SRI AUROBINDO

Translations

from Sanskrit and Other Languages

II. From Bengali

Songs of Bidyapati

XII

Caanou to see I had desire;

Caanou seen, my life grew fire.

Thenceforth deep down, ah, foolish I,

In a great sea of love I lie.

Hardly I know, a girl and weak,

What these words mean my heart would speak.

Only my tears for ever rain,

Only my soul burns in its pain.

O wherefore, friend, did mine eyes see,

Friend of my bosom, thoughtlessly?

When a little mirth was all I planned,

I have given my life into another’s hand.

I know not what this lovely thief

Did to me in that moment brief.

Surely such craft none yet possessed!

He robbed my heart out of its nest

Only with seeing, and gone is he

Taking my poor heart far from me

And ah! his eyes did then express

Such tenderness, such tenderness,

The more I labour to forget

My very soul remembers it.

Mourn not, sweet girl, for thy heart’s sake;

Who took thy heart, thyself at last shall take.