Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's is one of the significant post-independence voices in Hindi and Indian English Poetry, expressing the lyricism and pathos, aspirations and yearnings of the modern Indian intellect. Rooted deep into the Indian soil, his poems reflect not only the moods of a poet but of a complex age.
Born in Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh) at maternal grandfather's residence on 26 June 1926; 6 a.m.
Primary education in Jhansi, Morar (Gwalior) and Sabalgarh (Morena); Matric (1941) from High School, Morar (Gwalior); Inter (1943) from Madhav College, Ujjain; B.A. (1945) from Victoria College, - at present, Maharani Laxmi Bai College - Gwalior; M. A. (1948) and Ph.D. (1957) in Hindi from Nagpur University; L.T. (1950 ; Madhya Bharat Govt.)
Places of work Bundelkhand, Chambal region and Malwa.
High School Teacher from July 1945. Retired as Professor on 1 July 1984 (M.P. Govt. Educational service).
Selected once for the post of Professor of Hindi Language & Literature, in Tashkent University, U.S.S.R. (1978) by UGC & ICCR (NEW DELHI)
Principal Investigator (U.G.C. / Jiwaji University, Gwalior) from 1984 to 1987.
Professor in the IGNOU Teaching Centre of Jiwaji University, Gwalior in 1992.
Worked as Chairman \ Member of various committees in Indore University, Vikram University, Ujjain & Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra.
Worked as a member in the managing committees of 'Gwalior Shodh Sansthan', 'Madhya Pradesh Hindi Granth Academy' & 'Rashtra-Bhasha Prachar Samiti, Bhopal'.
From time to time, poems included in various Text-Books of curricula of Educational Boards & Universities of India.
Worked as one of the members in the Audition Committees of Drama / Light Music of All India Radio (Akashvani) - Stations Indore and Gwalior. Contracted Song-Writer of All India Radio \ For all Radio Stations (Light Music Section). Broadcast many poems, talks and other programmes from Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior and New Delhi (National Channels) Radio Stations.
Conducted and directed many literary societies in Ujjain, Dewas, Dhar, Mandsaur and Gwalior.
Appointed as one of the Award-Judges by 'Bihar Rashtra-Bhasha Parishad, Patna' (1981 & 1983), 'Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, Lucknow' (1983), 'Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi, Udaipur' (1991,1993,1994) & 'Hindi Sahitya Parishad, Ahmedabad, Gujrat (2001).
Poems translated, published and broadcast in many foreign and Indian languages.
Eleven volumes of poems in English :
[1] Forty Poems of Mahendra Bhatnagar' [Selected Poems 1]
[2] 'After The Forty Poems' [Selected Poems 2]
[3] Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry.' [Selected Poems 3]
[4] 'Exuberance and other poems.
[5] Death Perception : Life Perception'
[6] 'Passion and Compassion'
[7] 'Poems : For A Better World'
[8] 'Lyric-Lute'
[9] 'A Handful Of Light'
[10] New Enlightened World
[11] Dawn to Dusk
One volume of translated poems in French ('A Modern Indian Poet : Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : Un Poθt Indien Et Moderne'.)
Works published in seven volumes in Hindi - three of Poems (comprising sixteen earlier collections), two of Critical articles, one on Premchand ( Research work) and one of Miscellaneous writings.
Published research & critical studies :
(1) Living Through Challenges : A Study of Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry
(2) Poet Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : His Mind And Art.
(3) The Poetry of Mahendra Bhatnagar : Realistic & Visionary Aspects [forthcoming]
Received awards, four times ( 1952, 1958, 1960, 1985. ) from Madhya Bharat & Madhya Pradesh Govts.
O, buds! wake up and get up,
fill the gift in anchal1,
Get decorated in golden appearance,
fill sweet feelings in red-roses,
Filling new brilliance in body,
Swing in new gusto,
In odorous cold ripples,
Every love-laden vein is heart-stealer!
Open the inner oriels-doors-windows all,
Now, never surround the visage in such darkness.
O, bathe in golden sea,
O, decorate the body with ornaments,
O, sing song of a new morn,
Let the heart-peacock dance lustrously!
1 Hem, Lap
[2] SONG OF THE DAWN
Ruddiness of the dawn infused love in the heart stealthily!
