{"id":2283,"date":"2013-07-13T01:40:35","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=2283"},"modified":"2013-12-02T01:35:33","modified_gmt":"2013-12-02T09:35:33","slug":"34-slected-poems-of-ganodas-vol-05-translations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/05-translations\/34-slected-poems-of-ganodas-vol-05-translations","title":{"rendered":"-34_Selected Poems of Ganodas.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
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 <\/td>\n

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\nSelected Poems of Ganodas<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n1<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n(The soul, as yet divided from the Eternal, yet having caught a glimpse of his intoxicating beauty, grows passionate in remembrance and swoons with the sensuous expectation of union.) <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nO beauty meant all hearts to move!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO body made for girls to kiss!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn every limb an idol of love,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA spring of passion and of bliss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThe eyes that once his beauty see,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPoor eyes! can never turn away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe heart follows him ceaselessly<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLike a wild beast behind its prey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nNot to be touched those limbs, alas!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey are another’s nest of joy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut ah their natural loveliness!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAh God, the dark, the wonderful boy!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nHis graceful sportive motion sweet<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs as an ornament to earth,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd from his lovely pacing feet<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBeauties impossible take birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nCatching one look not long nor sure,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOne look of casual glory shed,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow many noble maidens pure<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLay down on love as on a bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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Page \u2013 453<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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The heart within the heart deep hid<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe ravishes; almost in play<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOne looks, \u2014 ere falling of the lid,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer heart has gone with him away!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nOh if his eyes wake such sweet pain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat even sleep will not forget,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhat dreadful sweetness waits me when<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBody and passionate body meet?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

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Page \u2013 454<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n2<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n(The human Spirit has undertaken with Nature its nurse to cross the deep river of life in the frail and ragged boat of the human mind and senses; storms arising, it flings itself in terror at the feet of the divine boatman and offers itself to him as the price of safety.) <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nAh nurse, what will become of us? This old<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd weary, battered boat,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo iron its decrepit planks to hold,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHardly it keeps afloat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThe solemn deep unquiet awful river<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFathomless, secret, past<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll plummet with a wind begins to quiver;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe storm arises fast.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nJamouna leaps into the boat uplifting<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA cry of conquering waves;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe boat is tossed, the boat is whirled; the shifting<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLarge billows part like graves.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThe boat hurls down with the mad current fleeing,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAh pity, oarsman sweet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI lay myself for payment, body and being<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAbandoned at thy feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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Page \u2013 455<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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3<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

\n(The Eternal replies that the beauty of human souls has driven out all are for or art of guidance in the phenomenal world and unless the latter reveal themselves naked of earthly desires and gratify his passion, they must
\nsink in the Ocean of life.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nIn vain my hands bale out the waves inleaping,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe boat is drowning, drowning;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA storm comes over the great river sweeping;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHuge billows rise up frowning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThe rudder from my hand is wrenched in shivers,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDeath stares in all his starkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe boat is tossed and whirled, and the great river’s<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFar banks plunge into darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nWhat can I do? Jamouna’s rising, surging<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo take us to her clasp,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd the fierce rush of waters hurries urging<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe rudder from my grasp.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nNever I knew till now, nor any word in<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe mouths of men foretold<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat a girl’s beauty was too great a burden<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor one poor boat to hold.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nCome, make you bare, throw off your robes, each maiden;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYour naked beauties bring,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLighten your bodies of their sweets o’erladen;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThen I’ll resume rowing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nGirls, you have made me drunk with milk and sweetness,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYou have bewitched my soul.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy eyes can judge no more the wind’s fierce fleetness,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor watch the waters roll.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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Page \u2013 456<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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\nThey are fixed in you, they are tangled in your tresses,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey will never turn again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhere I should see the waves, I see your faces,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYour bosoms, not the rain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nYou will not let me live, you are my haters,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYour eyes have caused my death.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI feel the boat sink down in the mad waters,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDown, down the waves beneath.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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Page \u2013 457<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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4<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

