```
Ami je moher rachanaAmi ke amare balona
Britha kena shato kamanaAmi je amar jatana
Ami ke amare balona```
Translation
```
I am the creation of my own illusion and delusion.O Lord, do tell me who I really am.
Why do I cherish in vain hundreds of desires?Alas, all my heart’s excruciating pangs and I
Have become inseparably one.O Lord, do tell me who I really am.
``````
Diner sheshe pathe baseTomar pane chai
Se din prabhu balechhilePare pabo thai
Hasi mukhe chale geleJaoni prabhu abahele
Bhikkha magi tripti lagiJetha ami jai
```Translation
```
At the end of the day alone I standOn the road looking for You.
Lord, the other day You told meThat You would grant me shelter
at a later date.You left me with a smile.
You did not ignore me.Lord, wherever I go I beg only for
one thing:Satisfaction.
``````
Hath achhe khaliPran dibo dhali
Jato paro nao kaliBhoy karibona
Maran jatanaJanani shmasan Kali
Tomar charane rakhibo jataneKritagyatar thali
```Translation
```
My hands are empty,But my heart I shall unreservedly pour.
O Lord, do accept all my heart’s ignorance-ink,As much as You can.
Lord, I tell You, I shall never be afraidOf the torture of death.
Mother Kali of the crematorium is my very own.At Your Feet, Lord,
I shall always keep my heart’s gratitude-receptacle. ``````
Nai ayojan sadhan bhajanAchhi sada tomai bhule
Kripa kare nile amaiPrabhu tomar anke tule
Hriday duar dile khuleJanena man tomai bhule
```Translation
```
I am not yet preparedFor a life of spiritual discipline.
Alas, I have totally forgotten You.Yet You have come with Your boundless Compassion
And accepted me and placed me on Your Lap.O Lord Supreme, You have opened my heart’s door.
Alas, still my forgetful mind knows notWho You are.
``````
Ki kare jaibo kahoAmare dakiya laho
Ke tumi amar dhamer jatriRayecho jagiya atoi ratri
Hese khele jabo taba sathe satheSada sukhe dukhe dibase o rate
Jibaner bhar aji dusahaKi kare paibo kaho
```Translation
```
O pilgrim, do tell me how I can come to you.Do call me.
O, who are you inside mePlaying the role of an eternal pilgrim
To reach the land of Immortality?Far into the night always you remain awake.
Smiling and playing I shall come to you.My cheerful days and sorrowful nights
Create the burdens of my life.At times, they are heavy and unbearable.
O pilgrim, do tell me how I can achieveall your inner wealth.
``````
Khelar lagi praner thakurGarechhen ei bishwa khana
Ektu khele khela pheleKothai ke jai jaina jana
Chardike sab khelar melaKatoi bhabe katoi khela
Khelte khela bhaber hatheDekha cheye katoi khate
Nitya chali nutan khelaKe shunbe go kahar mana
```Translation
```
The Inner Pilot has created this worldFor us to play.
After having played for a short whileWe know not where we all go.
While we are on earth,In various ways we enjoy our life’s myriad games.
How hard we have worked in our life’s marketplace.At every moment a new game awaits us,
No restriction, no disciplinary action. ``````
Man janena ami janiAmai kabhu tanatani
Karbena hai kehaBriddha jakhan habe amar
Shranto klanto deha```
Translation
```
My mind does not know, but I knowThat nobody will pull me towards Him like a magnet
When I shall become old, tired and exhausted,An energyless body.
``````
Bhalobasar parash chharaPraner kali jabe nare
Sakal prane praner thakurKripa balo karbo kare
Ghrina tumi karbe jareSei tomare tanbe andhare
```Translation
```
Without the magic touch of love,The impurity-ink of the vital life
Can never be removed.Yet when I see my Inner Pilot
In each and every human being,How can I dare to show compassion-light?
O ignorant man, if you ignore anyone,Rest assured, he will pull you mercilessly towards him
In his own ignorance-night. ``````
Michhe tomar sukher daliMichhe tomar dukher kali
Bhalobasa kanna hasiSab chhal sab chhal
Je ase aj maner dukheAr je ase hiyar sukhe
Tare niyo sabai bukeNa thak chokhe jal
```Translation
```
False is your happiness-life-tree.False is your life of sorrowful ink.