When fresh first ray fell on body
Ignorant playful heart became a deer,
With the guileless raptures of love,
And the overwhelmed emotions of modesty,
Came cold breeze of dawn and made
the body aromatic!
Seeing dear dawn, when little lotus bloomed,
It appeared as if the gift of heaven was found,
Swinging branches wearing new ornaments,
How joyful is the atmosphere!
Filling golden tint, the dawn made earth fresh!
[3] BOATMAN
Evening is accumulating around, Boatman!
Filling tears in the eyes
now, somebody might have kindled the lamp,
And balancing the anklets
somebody might have sung the song,
Echoing the secret of the life,
continuously calling the sandy bank of the sea!
Splendour of the dawn is spreading around, Boatman!
Reddish-west-ward-direction-bride-like
Somebody might have decorated herself
in saffron auspicious,
Somebody's silvery love
might have dazzled like moon,
Turn the helm
towards the returning colourful birds,
Creation is entirely an illusion, Boatman!
[4] WHO ARE YOU?
Like redness of dawn
overcast the heart-sky,
who, you are?
Coloured the dull world with love,
Filled the mute world with sweet song,
Offered the golden world, so easily,
which is found only, in having a great fortune,
Like spring, perfumed the mango-groves,
who, you are?
Roaming in the lonely galleries of heart,
Swinging, embracing with fresh rays-arms,
Awoke my dream-beguiled deceptive life-conscience
by the act of caressing,
Allured me so much, like a sky-fairy,
who, you are?
Filled my void, dejected heart-lake
Gave tune to passion and compassion,
Shining new peaks of desires,
Made my love honest-auspicious-beautiful,
Charmed me so much,
O, pious!
who, you are?
[5] YOU EMBELLISHED IN SONG
You embellished my look in your song,
I'll embellish you in my heart with love!
Hue of tender feelings is filled,
Seeing it, fields light-green are blooming,
Don't give so much love, sustain a little,
When you inhabited me in your song
I shall stay you in my thoughts for ever!
You gave your arms to unsupported life,
You gave cloud-like shade to heated body,
And filled new desire to live,
You confessed your love in song
I shall express my heart singing that song!
[6] YOU SMILED
You smiled, the lotus of my heart bloomed!
Seeing you, I rejoiced, I attained my attainable!
My moon! why did you raise
Tide in the ocean of life in such a way?
O, Beautiful lady! my ages' homeless love
Got support in you!
Now, a novice dream of love, inhabited in eyes!
O, charming cloud of Sawan1!
Why did you wet me like this?
O, Lightning! why you did so restlessly
embrace me in your arms with love?
May we never be detached, O, destiny! be kind!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[7] O, DESTINY
O, Destiny! the plant of my courtyard may not be dried!
It is the symbol of first sweet acquaintance,
May swing, wave and remain ever-green,
O, Destiny! the heart of my lover may not be hurt!
On the long rugged, lonely path
The life may pass joyfully,
O, Destiny! the heart of my heart-dweller
may never remain indifferent!
The world may never look us with ill-will,
The darkness of pain may go far away,
O, Destiny! my youth may never remain separation-burnt!
1The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[8] QUEEN DAWN
Simple-hearted pretty young queen-dawn is bathing
in blue sky-lake, delightfully!
Bound in love-act with Moon
she drank the lip-nectar whole night,
And redeemed it with her sacred love,
made the world fragrant
with fresh sweet-scented paint,
Thinking love-gestures, flows the reddish silky threads!
Whose face is filled with new hue of lotus,
As if carrying the feelings of satisfaction,
Blessed pleasing heart delighted
in sweet thoughts of her lover,
Without any purpose, diffusing water-drops,
every quarter in cheerful mood!
[9] PLEASANT MORNING
Every morning of life may be refreshing!
Stuff the laughter of spring,
of rivers, shores, moist banks,
of flowers, bracelets and garlands,
Every particle's tale may be a comedy!
Sweet songs of birds
Crazy love of raptures
Innermost waves of modesty,
Illusive world may not be strange!
With pleasing looks of love
Fill the world with desires,
with enfolding loving arms,
May youth be exciting and loving!
[10] SHORT LIFE
The world of flowers is ours!