\n
\nShe<\/i>. For love of thee I gave all life’s best treasures. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe<\/i>. For love of thee I left my princely pleasures.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nShe<\/i>. For love of thee I roam in woodland ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe<\/i>. For love of thee the snow-white kine I graze.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nShe<\/i>. For love of thee I don the robe of blue. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe<\/i>. For love of thee I wear thy golden hue. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nShe<\/i>. For love of thee my spotless name was stained.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe<\/i>. For love of thee my father was disdained.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nShe<\/i>. Thy love has changed my whole world into thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe<\/i>. Thy love has doomed mine eyes one face to see.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nShe<\/i>. Save love of thee no thought my sense can move.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe<\/i>. Thee, thee I cherish and thy perfect love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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Page \u2013 458<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n5<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n(The divine Soul pities, stays and comforts the human, which is set to toil in the heat and dust of life by its lord the world and its elders, the laws and ways of the world.) <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nNeatherdess, my star!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhat has led to fields so far<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe loveliest face and limbs ever created?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove’s heart cries out beholding all<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy potent beauty natural;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe world is with thy robe intoxicated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nRest by me a space,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI will fan thy lovely face,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLest the sun gaze on it with too much nearness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAlas, thy little rosy feet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow canst thou walk upon them, sweet?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy body aches to see their tired fairness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nElders stone of heart!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey have sent to the mart<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFar-distant in their callous greed of earning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow shall thy own lord long avoid<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLightning whose breast of softness void<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEndured to send thee through this heat and burning?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThy soft cheeks that burn<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLaughing shyly thou dost turn<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAway still, all thy shamefast bosom veiling.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis is no way to sell, sweet maid!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhen such divine saleswomen trade,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHoney-sweet words help best their rich retailing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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Page \u2013 459<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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6<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n(The divine Soul besets the human as it fares upon the business of life, adorned and beautiful and exacts dues of love.) <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nBeautiful Radha, Caanou dost thou see not<\/span><\/p>\n

\nToll-keeper here, that thou wouldst pass by stealth;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut I have caught thee fast and thou shalt go not<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUntil thou give me toll of all thy wealth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nFirst thine eyes’ unguent, then thy star vermilion,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor these a million kisses I extort,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUpon thy bosom’s vest I fix two million<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd the stringed pearls that with thy bosom sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nFor bracelets fine to these thy small wrists clinging<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd jewelled belt three million kisses say,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis red lac on thy feet and anklets bringing<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFour million thou hast doomed thy lips to pay.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThese thy king asks nor will one jot recall;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThese yield me patiently in law’s due course<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOr here amidst thy damsels from thy small<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRed mouth I will extort my dues by force.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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Page \u2013 460<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n
\n7<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n(The human soul, in a moment of rapt excitement when the robe of sense has fallen from it, is surprised and seized by the vision of the Eternal.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nI will lay bare my heart’s whole flame,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo thee, heart’s sister, yea the whole.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe dark-hued limbs I saw in dream,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo these I have given my body and soul.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nIt was a night of wildest showers;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEver incessant and amain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe heavens thundered through the hours,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOutside was pattering of the rain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nExulting in the lightning’s gleams,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nJoyous, I lay down on my bed;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe dress had fallen from my limbs,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI slept with rumours overhead.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThe peacocks in the treetops high<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBetween their gorgeous dances shrilled,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe cuckoo cried exultantly,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe frogs were clamorous in the field;<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nAnd ever with insistent chime<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe bird of rumour shrieking fled<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAmidst the rain; at such a time<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA vision stood beside my bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nHe moved like fire into my soul,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe love of him became a part<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf being, and oh his whispers stole<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMurmuring in and filled my heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 461<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

His loving ways, his tender wiles,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe hearts that feel, ah me! so burn<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat maidens pure with happy smiles<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrom shame and peace and honour turn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThe lustre of his looks effaced<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe moon, of many lovely moods<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe is the master; on his breast<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThere was a wreath of jasmine buds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nHolding my feet, down on the bed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe sat; my breasts were fluttering birds;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis hands upon my limbs he laid,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe bought me for his slave with words.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nO me his eyebrows curved like bows!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO me his panther body bright!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove from his sidelong glances goes<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd takes girls prisoner at sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nHe speaks with little magic smiles<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat force a girl’s heart from her breast.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow many sweet ways he beguiles,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI know; they cannot be expressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nBurning he tore me from my bed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd to his passionate bosom clutched;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI could not speak a word; he said<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNothing, his lips and my lips touched.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nMy body almost swooned away<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd from my heart went fear and shame<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd maiden pride; panting I lay<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd felt him round me like a flame.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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Page \u2013 462<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Selected Poems of Ganodas   1   (The soul, as yet divided from the Eternal, yet having caught a glimpse of his intoxicating beauty,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-05-translations","wpcat-48-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2283"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2283\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9797,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2283\/revisions\/9797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}