SRI AUROBINDO

Translations

from Sanskrit and Other Languages

II. From Bengali

Chittaranjan Das

Songs of the Sea (Sagar Sangit)

XXXV

Evening has fallen upon the world; its fitting tone,

O sea, thy quiet bosom gives, making dim moan,

And that wide solemn murmur, passion’s ceasing flow,

Becomes a chant of silence for our souls their depths to know.

Thy garrulous waves have sunk to sleep upon thy breast,

The unquiet winds have been persuaded now to rest,

In heaven there is no moon nor star: void ancient space

Settles on all things in its solemn measurelessness.

Is there no last desire left in thy mind today?

Is love then finished for thee? Has life done its play?

Therefore in this illusionless grey twilight lost

Thou plungest down into thyself, unmoved, untossed.

I too will veil myself within my being deep:

Thou when thy musing’s done, call me out of my sleep.