We spend lavishly the bright laughter,
Fly sweet nectar of flowers,
Likable to us; the swinging of the wind,
Every thread of jingling heart is ours!
Take us to make garland,
Collect us to adorn the 'Maang'1
(of your beloved life-partner)
To inhabit your lonely dwelling,
Too innocent love is ours!
Don't shy, seeing us,
Don't express deceptive feelings,
Oh, don't tease so much!
The adornment of short duration is ours!
1 Parting line of hair (on a lady's head)
[11] MERRIMENT Of HOLI1
It's the month of 'Fagun'2, joy of Holi is all round,
Delightful ardent passions seen every where!
Beads studded in ears of corn, golden fields,
Unitedly are dancing merrily all around!
Showering love, East Wind is rambling,
Showing its green beauty, mustard is standing with unfold face!
Tabor, cymbals, drum are being played on in every village,
Accompanying are intoxicating new melodious words!
Wearing silver Payal3, O, girl-companion dance,
There has come desired lover, playful girl-friend, dance!
1 A Hindu festival.
2 The last month of the Indian Calendar..
3 An ornament for the ankles.
[12] HOLI
Holi, came once again, with varied new colours,
Holi, brought once again the intoxicated raptures!
Holi, once again came showering gold in the day,
Holi, hovered once again diffusing silver all the night!
Holi, Oh, when did fasten the tinkling bells in my feet!
Holi, being well executed the tune, has filled dancing gestures in body!
Holi, poured out in the heart forcibly intoxicating liquor,
Look, how our step-motions have become peculiar now!
Holi, we are playing drum in your welcome,
Holi, having intoxicated we are spreading Gulal1 all round!
1 Red farinaceous powder which Hindus throw on each other's person during the Holi festival.
[13] SONG OF EQUALITY
Let us bathe today
In the colours of human equality!
The light of those bright colours
which is inherent in everybody's body and heart,
Mingle in the them
your dull shining twilight, now,
And just throw away
the collected age long concealed dirt!
Forget all differences of the world
of colour-caste, of money-rank-age,
Only echo in all directions
the sounds of victory of human glory and greatness,
Demolish today
the pride-fort of false dignity!
[14] LET US BURN
Let us burn
Sin instigating desires!
Let we become a new perfect human,
Completely free from inferiority, peerless,
Let us rejuvenate
The emotions of universal liking!
May there be no mutual antipathy,
Love for individual freedom may bloom,
Let us abolish
Trampled devilish servitude!
Life may not be hard at every foot-step,
Storm may not persist on sky all times,
Let us shed
Villainous, demoniacal, calamities!
[15] RAIN
(1)
Embracing fresh slaty clouds
Love-laden rain has come!
It gave, at ease, every dejected heart
the gift of sweet feelings!
(2)
Breaking the continuous monotonous sound
when creating a tune, clouds shower drizzling showers,
Then secret beauty of new-creation
Spreads uncovered to the far horizons!
(3)
Bearing new stirs in the pond of heart
Waves are dancing amorously,
In indistinct current of sweet sap
Oh, which drenched my life like this!
[16] KINDLE THE LAMP
Kindle lamp in every courtyard,
Celebrate the festival of lamps!
Golden light may spread in every home,
Visage may be attractive, each particle may be bright,
Sea of lustre may fluctuate!
Adorn the pitch dark night!
Filling roli1 in the night's lock of hair,
The glimmering innocent rays may dance,
Clouds of light may come overcastting,
Bathe, forgetting all remembrance!
Remain full with fresh love every heart,
Earth wept for ages, be blessed,
Come O, fortunate wives! with worship plates
And flow lamps in the celestial Ganga!
1 The red powder which is used by Hindus in worship or in filling the maang of a married woman.
[17] GARLAND OF LAMPS
Enjoyment is spreading in each home, today!
With sweet exciting music
And with love brimming heart
Flamy lamps are dwelling in each home, today!
With youthful golden body
The glittering night
Is distributing laughter-gift in each home, today!
With lovely decoration
With raptures of recreation
Lamps are performing circular dance1 in each home, today!
1 A dance performed by Lord Krishna.
[18] INVESTITURE
Agreed, it is the dark Amavas! night,
But, why to be terrified?