The smile and the tear of loveAre nothing but deception.
He who comes to you today,His mind's sorrow and his heart's joy accept.
Let there be no tears in any human heart. ``````
He achena tomai amiChinbo kabe
Je karechhe tomai apanSe karechhe apan sabe
He ajana tomai amiChinbo kabe
Tomai bhule ar kato dinThakbo bhabe
```Translation
```
O Unknown,When can I know You?
He who claims You as his ownHas made the entire world his own.
O Unknown,When can I know You?
How long am I destined to live on earth,Meaninglessly and sorrowfully,
Without You? ``````
Amar bhanga ghare kalo rateAlo hate ke ele
E je shudhu kantar banHetha tomar ki pralobhan
Ki aj hate ele prabhuAmar ghare ki pele
```Translation
```
Who has come into my broken homeOn this dark night
With a lamp in his hand?O, I know not.
Don’t you know that this place is onlya forest of thorns?
What kind of temptation-lifeHave you created for me?
With what hope have you come to me?What have you received from my heart-room?
``````
Ke oi abar bajai banshiO udasi lau go asi
Praner kali dibo dhaliAlo jele kachhe ele
Dekhbe amar niloy khaliMukhe shudhu achhe hasi
```Translation
```
Yonder who plays once again his flute?Who is that God-intoxicated mendicant?
I shall offer him my life’s ignorance-ink.Ah, I now see him approaching me
With his inner light.His smiling face will discover my heart’s emptiness.
``````
Kal ki habe ke janeKar mana ar ke mane
Jiban maran tanche ekhanBhese jabo kar pane
Lila amar purna habeKon debatar gopan dane
```Translation
```
We do not know what is going to happen tomorrow.Nobody listens to anybody.
Life and death together are calling me.I do not know whom to accept and whom to reject,
Towards whom I shall sail my life-boat.I do not know which cosmic god
Will fulfil my earthly sojourn. ``````
Joyto chahini cheyechhi shikhiteKi bhabe asibe joy
Janite parile tar sathe patheKare neba parichoy
Sakal joyer shreshtha bijoyPrabhu taba hathe parajoy
```Translation
```
I have not longed for victory.I simply wanted to learn
How I can achieve success.Had I known the way,
I would have definitely been familiar with it.I know the greatest of all victories
Is my defeat at the Hands of my Beloved Supreme. ``````
Kal ja chhila puraskarAj je taha tiraskar
Ami kare chari kare dhariApan bale baran kari
Apan jane gechhi bhuleArire ni kole tule
Je ase se tomar dyutiTarei namaskar
```Translation
```
Yesterday what was the supreme reward,Today that very thing is an object of contempt.
Whom have I to accept and whom have I to reject?Whom shall I accept as my own?
Alas, I have forgotten my near and dear ones.I have saluted and embraced my adversaries,
Thinking that whoever comesIs Your emissary carrying Your Light.
``````
Man daoni maniApaman je maner sathe
Karchhe tanataniDan daoni data
Nitya jena tomar payeThake amar matha
Ja diyechho na chahiteTaito tomar bani
Eso amar hriday daleEso hriday rani
```Translation
```
O Queen of my heart,You have not given me signal honour.
I know perfectly well that dishonour and honourAre inseparable.
O Queen of my heart, they live togetherand pull me towards them.
O Queen of bounty,You have not given me Your Wealth.
Nevertheless I wish to keep my headalways at Your Feet.
Whatever You have given meIs nothing short of Your Message-Light.
Do come into my lotus-heart and occupy it,O Queen of my heart.
``````
He ajana tumi amarSakal kabe habe
He achena apan baleChinbo tomai kabe
Kabe tumi amar praneSthayi habe robe
Kabe amai deke tumiTomar mahotsabe
```Translation
```
O Unknown,When will You become
Everything to me?O Unfamiliar One,
When shall I know You well as my own?When will You become
True in my life-boat?When will You call me
To attend to Your Victory’sFestival supreme?
