Shaadhona Worship by Tagore Translation By Ranu

Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel prize for literature. It is the first Nobel prize won by Asia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Goddess, devotees have come to you
with many offerings;
I, the unfortunate, have brought my tears
and my ineffective prayer.
You know my hearts desire,
I had the longing but not the ability,
even then I carried the desire day and night.
I tried to string together what was in my heart,
it continuously fell to pieces,
the good, the bad, dark and light is mixed up.
Still, O pious one ,
I bring my heart and soul to you
my life’s greatest wealth___
my fruitless prayer.
O,my useless adoration
all the successful devotees are mocking me.
If only you ,Goddess could for an instant
change leer into affection__
shed one tear-drop with compassion
my useless prayer would be successful.
Goddess, many have come to sing
with numerous instruments.
I have a soundless, severed
humble lute.
You know I did not neglect;
I practiced countless times,
Whatever tune I had in my heart,
I used my lute with hope,
unfortunately my attempt failed__it broke the strings.
Quietly I waited all along,
brought my humble song
my beloved instrument___
a torn lute.
All your gifted followers are laughing with hatred.
If you take it in your lap
the unsung songs will take a seat in my heart!___
What was hope will blossom into music, the torn lute.
Oh, goddess I sang many songs in my life,
there were many good results;
I donated all of them to the world,
filled the whole earth.
Whoever likes it can take it,
however long it lasts, let it,
let it pick up all the fame and disgrace.
I carried out whatever I said
it is not mine, it belongs to all___
it is roaming around in different form all over the world.
Whatever greatest wealth I have
I am leaving at your feet__
failure, unsaid message, unsung song,
fruitless hope.
O my dear fruitless hope
watching this everyone is laughing in contempt.
If you my goddess will take this petty___
garland in your hand,
a new day and night will emerge with sweet fragrance;
it will make my fruitless life successful.
Any one that brings all that he has honestly for the benefit of the world or the mankind is usually mocked by those who think that this world has no place for the fools, this is the world for shrewd, clever and opportunists. They also think that those who believe that God’s benevolence needs sacrifice and devotion live in their own oblivion. Tagore feels this hurt but still sits at the feet of the Benevolent and offers his devotions because his awareness knows that the contempt and laugh that is resonating will die down with his faithfulness.
It’s always a pleasure to read your lovely translation of Tagore.
Although the poem was long,there was something in it that made me decide to translate it. I was getting very emotional,
this is one of the best I have read so far.I literally felt Tagore’s emotions and at times I almost felt like crying.
Thank you Akhtar Bhai,I always appreciate your comments.
Regards,
Chaman
Thank you Akhtar Bhai,he reminds us to be human is God’s greatest gift.
Regards,
Chaman
Dear Ranu,
Thank you for this.
Sometimes all we can bring are tears and prayers that feel small. I love this Tagore expression of humanness. Thank God for the ache in our hearts.
Thank you again for this.
All good wishes,
robert
Yes he helps us to be human, Robert.
Best wishes,
Ranu
You are doing a beautiful job here by bringing Tagore’s poems to someone who was so unaware like me. I adore them. I have seen how worship has lost its essence of humility and innocence. I love how this poem expresses it.
Many thanks for your wonderful comment.
Ranu
Thank you very much.
Ranu