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....
A Bengali Baul-song
(Translated by Basudha Chakravarti1)
Oh, you whose eagerness is turning into cruelty, do you intend to roast the bud of mind in fire?
You appear to be in a hurry to make flowers blossom, to spread their scent. Patience you have not.
But look at my great Guru, the Shah2: he takes ages to make a bud blossom; not in a hurry is he.
Your greed is great; but all you can expect is punishment. There is no way to save you.
Says Madan: This much I submit; it is no use forcing. He who pursues an easy path can learn His message.
Know this, you who are so eager.
1
‘Baul’ is a sect of devotees who rose as a protest against institutional religion2
Lalan Shah Faguir, a famous devotee, hailing from Jessore in Bengal