``````
Hasi hase ashru haseTader srote jiban bhase
Maya moher jalManda mor kapal
```Translation
```
My smile smiles.My tears shed tears.
I am floating with the life-current.Alas, mine is a deplorable fate, indeed.
All around what I seeIs a strong net of illusion and delusion.
``````
Kato sampad sanchito achheAkashe je mor ghar
Nija hate nao diba khusi praneKeha nahi mor par
Dharani mukti lagi ami kandiNiyata nirantar
```Translation
```
I have garnered teeming wealth.My hope is in the blue welkin.
I shall give you everything that I have.Do take it with your own hands.
To me, there is no stranger.For the freedom of the world
I am endeavouring day in and day out. ``````
Eki amar pulak lageKahar nayan palake
Tumi ke go tumi keDekha dile nij aloke
Ami ke go ami keTomar amar gopan milan
Tumi chhara ar gane ke```
Translation
```
Whose beautiful Eye at every momentSends me a thrill of delight?
Is it You who have given meThe infinite Love of Your inner Light?
I do not know who I am.You and I secretly meet
And exchange our hearts’ divine ideas and ideals,Visions and mission.
Nobody else knows save and except we two. ``````
Ghuche geche ama nishaPeyechhi tomar disha
Amar hriday majheKi jani ki jadu achhe
Gharidike marubhumiNahi tabu mor trisha
```Translation
```
The dark night has at last ended.I have now seen You inside the depth of my heart.
I do not know what magic abides inside me.Around me is the desert,
Yet I am not parched with thirst. ``````
Ekla ghare nayan bhare kandKenare tui pari prane phand
Jatoi peli bhalobasaTatoi bare praner asha
Prantare tui bandhNayan bhare kand
```Translation
```
Cry to your heart’s contentRemaining inside your room.
Why do you strangle yourself?The more love you receive,
The more your life’s hope increases.O, bind your restless vital
And cry and weep incessantly. ``````
Chokhe ashru mukhe hasi bhanTabu chale hetha hasi gan
Byatha jane byatha kare baleByathar malya rayechhe je gale
Tabu mukhe kare hasi bhan```
Translation
```
The eyes are flooded with tearsBut the heart pretends to be happy.
Suffering wears the garland of suffering.Suffering knows what suffering is.
Yet the vital smile continues outwardly. ``````
Ami eka chira ekaSathe keha nai dao dekha
Prabhu tomar bhagya rekhaNutan kariya dao dekha
```Translation
```
I am alone, always all alone.I have nobody to accompany me.
O Lord Supreme, change my fate.May I be granted a new body, a fortress true.
``````
Dao paran bhari daoNao jata tumi chao
Mor pipasa mithaoPrabhu dainya ghuchao
```Translation
```
O give me to Your Heart’s content!Do take as much as You want.
The more You fulfil my thirst, Lord,The more You remove my meanness, darkness
And obstacles on the way. ``````
Gaibona ar kulai baseKantha kena thakbe amar
Parer basheMukta ami nil akashe
Ure chali tarar pasheApan maner harashe
Gaibona ar kulai base```
Translation
```
I shall no longer sing inside the cage.Why should my voice remain
Under the control of somebody else?I want to be free in the blue sky.
I can fly to the stars and planetsAt my own sweet will.
I shall no longer sing inside the cage. ``````
Geye ja tui akaran ajibanMichhe kena bhabis man
Kusum kali phute jabeBhabe maki kal ki kabe
Na hoi tader mato shukiye jabiGandha kari bitaran
```Translation
```
You go on singing all your life unconditionally.O mind, think not foolishly.
When the little bud comes into existence,Does it ever think of its future?
No, never.If necessary, let one life of yours wither away,
Spreading its fragrance all around,Like the tiny fragrant buds.
``````
Megh chalechhe kon desheNana rupe nana beshe
Madhur hasi heseMegh chalechhe kon deshe
Akash balre amai balAmar nayan jal
Megher mata jiban khaniKarbe ki ujwal
Akash balre amai balMegh chalechhe kon deshe
```Translation
```
The clouds are sailing towards an unknown worldAdorned with myriad beauty.
