English Rendering of Srimanta Sankaradeva’s Bargeet

(1)

Râga : Dhanashrî

Dhrung : Shârangapâni pâhe pâmaramati hâmi

Niraya nibâra, âvara nâhi heraho,

Bine charana tayu svâmî

Pada : Jarâ marana meri nikatahi âyâ

kâyâ pare keti beri

Karataho pâpa samâpana âvi

bhâbi charana nâ teri

Dekhahu khîna dine dine dehâ

âdhi byâdhi bighâta

Anta kâle gati mora Kamalâpati

Shankara kara pranipâta

English Rendering

Râga : Dhanashrî

Refrain : O bearer of Shâranga bow, save me sinner

Save me from hell, I do not see any way

Other than your feet, O Lord

Verse : My old age death coming nearer

not much time for body to fall

I keep doing sins life is nearing end

without thinking your feet

See gradually thinning body with every day

tormented by fate diseases

Resort at the end time my Kamalâpati

Shankara proffers obeisance

(2)

Râga : âshowârî

Dhrung : Jaya jaya Yâdava jalanidhijâdhava dhâtâ,

Shrutamâtrâkhilatrâtâ, smarane karaya siddhi

Dina dayânidhi, bhukuti mukuti pada dâtâ

Pada : Jagajana jîvana ajana janârddana

danuja damana dukhahârî

Mahadânanda kanda paramânanda

Nanda nandana banachârî

Bibidha bihâra bishârada shârada

indu nindi parakâshî

Shesha shayana Shiva Keshî binâshana

pîta basana abinâshî

Jagata bandhu bidhu Mâdhava Madhuripu

madhura mûruti Muranâshî

Keshava charana saroruha kinkara

Shankara ehu abhilâshî

English Rendering

Râga : âshowârî

Refrain : Glory to the descendent of Yadu dynasty,

spouse of ocean’s daughter, bearer of all creatures

Redeemer of all beings just on hearing,

bestows success on remembering

Treasure chest of compassion for the downtrodden,

giver of mundane fulfilment and salvation

Verse : Life of all creatures, birthless, remover of illusion

conqueror of Danu’s son, remover of woes

Root source of supreme bliss, ultimate bliss

son of Nanda, who moves in forests

Excells in many sports

glows over-shadowing the autumn moon

Compassionate ultimate entity, destroyer of Keshi

the endless being, wears yellow apparel

Moon-like friend of universe, Mâdhava is Madhu’s enemy

beautiful countenance, destroyer of Mura

Keshava’s lotus feet

Servant Shankara aspires for this

(3)

Râga : Nât Mallâr

Dhrung : Madhura mûruti murâru

mana dekha hridaye hâmâru

Rupe ananga sanga tulanâ

tanu koti sûruja ujiyâru

Pada : Makara kundala ganda mandita khandita

chânda ruchismita hâsâ

Kanaka kirîti jarita ratanâ

nava nîraja nayana bikâshâ

Chatura ujjala kara kankana keyura

bhujamaha motima hâru

Lîlâ binodî kambu kaumudî

chakra keri kanja dhâru

Shyâmâ sharîra ruchira pîta ambara

ure banamâlâ lule

Kaustubha shobhita kantha kati kânchi

kinkini kanayâ dole

Aravinda nindi pâva nava pallava

ratana nûpura parakâshâ

Bhakata parama dhana tâhe majoka mana

Shankara ehu abhilâshâ

English Rendering

Râga : Nât Mallâr

Refrain : The enemy of Mura has a beautiful countenance

O mind, see him in my heart

The shapeless form comparable to

billion blazing Suns in beauty

Verse : Spider-shaped earings on ears beautify the cheeks

cultured smile over-shadows the moon

Gem-studded golden crown

eyes glowing like newly blossoming lotus

Golden bangles in four bright arms

pearl necklace in between the arms

Amusing sports bearing conch shell Kaumudi mace

playing by disc and bearing lotus

Beautiful yellow apparel on dark blue body

wild flower garland sways from the neck

Kaustubha embellishes the neck kanchi in the waist

golden ringing balls oscillate

Lotus pales before feet like new leaves

gem-studded nupura features

Ultimate wealth of devotees let our minds rest there

Shankara aspires for this

(4)

