Triveni Journal

1927 | 11,233,916 words

Triveni is a journal dedicated to ancient Indian culture, history, philosophy, art, spirituality, music and all sorts of literature. Triveni was founded at Madras in 1927 and since that time various authors have donated their creativity in the form of articles, covering many aspects of public life....

Bankim Chandra's 'Vande Mataram'

A new translation by Kalipada Mukherjee

Bankim Chandra’s ‘Vande Mataram’

(A New Translation)

BY KALIPADA MUKHERJEE, M.A.

(This song of twenty-seven lines was purposely written in Sanskrit and Bengali. The author prophetically thought that its Sanskrit portion would one day become the Indian National Anthem. Lines 1 to 7; 11, 12 and 15; and 20 to 27 are in Sanskrit. Lines 8 to 19 idolize Bengal; these are in Bengali, as are the remaining lines also.)

I bow to the Mother,–

Well-watered, well-fruited, balmy with the southern breeze,

Green with crops, the Mother,–

Whose nights are silvery with moon-light,

Who is lovely with trees full of full-blown flowers,

Who is always smiling, and is sweet of speech,

Who is the giver of all joy, and is also the giver of boons, the Mother.

Thou art awful with the tumult of thy seven million throats,

Thou holdest sharp swords in thy fourteen million hands,

Why art thou powerless, who art so very powerful?

I bow to thee, O Saviour, O thou of untold strength,

Thou Mother who dost keep off the band of foes.

Thou art Learning, Religion also art thou,

Thou art the heart, thou art also the soul,

Thou art also the life within the body.

Thou art the prowess in the arm,

The reverence in the heart art thou,

Thine image alone we build in temples.

Thou art Durga, armed with thy ten weapons,

Thou art Kamala, disporting amidst lotuses,

Thou art Vani, the giver of learning,

I bow to thee.

I bow to thee, O Goddess of wealth, O thou hallowed and peerless one,

I bow to the Mother,

The well-watered and well-fruited, ever-green and simple,

Smiling and ornamented,

Supporting and fostering Mother!

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