A smiling face accompanies them.The clouds are sailing towards an unknown clime.
O sky, do tell me where the clouds are sailing.I ask you with my tearful eyes.
O sky, will you make my life as brightAnd beautiful as the clouds?
O sky, tell me where the clouds are sailing. ``````
Katai dekhechhoKatai shunechho
Katai karechho panTabu ki tomar
Mitheni pipasaBhareni khudra pran
Shunibar jaha shuneo shunaniDekhibar jaha dekheo dekhani
Paoni atmagyanShudhu ghuritechho
Pathe pathe brithaPaoni patha sandhan
```Translation
```
So many things you have seen.So many things you have heard.
So many things you have tasted,Yet quenchless is you thirst.
Your little life wants to see more,Wants to hear more,
Wants to taste more.The things worth hearing you have not heard.
The things worth seeing you have not seen.God-realisation you have not yet achieved.
You are roaming aimlessly along the street,No destination at all.
``````
Alpa kathar manush amiAlpa katha koy
Beshi katha balte amarPrane kare bhoy
Beshi kathar sathe thakeMithya parichoy
Taito ami alpa katha koy```
Translation
```
I am a man of few words.I speak very little.
When I talk much,Fear captures my heart.
When I speak too much,Utter falsehood becomes my name.
Therefore, I am a man of few words. ``````
Ke jane deher parinatiDudin pare ki habe tar gati
Dehir sathe hale parichoyDeha gele ar karina bhoy
Deha chini dehi amar parShudhu deha niye taito kari ghar
Bhule thaki deher parinatiTaito amar hoina urdhagati
```Translation
```
Who does not know the end of a human body,What will happen to the body at long last?
When I become acquainted with the embodied soul,I become aware of the body,
But not of what is inside the body.Therefore, I always sport with the body
And I forget that the body will one day expire.Therefore, I make no upward progress.
``````
Kare diye bhaba ghureBishwa ghare dile thai
Dujan amar apan haleHabe ki mor apan sabai
Cheye prabhu tomar charanSakal dukher halo maran
Ki chhai niye chhilam baseKi dhan ami chahi nai
```Translation
```
You have made me a mendicant.I roam day and night along Eternity’s road.
Everywhere I discover my home.You and I have become close to each other.
We feel each other as our own, very own.Do You think this is enough for us
To claim the entire world as our very own?Lord Supreme, when I look at Your Feet divine,
All my sufferings come to an end.Alas, there was a time when I wallowed
In the pleasures of ignorance-ash, dirt, filth, dustAnd forgot to long for the real wealth from You.
``````
Ar katokal thakbe baseAmar lagi duar khule
Kato kaj se amar shireTaito achhi tomai bhule
Kanna jagaoBhul bhenge dao
Nao amare ashesh kripaTomar mago kole tule
```Translation
```
How long will You remain waiting for me,Keeping Your door wide open?
I am involved in multifarious activities;Therefore, I have completely forgotten You.
O Mother of mine,Do awake the sea of tears inside my heart.
Do smash my false dream and accept meWith Your Compassion-Light
And draw me towards Your Forgiveness-Heart. ``````
Jibaner sukh maraner dukhMichha maya kigo sakali
Hetha jato jani tato nahi janiTabu janibar akul pipasa
Hetha jato pai tato nahi paiAndhar bhariya hriday akashe bijali
```Translation
```
Is it all utterly false and illusory,What I call happiness in life
And what I call suffering in death?Here in this world, the more I know,
The more I do not know.Knowledge-light and ignorance-night
Have equal hold on my life.Yet I cherish an insatiable thirst for wisdom-light.
Here in my life, fulfilment and unfulfilment together live.My heart-sky is all dark,
Yet I see there illumining flashes of lightning. ``````
Paran bhariya dakini ma KaliDekechhi kebali mukhe
Taito tomare paini paranePhirechhi shunya buke
Nai taba dabi nai kona ashaNahi chaha tumi sulalita bhasha
Chaha shudhu thaki sukheSahanti je hai niyechhe bidai
Kandi sada ami dukhe```
Translation
```
Mother Kali, I have not invoked YouWith my heart’s aspiring eagerness.