Assume in a moment
I kindle the bright radiant lamps,
Agreed, the appearance of dear earth is not graceful,
But, assume in a wink,
With quite new art, I adorn a brand new bride again!
Tell darkness that now it is the rule of light,
Crown is adorned on the head of every lamp,
Assume in some moments
I convene investiture in all quarters!
1 The last day of the dark half of a month.
[19] PUT ON LAMPS
(Girl) Friend! Put on lamps!
Dark night may not come now,
There may be no downpour of darkness any more,
In extinguishing lamps
Friend! Fill sneh1, quietly!
Face of lover may shine with laughter,
In the hope of coming suitable new time,
With reddish lips
Friend! Talk, gently!
Wet years of separation are passed
Blessed new passionate songs may echo,
Friend! the husband has come
Win his heart, silently!
1 Love, Affection / Oily substance
[20] ATTACHMENT FOR BEAUTY
Glittering beauty of someone doesn't allow me to sleep!
Enchanting last quarter of the night,
The world is covered with dense darkness,
With lively cold waves of love
Smiles, attractive simple face of someone!
Heavy pain that I got
Is a diamond for my poor heart,
Collyrium, with tears of pleasant love,
Glimmering, inexperienced simple life-time of someone!
Charmed peacock-like delighted heart,
Restless arms eager to embrace the sky,
How hard-felt is the fire of separation,
Disturbing, sweet fragrance-memory
of someone!
[21] ILLUSION
Like magnolia-perfume your memory is impregnated my breaths!
Jasmine-like elegant, delicate-bodied, where are you?
Where is your rainbow-like glittering coloured appearance?
Mesmerizing1 me, your charming beauty is overspreading!
You, are like Kalp-latika2 for all human imaginations,
Made life a garden, full of Java3 flowers,
Losing all, I only silently flowed the celestial Ganga of my soul!
Where are you, my illusion, true?
Aasavari4 of my heart, dhoop-chhanh5 of my contentment
I have adorned my way of life-gallery
with your life-paintings!
1 Madhumati-mad (Trance-state / Half-conscious state)
2 According to Indian mythology, the tree of Lord Indra's paradise, which yields anything desired.
3 A red flower used in worship the idol of goddess.
4 A musical mode.
5 Cloth in which wrap and waft are of different colours.
[22] THE NIGHT IS PASSING!
Your memory is haunting,
The night is passing!
Today, in such a solitude of life
I awake in your thoughts,
The whole creation has slept,
Earth is singing a lullaby!
Many sights swing in the eyes,
Your each past talk seems alive,
Even, your casual looks of bygone days
Are appearing pleasant this day!
We are flowing in the stream of time,
But, O, sweet-heart! have faith in love,
Tomorrow, creeping-plant of heart will flourish,
Which is fading how much, now!
[23] THE NIGHT OF AGHAN1
During this cool night of aghan; Oh, I missed you!
Since evening, the lonely heart is very cumbersome,
Somewhat faded is the lotus of life
helplessness of what sort!
Not known, how far is the golden morn!
Losing the riches of dreams,
eyes are helpless, heavy and empty,
Looking the course of destiny, with drops of tears,
Heart is throbbing like the leaf of peepal2 tree!
The hem of Rohini3 is far; silent moon weeps,
Wide-spread moonlight-sea is searching every corner,
Whom to tell the secret of heart!
1 Ninth month of the Indian Calendar (Margsheersh)
2 A holy tree of Hindus.
3 According to Hindu mythology, wife of moon. Fourth amongst twenty-seven constellations.
[24] YOU ARE AWAY
Dear! far way you are,
my heart is immensely restless!
Environment somewhat is strange, today,
As if somebody has snatched the essence of life,
Am I so unfortunate
being myself is the cause of separation-pain!
Simply, regretting silently,
Life a gloomy night!
Missing somewhere the luminous-garland,
Disturbed sawan1 is showering at the door,
All alone am I
During the extreme end of the night,
Although, awakened, but forgotten every thing,
Eyes don't fall asleep even for a moment!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (rainy month)
[25] TO THE BELOVED
Otherwise, to remain far, like this
Why did you live in my heart?
