Today's Beautiful Gem: `On the Shores of Bharat...' by Rabindranath Tagore,
translation based on that of Aurobindo Bose. (Part I)

"Hey more chitta punya teerthey jaagorey dhirey -
Ei Bharater mahaamaanaber saagar-teerey.
Hethaa-y daanraaye doo-baahoo baaraaye nami nara-debataarey,
Oodaar chhandey paramaanandey bandan kari taarey.
Dhyana-gambheer ei je bhoodhar, Nadee-japamaalaa-dhrita praantar,
Hethaa-y nitya haro pabitra dharitrirey -
Ei Bharater mahaamaanaber saagar-teerey.

"On the shores of Bharat, where men of all races have come together,
awake, O my Mind! Standing here with outstretched arms, I send my
salutation to the God of Humanity, and in great joy sing His
praises. Trees lost in the depths of meditation, fields adorned with
rosary-like rivers, I see the holy land everyday on the shores of
Bharat, where men of all races have come together,

"Keho naahi jaaney kaar aahwaaney kato maanoosher dhaaraa
Doorbaar shrotey elo kothaa hotey samoodrey holo haaraa.
Hethaa-y Arya, hethaa Anaarya, hethaa-y Draabir Chin -
Shak-Hoon-dal Paathaan Mogul ek dehey holo leen.
Paschim aaji khooliaachhey dwaar, Setha hotey sabey aaney oopahaar,
Dibey aar nibey, milaabey milibey, jaabey naa phirey -
Ei Bharater mahaamaanaber saagar-teerey.

"At whose invitation no one knows, came floating streams of men, and
merged into the sea of the Aryans, the non-Aryans, the Dravidians, the
Huns, the Pathans and the Mughals-- they have all merged here into
one single body. Today the West has opened its portals from where
flow gifts. Giving and receiving, all will be welcome on the shores
of Bharat where men of all races have come together.

"Ranadhaaraa baahi joy-gaan gaahi oonmaad kalarabey
Bhedi maroo-path giriparbat jaaraa esechhilo sabey,
Taaraa more maajhey sabaai biraajey, keho nahey nahey door,
Aamaar shonitey roechhey dhwanitey taari bichitra soor.
Hey Rudrabeena, baajo baajo baajo, Ghrinaa kori doorey aachey
jaara aajo,
Bandha naashibey, taaraa-o aasibey, daanraabey ghirey -
Ei Bharater mahaamaanaber saagar-teerey."

"In mad exultation, singing songs of victory, have they arrived crossing
deserts and mountains; they all dwell within me and in my blood echo
their exotic melodies. O Rudravina, play on your music; even those,
whom in disdain we kept apart, will gather round you on the shores of
Bharat, where men of all races have come together."

Om s'aantih: Peace! - Indrani Nandy and J. K. Mohana Rao

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