I have paid You only lip-service.Therefore, I have failed to see You in my heart,
Which is all empty in Your absence.You do not expect anything from me;
You make no demands whatsoever.You do not want from my life the soulful message.
You want only one thing from me:‘Happiness within and happiness without.’
Alas, where is peace, where is peace?Peace has left my abode and has made
its abode elsewhere.Here the life of sorrow and I
now become inseparably one. ``````
Sudure kar payer dhwaniShuni jena din rajani
Kahar lagi paran amarTibra anuragi
Oi bujhi oi kachhe elo dhwaniAro jena kachhe elo nayan mani
```Translation
```
Whose footsteps do I hear at a distanceAll day and night?
For whom is my life?For whom is my life all eagerness?
Ah, I hear now the sound is approaching me.My beloved Lord seems to be right beside me.
``````
Prabhu tumi karo danAmi shudhu bali
Aro chai aro chaiSab niye bali amar hiyai
Thai nai thai nai```
Translation
```
Lord, You always give me everythingUnconditionally.
Yet I tell You, “Give me more, give me more!”You fulfil my desire.
Desire fulfilled, I tell You, Lord,“I see You.
You want to enter into my heart.Sorry, there is no room for You.”
``````
Prabhu tomar kathaBhable amar
Bhabna rabenaAmar bhabna rabena
Apan bhabna bhebe amarBhabna jabena
Amar bhabna jabena```
Translation
```
Lord, if I think of YouI can have no worries and anxieties.
By thinking of my own worries and anxieties,I shall never be able to free myself from them.
I know this undeniable fact,Yet helplessly or deliberately I see myself
In the grip of worries and anxieties. ``````
Bela hale chale jabe tari bahiTabe kena ele hetha giti gahi
Tomar tarani pareJadi kabhu nibe more
Tabu jena toma pane sada chahiTomar bijoy giti gahi
```Translation
```
If it was decided that when the final hour strikesYou will go back sailing your boat,
Why then did You come singing to this world?If You do not carry me in your boat, no harm.
Do grant me the boonTo invoke you always and sing your victory-song.
``````
Rupar tarani bahiyaOi ase oi chandiya
Akash juriya madhur gitikaBihanga jai sudure pane
Ashaguli ure chaleDisha bhuli
Bela gela ai namiya```
Translation
```
Sailing the boat of silver light,The moon-beauty is fast approaching me.
The sky is vibrating with sweet and melodious songs.The birds are flying beyond the horizon
To an unknown land.All my hopes are flying without any destination.
Slowly my life’s evening sets in. ``````
Na jani ki mane kareMukhe bhasha dile more
Rachi tale kato ganKari kato sudha pan
Katobar sanpi pranJibaner puta bhore
```Translation
```
I do not know what compels YouTo give me speech and voice.
I compose a good many songs about YouAnd drink nectar-delight.
How many times I have surrendered myself to YouRight from the sacred dawn of my life.
``````
Sabar majhe lukiye thakKeu dekhbena keu janbena
Shudhu ma ma bale dakChinisna re asal nakal
Kandisna ar mayer kole thak```
Translation
```
Inside each and every heart you hide.Nobody is going to know you.
Nobody is going to see you.Do only one thing:
Repeat the Mother’s Name.Alas, you do not know the real from the unreal.
Do not cry and weep.Just stay in the Mother’s Lap.
``````
Nutan katha koiSabai nutan katha koi
Amar katha sei puratanNutan kichhui noi
Nutan dake prane jage bhoyNai je amar pather parichoy
Tumi amar sei puratanChira madhur chira madhumoy
```Translation
```
Everybody tells something new,But it is I who have nothing new to say.
Everything that I say is old and fruitless.Anything that is new creates fear in my heart.
I do not know where my goal lies.O Lord Supreme, You are eternally old to me.
You are eternally sweet and delightful. ``````
Sthayi kichhu kotha achheDudin tare
Hasi kanna prema lilaShudhu dudin tare
Ki habe ke jane balDudin pare
Ogo andhar jaogo sareOgo alo eso ghare
Hokna ta dudin tare```
Translation
```
There is nothing permanent.Transient are the lives of sorrow and joy
Founded on human love.Nobody knows what is going to happen
In the near future,Or even tomorrow.