Way of life is unknown
With provisions nil,
Storm is raising in the sky , in the heart,
No peace even for a moment,
Otherwise, to bear the burden alone
Why did you so fix thyself in my thoughts?
Oh, the fire of life's dearths,
Is burning all around,
Depression is enclosed in my spirit,
Tired is the peacock of heart,
Otherwise, to burn so mutely
Why you impressed so much, the soul of my songs?
[26] BIRHIN1
O Dear, when will you spread
your innocent rosy smile!
Heart is out of sorts, lonely and very heavy,
O, merciful, touch my heart-beats,
This Birhin is waiting for you,
with heart full of life's burning pangs!
The vine of youth is fading in the sunlight,
Tell her about the sweet sensual love,
Wearing silver anklets
I wish to dance like a peahen to my heart's content!
Night is sleeping with her heart-stealer Moon,
Every direction, like an emotional woman,
is vibrating with songs,
Hey, How to bear such an unknown sweet pain of heart!
1 A woman who is separated from her lover.
[27] WAITING
How many days passed
Dreams didn't come!
Entire night I remained wakeful,
Upset heart is unsteady like a peepal1-leaf,
Secret desires gathered and disappeared,
Dear husband didn't come!
Clouds making noise in the sky,
Peacocks dancing in forests this and that,
My heart-stealer, Alas! has forgotten me,
Home didn't come!
Filling buds-flowers in the hem,
Set afloat lamps at the river-bank,
Longed eagerly to get the foot-dust,
Feet didn't come!
1 A holy tree of Hindus
[28] YEARNING
How much sweet dreams you bestowed,
But, arranged not the least love on earth!
Alone, I am searching in this world, for ages,
But, didn't get desired intimate friend anywhere,
Helplessly, time of life passed in hue and cry,
Couldn't hear charming music for a moment,
You poured the milky oceans of smiles,
But, didn't drench a single heart with compassion!
On one side, you spread well adorned
colourful merriments of hundreds of springs,
And distributed, with both hands, in gratis
Jewels like Sun and Moon; bracelets of Star-flowers so,
But, on my prolific life-course
You didn't sow a single seed of sweetness!
[29] FILL WITH LOVE
O Dear, fill Sneh1 in my silently extinguishing lamp,
this day!
The wick may shine, and splendour spread,
World of mine may turn into a fresh golden appearance,
Everlasting smile may play on tear-drenched visage,
To the life silent-troubled-cursed
Give love-boon of worldly pleasures!
The door of my heart is closed for ages,
Strayed away and wandered in darkness my love,
Every string of my life-harp is broken,
Sinking in the worldly ocean,
Give him arms, give him voice of faith!
1 Love, Oily substance
[30] VIGIL
Far somewhere, continuously
Sweetly, the harp is being played!
Intoxicating night has come,
Every quarter is intoxicated,
Remembrance recurrent in the mind,
Consciousness immersed in the thoughts of beloved!
The world is sleeping silently,
Lost in sweet dreams,
In absence of water-like look of the beloved
eyes transfigured themselves into fish!
Filled with hope and despair,
Infused with thirst of life,
The heart is restless, silent and sad!
Every moment is weeping,
Oh, what sort of calamity has fallen down
As if everything of mine was snatched!
[31] DECEPTION
Whom I thought boon
Same became a curse!
New moon had just glittered,
Clouds, at once, spread in the sky,
As soon as the garden became fragrant
Thunderbolts flashed on the head,
Whom I considered propitious and sacred
Same became a bitter sin!
Getting whom I decorated dreams of life,
They became only ironies of fate,
On whom gold reflected bright light,
Same are smeared now with ashes,
Whom I considered the essence of pleasure
Same became more and more painful!
[32] NO MORE
On my sky, no more, the moon will rise!
In your memory, the whole life will pass,
Ought to cross the dark lonely path,
How this load of sad life will be sustained!
Losing the raptures;
calm, helpless, mute, fruitless heart,
Losing the waves of emotions,
perpetually immersed in sadness, poor heart,
The tide of excitement
will not remain in the ocean of life, any more!
Love-delighted, joy-filled, rainbow-coloured Holi,
Passion-drenched Pancham Rag1, echoing in the garden,
Never known, destiny will swallow, this way!