Râga : Gaurî

Dhrung : Kamane ramayâ mana bichuri rahu,

brithâ mohe bhulâi

Râma charana chinta chitta,

mrityu tarana upâya

Pada : Saphala jîvana yo jantu nitya jalpatu Râmâ

Keshava nâsevi yo jîvaya bita kîta upamâ

Yâkeri châkeri karatahu gati pâtakî pâi

Shankara kaha, sohi Hariko, kati bhakati nakâi

English Rendering

Râga : Gaurî

Refrain : O mind, how do you keep away from

blissful super-conscience,

worthless attachment is enchanting

O intellect, think about the feet of Râma,

the means to conquer death

Verse : Life of that creature is successful

who worships Râma always

One who lives without worshipping Keshava

is comparable to insects of excreta

Sinners are redeemed by worshipping whose feet

Shankara says, why do you not worship that Hari

(5)

Râga : Dhanashrî

Dhrung : Shârangapâni pâhe pâmaramati hâmi

Niraya nibâra, âvara nâhi heraho,

Bine charana tayu svâmî

Pada : Jarâ marana meri nikatahi âyâ

kâyâ pare keti beri

Karataho pâpa samâpana âvi

bhâbi charana nâ teri

Dekhahu khîna dine dine dehâ

âdhi byâdhi bighâta

Anta kâle gati mora Kamalâpati

Shankara kara pranipâta

English rendering

Râga : Dhanashrî

Refrain : O bearer of Shâranga bow, save me sinner

Save me from hell, I do not see any way

Other than your feet, O Lord

Verse : My old age death coming nearer

not much time for body to fall

I keep doing sins life is nearing end

without thinking your feet

See gradually thinning body with every day

tormented by fate diseases

Resort at the end time my Kamalâpati

Shankara proffers obeisance

(6)

Râga : Dhanashrî

Dhrung : Bolahu Râma nâmese mukuti nidânâ

Bhava baitaranî, taranî sukha saranî,

Nâhi nâhi nâma samânâ

Pada : Nâma panchânana nâde palâvata

pâpadantî bhaya bhîta

Bulite eka shunite shata nitare

nâma dharama biparîta

Bachane buli Râma dharama aratha kâma

mukuti sukha sukhe pâya

Sabakahu parama suhrida Hari nâma

sute antakeri dâya

Nârada Shukamuni Râma nâma bine

nâhi kahala gati âra

Krishna kinkara kaha sora mâyâ moha

Râma parama tattvasâra

English rendering

Râga : Dhanashrî

Refrain : Utter the name Râma which only gets salvation

Boat to cross the river of mundane life comfortably

There is none like name

Verse : On the growl of name lion

the sin elephants flee in fear

As one utters, hundreds are liberated by listening

Name is such a miraculous religion

On uttering Râma, religion wealth desire and

salvation pleasure is achieved comfortably

The name Hari is the dearest of all

it dispels crisis of the end moment

Narada and saint Shuka did not prescribe

any way other than the name Rama

Krishna’s servant says give up illusions attachments

Râma is the ultimate and essential truth

(7)

Râga : âshowârî

Dhrung : Shuna shuna re sura bairî pramânâ

nishâchara nâsha nidânâ

Râma nâma Yama samaraka sâji

samadale kayali payânâ

Pada : Thâta prakata patu koti koti kapi

giri gara gara pada ghâve

Bâridhi tira tari kare guru tara giri

dhari dhari samaraka dhâve

Hâta ghâta bahu bâta biyâpi

chowgarhe berala Lankâ

Guru ghana ghana ghosha gharishana garjjana

shravane janamaya shankâ

Dhîra bîra sura shekhara Râghava

Râvana tuvâ pari jhâmpe

Sura nara kinnara phanadhara thara thara

mahîdhara tarasi prakampe

Andha mugudha dashakandha pâpa budha

Jânakika shirata charâi

Raghupati padabara dhara rajanî chara

Shankara kahatu upâya

English rendering

Râga : âshowârî

Refrain : Listen conclusively,

O the nocturnal enemy of the deities

Your death named Râma has set out

in procession equipped for war

Verse : Crores of efficient monkeys in horde

have crossed mountains in heavy steps

Crossing the ocean, they are rushing for battle

heavy stones in palms

They have surrounded the fortified Lanka

stretching over many lanes, ports, markets

Heavy thunderous battle cries

generate fear on hearing

Calm hero deity-supremo Râghava

will jump on you, O Râvana

Deities, mankind, heavenly singers, serpents,

mountains are trembling terribly

O blind illusioned ten-headed sinner

bear Janaka’s daughter on head

O nocturnal creature, take resort in the feet of

Raghu dynasty supremo,

Shankara suggests remedy

Translated to English by Dr Sanjib Kumar Borkakoti