O darkness, let me live alone.O Light, do enter into my heart,
Even if it is for fleeting days. ``````
Priyatama eso nirabeAndhar parane lukaye rabe
Akashe bijali samaDhukibe jibane mamo
Habo ami taba priyatamaTabo baibhab amar bhabe
```Translation
```
Beloved Supreme, come in silence,Come in supreme silence.
You will hide in my dark heart.Like the lightning in the sky,
Someday You will illumine my heart.Someday You will truly become
My Beloved SupremeAnd my little world will be flooded
With Your Infinite Light. ``````
Tumi amai dharoAmi tomai dharbona ar
Tumi amai dharoAro shakta kare dharo
Paran amar bhaye jara jaraJabe ahanaj prabhu tomar
Manomato tomar kare gare```
Translation
```
You hold my hand.I shall no more hold Your Hand.
You hold my hand more firmly.My heart is assailed by fear.
My little 'i' will disappearOnly when, O Lord, You mould me
And shape me in Your own way. ``````
Raj pathe pathe kato ghurilamHarainu tata jato labhilam
He mor nayan bikashiniMilila shudha mithilana khudha
Ogo santap nashiniAji phirilam dhulai malin
Hasi nai mukhe hayechhi srihinBasibe ki ei jiban anke
Ogo pankajabasini```
Translation
```
Far have I walked along the highway.The more I have lost the outer world,
The more I have gained the inner world.O Queen of my life-illumining vision,
I have discovered nectar-delight,Yet my hunger remains the same.
O my heart’s consolation-queen,O remover of my life’s excruciating pangs,
Today I am returning home in a beggar’s garbWith an unclean body and an unlit mind.
The smiling world has left me.Utterly empty of beauty my life has now grown.
O Goddess Lakshmi, Queen and Mother of my heart,Do grant me one solitary boon:
Place Yourself once and for allInside the crying pages of my life’s sorrowful
and closing chapter. ``````
Sabai jakhan chai amareTakhan tomai chai ki kare
Tai bujhi ma daona dharaPhirbe amar jirna ghare
Ebar jakhan dakbe taraAr debana tader sara
Tanbe jakhan theko amai dhareThakbo mago tomar paye pare
```Translation
```
When everybody wants me,How can I long for You?
Is it because of that, Mother, You hide from me?You will return to my small
And broken heart-room.Mother, this time when others call me,
I shall give no response.When they pull me to the outer world,
You hold me firm and keep me safeIn my own little aspiring world.
Mother, may my entire life breatheAt Your Feet divine.
``````
Sedin ki kabhu habeSakaler mane habe mor man
Sakaler laje habe apamanAmar amir habe bilupti
Mor abachetanar bhangbe suptiAsi nai shudhu amar lagiya
Subishal ei bhabe```
Translation
```
Will that day ever dawnWhen I shall feel honour in others’ honour,
I shall be proud in others’ glorious achievements?Will that day ever dawn
When I shall cast a sorrowful glanceAnd be doomed to abysmal humiliation
And my ignorance-‘i’ will unreservedly bedestroyed by inconscience-life,
My inconscience-‘i’ will come out of inconscience-sea?Will that day ever dawn when I shall feel
That in this vast worldI am not only for my little existence
But for all, born and yet unborn? ``````
Prabhu e jiban bharBahite parina ar
Sanpibo tomar hateGagane badal nayane badal
Ghum nahi ankhi pateOgo parabar kamana amar
Milibo tomar sathe```
Translation
```
Lord Supreme,I can no longer bear the burden of my life.
To You I offer the heavy loadOf my burdening and burdened life.
Destruction-thunder I see in my sky,I see in my eyes.
Sleep has left my eyes for good.O Compassion-Ocean,
I, the little drop,Desire to be inseparably one with You.
```From:Sri Chinmoy,Illumination-Song and Liberation-Dance, part 3, Agni Press, 1981
Sourced from https://srichinmoylibrary.com/isls_3