1 The fifth note in music; acknowledged as the note of cuckoo's cooing.
[33] DAWN JUST TO APPEAR
Don't shed tears more,
The dawn is approaching!
All lamps are extinguished
Came such a hurricane,
All supports are demolished,
Browbeat the clouds of annihilation,
Being defeated, O, Traveler! Don't stagger,
The dawn is approaching!
Stream is overflowing, leaving its course helplessly,
Horrible darkness is overcast
Intoxicated ... unrestrained,
Don't relinquish the hope in the advent of Sun,
The dawn is approaching!
[34] YOU
Truly, how innocent you are!
Gestures are beyond your comprehension,
Sweet feelings of your heart can't be perceived,
Engrossed in yourself, indeed you are
The companion of supernatural fairies!
You are not formal in the least, for a moment,
Even then, heaven knows, how you remain in my mind!
Becoming a spring-air,
You loiter forest to forest!
[35] DON'T BE HARD-HEARTED
Dear! don't look towards me
with such extraordinary large eyes!
Don't reflect so much lunar-attraction,
on flooded heart,
I touch your feet, please take aside
the lustre of your beauty,
Or, throwing tie of silky rays,
arrest me in your eyes!
No more shower the pleasant love-nectar
on the surface of my mind,
This is not proper, after enchanting,
pine the heart, like this,
Allow me, at least to touch
your sparkled flower-marked hem!
In this rainfall of beauty,
impressed-wet-heart is forgetting the way,
Mind, you shall be responsible,
if overflowing ocean of youth breaks limits,
Will you come nearer,
don't be so hard-hearted!
[36] THE BEAM
The innocent beam of the moon
is descending with joy!
Seeing the whole creation slept,
On the unhindered silvery sky-route
Taking upon body-parts,
cautiously putting the speedy footsteps!
Remaining free, trampled the route,
Every village, house, street and city,
Neither remained a little calm-quiet,
nor performed her routine night-sleep!
[37] WHO SAYS
Who says, my moon is not a living being?
My moon laughs and smiles excellently,
Plays and then hides herself far off,
Who says, my moon's heart doesn't palpitate?
Throughout the night she also remembers someone,
Observe, she also sighs in separation, often,
Who says, my moon is not in full youth?
She ever gives to the world coolness,
She ever showers dense nectar-rain,
Who says, my moon is not able
to give sandalwood-like soothing sensations?
[38] SPRING
Today, Dear! every limb is full of gusto,
as the spring has come!
Far off green fields are waving,
Full with fresh odour breeze is roaming,
Experiencing strange feelings birds are singing,
Today, Dear! genuine feeling of love
occupied the heart!
The garden bloomed with varied flowers and leaves,
Silently, sky is singing the song, moving to and fro,
Dawn is blushed, being an auspicious moment for union,
full of newness, freshness, oddness!
[39] SAWAN1 HAS COME
Sing, Dear! the songs of love!
Lively sawan has come,
Clouds of love are pouring down,
Far away, in the fields
watery, contented, grand greenery smiles,
On the branches, agile buds burst into laughter
Spilling cups full of ambrosia,
Don't go far from my presence,
Come and persist in my life!
Cool breeze is blowing,
Whispering something in the ear,
Musical notes, during bird's union,
are reverberating in the garden,
The heart of the earth is palpitating,
Influenced by the silent and loving attraction
of the creation,
Particles of the world are being in motion,
With the feeling of disinclination,
You please don't go, avoiding me like this!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[40] CLOUD AND MOON
Moon is playing hide and seek
with fragments of clouds in the sky!
The moon is beautiful, charming, attractive
and fair-bodied,
Why is so absorbed; while the cloud is ugly and black,
Can anyone tell,
how happened such an improbable, this night?
Both are constantly flying
But as the cloud laughs, intense passionate moon
Then, caught himself, in both the arms of the cloud,
Who can say, who'll lose the chance!
By running , both have approximately measured
The sky with footsteps,
Both have a bit taken and a bit given, today,
May this pretty pair live long and remain ever youthful!
[41] REQUEST
Dear, come and buzz
the chord of my dormant heart!
Resplendent moonlight is spread in sky and earth,
Night, as if lost in herself, is silent,
And how lovely you are O, exciting lady!
