Sri Aurobindo

Translations

CWSA.- Volume 5

Part Two. Translations from Bengali
Section One. Vaishnava Devotional Poetry

Selected Poems of Bidyapati

13

Upon a thorn when the flowers bloom,

Poor bee athirst for the rich perfume,

Cruel thy thirst, yet thou mayst not drink.

Upon the jasmine’s honied brink

Lo the bee hovers and will have

Heart’s pleasure nor cares his life to save.

O Radha, flower of honey, have pity

And grant thy lover’s sad entreaty,

Pilgrim of honey thy lover, nor more

In maiden pride thy nectarous store

Deny. Alas! in thy rich bloom

The thirsty bee finds never a room.

O jasmine, save thy honey breast

He has forsworn all other rest.

On thee the sin, beautiful Rai,

Of the poor bee’s death will surely lie.

O from thy lips the sweet boon give

Of heaven’s honey and he will live.