jakhon porbe na mor payer chinnho ae bate,

Ami beybo na mor kheyar tori ae ghate,
Chukiye debo becha kena,
Mitiye debo go, mitiye debo lena dena,
Bondho hobe ana gona ae haateTokhon amaye naiba mone rakhle,
Tarar pane cheye cheye
Naiba amye dakle.
Jakhon jombe dhula tanpuratar targuloye,
Katalota uthbe ghorer dhargulaye, aha,
Phuler bagan ghono ghaser
Porbe sojja bonobaser,
Sayola ashe ghirbe dighir dhargulyeTokhon amaye naiba mone rakhle,
Tarar pane cheye cheye
Naiba amye dakle.
Tokhon amni koreye bajbe banshi aye nate,
Katbe din katbe,
Katbe go din ajo jemon din kate, aha,
Ghate ghate kheyar tori
Amni se din uthbe bhoriChorbe goru khelbe rakhal oe mathe.
Tokhon amaye naiba mone rakhle,
Tarar pane cheye cheye
Naiba amye dakle.
Tokhon ke bole go shye probhate ney ami.
Sokol kelae korbo khela ae ami- aha,
Notun namya dakbe more,
Bandhbe notun bahu-dore,
Ashbo jabo chirodiner aye ami.
Tokhon amaye naiba mone rakhle,
Tarar pane cheye cheye
Naiba amye dakle.

Translated by Anjan Ganguly

Are you strong enough to revert the course

of destiny
Do you think yourself strong enough.
Rein our ups and downs audacity
Do you think yourself audacious enough.
To drag someone behind, to hold down
forever
You lack such power, nor can you endure
such haul.
You rule hard, weak ones resist harder,
Greater you may become, Greatest is the
Almighty.
Wreck our might; you pave your way to peril,
Loading undue must drown your cruiser.

Bidhir bidhan katbe tumi amon shaktiman

Tumi ki amni shaktiman
Amader bhanga gara tomar hate emon
abhiman
Tomader emni abhiman
Chirodin tanbe piche chirodin rakhbe niche
Atoi bal nai re tomar sabe na sei tan
Shasone jatoi ghera ache bal durbalero
Hou na jatoi baro achen bhagoban
Amader shakti mere torao bachibinere
Bojha tor bhari holeo dubbe torikhan
Translated by Anjan Ganguly

anondo loke, mongola loke birajo sotto

sundaro.
mohima tabo udbhasito maha gagon
majhe
bisso jagato moni bhushan besTito
Charane.
Groho taroko chondro tapono byakulo druto
bege.

koriche pan, koriche snan, akkhayo kirane.

dharon par jhare nirjhar, mohon modhu
shobha
phul pallab gito gandho sundaro barane.
bahe jiban rajonidin chiro nutan dhara
koruna tabo abishram janame marane.
sneho prem daya bhokti komol kare pran
kato santan karo barshan santap harane.
jagote tabo ki mahotsabh, bandan kare
bisso
shri sampad bhumaspado nirbhoy
sharone.

In the abode of joy and benevolence lies

the beautiful truth
Your glory shines across the vast sky
The universe ornaments your feet.
Stars and planets, moon and the sun rush
out ecstatically
To drink at, to wash under the pouring
grace, infinitely
Unleashing founts upon the earth. The
enchanting beauty all around
Receiving you with songs offering leafy,
floral greetings aromatic.
Life flows night and day, in ever-new
streams
Bestowed by your tireless blessings in life,
in death.
Hearts soften by affection, love, mercy
and devotion
Wiping away the heat of distress,
showering sympathy
In a grand festivity the world greets Thee
In prosperity, deep adoration and in
complete submission.
Translated by Pratik Ghosh 2001