Bring me under control
and fill intense passions in me, for a moment!
Intoxicating red are the beautiful lips.
Eyes are more innocent simple than a doe,
Body is fair-skinned like lightening, glass and water,
Arms are like branches new and fleshy,
Just now, hum a sweet new song
Full of life!
The world is more beautiful than heaven,
Every quarter is echoing,
Hey, this love is acceptable to the world,
O Dear Partner! long-awaited
sweet union-festival, now celebrate!
[42] IN MOONLIGHT
Bathe in new moonlight, bathe!
Today, stars slept, shutting their eyes,
A few are running towards the horizon,
Untied now our hearts' knots,
On the bed of beam, celebrate the love-night!
Gusts of wind singing union-songs,
Sweet notes have moved the heart,
New dreams are staying again,
Laugh and remove the curtain of hitch!
Youth awoke moving and smiling,
Unfolding and shying, came nearer,
Brought many respectful-persuasions,
Beautiful-faced! Don't hold yourself forcibly, any more!
Somebody embraced the black-bee,
Passionately slept in the odourous embrace,
Caressing with love, swung in the cradle,
O, bashful lady! Capture me too!
[43] WHAT WRONG I DID
Tell, what wrong I did with you?
You were half-bloomed tender bud,
When you met me first by oversight,
I too had an experience insufficient,
It was difficult to control myself for a moment,
That's why, I accepted you as mine forever!
In panorama of life, the night was dark,
Both were lost in themselves, had no aim,
When I was standing alone and confused
Love! I found you surrendering yourself,
That moment, you offered me all your love,
preserved through ages!
You did not stop my embracing hand,
You were free from any anxiety,
surely, there was no deception,
You came in my lock-up, without uttering a word,
As if I got the boon in its body-form,
How simple, mute, innocent, crazy the heart was!
[44] THE SONG OF SEPARATION
Your devoted love is now with you!
The life of mine is the night of Amavas1,
It's only a matter of repentance,
Today, my home is deserted,
Humming on silent lips is the song of separation,
But, happy I am
A pleasant world is now around you!
I was destined for the mirage,
Even the dainty nectar turned sharp poison,
Near acquaintance has now become tentacles ,
Previous meetings became painful, at this moment,
But, happy I am
Auspicious adornment is now in your lot!
Life is full of tornadoes,
Without sneh2, how long the lamp will alight,
The terrible tide is advancing
The helm, which was in hand, has fallen,
But, happy I am
You stand on firm foundation, now!
1 The last day of the dark half of a month.
2 Love, Oily substance.
[45] THANKS
You bestowed
blooming-lotus-like transient smile to closed lips,
Kind of you, thanks!
Full-blown spring was scattered
On every branch of the world,
When each whit of the earth played fresh Holi,
Echoing my heart's silent space, you sang a melodious song!
Kind of you, thanks!
Dense-open woods covered in cool rays of the full moon,
When new lamps of hope used to flicker,
in the hearts of everyone,
In my darkness of ages,
you brought that glimmering gold morn,
Kind of you, thanks!
When, full of intense passions, lovers play flutes,
for beloved persuasions,
Echoes of songs and jingle sound
when come from each house,
Your presence, for only a short duration,
inhabited my deserted heart-home!
Kind of you, thanks!
When the evening comes with life and love,
On every crossroad, fair of lovers'-meet followed,
Crushed with the aspersions of the world
You awake again my broken ego!
Kind of you, thanks!
[46] CLOUDS HAVE HOVERED
Looking your intoxicating smile, clouds have gathered!
Feeling your eyes thirsty, clouds have hovered!
O, Young lady! your anklets are jingling,
Always, swing each pal1, your well-built, beautiful,
delicate body,
The charm of your appearance is now no more tolerable,
Seeing for a blink only, eyes are arrested!
Jhumer2 shines on the span of your bright-red-fair
forehead,
Your curly hair are flying frou-frou in the air,
Each limb of your beautiful body, bent with its own load,
Your flowered hem slips from the breast, over and over!
Hearing your song, the whole world faints,
Settling a world of much pleasure, it sleeps care-free,
Sinking in your song's tune, the ship of heart lost,
You overflow the stream of love unknown and straight!
Indelible is, from my memory, your that meet at Panghat3,,
O, beautiful-faced! being restless when I said, ''You are very naughty!''
At that very moment your veil of shyness opened,
Your those wile less words were very charming and
intoxicating!
1 Equal to 24 seconds.
2 An ornament worn on the head.
3 A quay from which people draw water.
[47] SLEEP
At this moment, my eyes are becoming sleepy!
Night coming from the sky, is patting;
like mother's gentle hands,
The hem, engraved with bright stars, is spreading,
Drowsy eyes feeling comfortable,
Ripples of shining nectar
are trickling from the moon-like face!
The resonance of your affectionate melodious song
is being heard, in the shaking of flowers and branches,
That very music is reverberating
from the side by stones, rivers and rivulets,
Melody is soothing the heart with delighted feelings!
The gates of eyelids have closed, but dreaming as
I am sipping cool milk from someone's new breast,
Yes, well in senses too; know where am I,
A healthy fleshy, swaying-body-shadow is covering me!
[48] LIGHT THE LAMP
In my desolate home
Darkness of ages is overspread,
Life-lamp was lighted it's a dream,
As much affection is in you
I'll know it is mine
If you kindle the lamp in my distressed heart!
What's this life from ages? a desert,
Exists on the earth like a furnace,
Lonely path, again with full of waves of mirage,
I'll accept there is a ocean of passion in you
If you bathe my sterile heart!
Each moment, coming and going
only of sandy storms,
What being built? even the remaining collapses
I'll understand the value of your songs
If you amuse my heart a dry-pond!
It'll not be possible to remain alive
Even for a moment, for the body and heart,
of the wax-like vein,
No remedy, only to bear assaults silently,
I'll realize the magic of tenderness
If you tickle the wounds of my stony heart!
[49] RESTLESS WITHIN
The heart is restless, today,
to talk something, Dear!
The monotonous prolonged silence
is burdensome, now,
When cool, wet, silvery ocean
is waving, continuously,
The heart is restless
To meet freely, Dear!
When young sprouts have overcast
in dry insipid creation,
Oh, I destined
only a solitary place,
The heart is restless
to unfold some secrets, Dear!
[50] MY MOON
My moon is away from me!
Solitary night is crying in empty sky,
The darkness is pouring down from all directions,
That's why, the brightness of lily is without glow!
God knows, in which loneliness writhes The Innocent!
There is a great risk to her life Oh, she might have not taken poison,
Since, she is imprisoned in a towering mansion,
and helpless!
These eyes are looking continuously, with joy, hope and trust,
to each and every ray of light, rising in the horizon,
Because, it is true, she has certainly the yearning to meet!
[51] IN THE DARKNESS OF AMAVAS1
Behind which curtains of sky,
concealed is moon, at this time?
I am asking you,
O, silent glittering stars!
I am asking you,
O, incessantly flowing streams!
Beneath which depth, concealed is moon, at this time?
I am asking you,
O, free and slow gusts of wind!
By whom my moon is stolen
Run and stop him swiftly,
Beyond, too far from the eyes, concealed is moon, at this time!
I am asking you,
O, Trees! guards thousands,
Why are you standing quietly?
Call the name, with your full voice!
Away somewhere from my world, concealed is moon, at this time!
1 The last day of the dark half of a month.
[52] WE HAD MET
We had met, for some moments,
on the path of life!
The heavy burden of monotonous silence
had been lessened!
The deep dark smoke of tiredness and melancholy
had been emitted,
Acquiring you, pleasure waves waved
on the deserted heart and mind!
But, did the way of life
ever become man's destination?
Could ever remain overcast
cloudiness in the sky of happy Sawan?1
Just found out, how rare and valuable
are the moments of love,
Time and again, still resound
pieces of your song!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[53] IN VAIN
Day and night went astray, in every place,
To attain the world of happy heaven!
The buds bloomed or half-bloomed
When, swung to captivate the Madhup1!
Pined, in a lonely place
To get the gift of pleasurable aromatic body!
In life, what did and what not,
To get your love for a few moments!
Remain absorbed in perplexity continuously
To get the base-point of faith!
By putting the life at stake
Continued to play, knowing defeat as fore-decided!
