Post by Jagannāth Miśra Dās on Feb 20, 2022 23:48:56 GMT -6
Some verses from Locan Dās Ṭhākura’s Dhāmālī.
Haribol everyone. As it was Locan Dās Ṭhakura’s disappearance day recently, I decided to translate some verses from his Dhāmāli, illustrating the distinct seasonal characteristics, cultural customs and festive occasions in the twelve months of the Bengal calendar; and how the natural joy and bounty of each and every month proves insufficient to alleviate the sadness endured in the glaring absence of Gaurānga. In these verses, the poet deftly describes, through simple yet enchanting metaphor, the interminable heartbreak of a forlorn Gaurānga nāgarī in the absence of her Lord. It goes without saying, that Gaurānga nāgarī bhāva is not, or has never been, a sādhya (what to speak of a sādhana) for any Vaisnava, yet upon close inspection, Locan Dās Ṭhakura’s Dhāmālī is mostly devoted to the innocent and playful (Dhāmālī literally means playful) rupa-anuraga that the newly wedded Brahmana maids of Navadwipa experienced toward Gaurānga, and thus one discovers in Dhāmālī a delightful treasure of verses overflowing with intriguing and original insights which any Gauḍiya Vaisnava can surely appreciate. Here then is a sample from Dhāmālī.
vaiśākhe visama jhaḍa e hiyā ākāśe
ke rākhe e tari pati kāndārī videśe (1)
In the month of Vaiśākha, as fierce storms rage in the sky my heart, I wonder who will guide and protect the boat of my life, now that my Lord and helmsman (Gaurānga) has gone to a foreign land? (1)
jaiysṭhe rasāla rasa sabe pāna kare
virasa āmāra hiyā piyā nāhi ghare (2)
In the month of Jaiysṭha, everyone savours the rasa of the mango, which, due to the distemper of my heart, has now be rendered insipid, and thus no mangos are relished in my home. (2)
āsāḍe rathayātrā dekhi loka saba dhanya
āmāra yauvana ratha rahiyāche śunya (3)
In the month of Āsāḍa, everyone is blessed to behold the rathayātrā, but yet, the chariot of my youth remains barren and empty. (3)
śrāvaṇe ṇutana banyā jale bhāse dharā
kānta lāgi cakse mora sadā jaladhārā (4)
In Śrāvana, as water from the monsoon rains flow everywhere, my eyes are likewise flooded in a continual stream of tears, which I shed for my lover. (4)
bhādramāse janmāsṭamī hari janmamāsa
sabāra ānanda kintu mora hā hutāśa (5)
In Bhadra’s month we celebrate Hari’s birth on the Janmasṭhamī, which brings joy to one and all, but to me alone, who am left sighing without a hope. (5)
āśvine ambikā pūjā sukhī sava nārī
kāndiya gonāi āmi divasa śarvarī (6)
In Āśvine, every lady takes delight in Ambikā’s pūjā, except for me, who merely weeps day and night. (6)
kārttike himera janma haya himapāta
bhaye mare visnupriyā śire vajrāghāta (7)
As snow falls in the Himalyas during the month of Kārttika, Visnupriyā is slayen by fretful cares, which strike her head like bolts of lightening. (7)
aghrāṇe navānna kare ṇutana tandule
anna jala chāḍi mui bhāsiye akule (8)
The month of Aghrāṇa brings forth a fresh harvest of new rice, yet I have forsaken all food and drink, and simply float in (an ocean of) boundless sorrow. 8
pause pisṭika ādi khāya loke sādhe
vidhātā āmāra sange sādhiyache bāde (9)
In the month of Pausa, everyone longs to feast on pisṭika (rice cakes), yet destiny curtails all my desire to do so. (9)
maghera dāruṇa śīte kampaye bāghinī
ekelā kāminī kaiche vanciba jāminī (10)
In the month of Magha, as sever cold makes the bāghinī (female tiger) shiver, I wonder how a kāminī (an amorously stricken damsel) can survive the night all on her own? (10)
phāgune ānanda baḍa govindera dole
kānta binu abhāgī dulibe kāra kole (11)
In Phāguna, Govinda greatly enjoys himself on a swing, but in the absence of my lover, who will sway the unfortunate me in their lap? (11)
caitre vicitra sava vasante udaya
locan bale virahinīra maraṇa niścaya (12)
Locan says, the sure death of the virahinī is now unavoidable as all around the astonishing season of Spring begins to rise in the month of Caitra. (12)
THE END.
Haribol everyone. As it was Locan Dās Ṭhakura’s disappearance day recently, I decided to translate some verses from his Dhāmāli, illustrating the distinct seasonal characteristics, cultural customs and festive occasions in the twelve months of the Bengal calendar; and how the natural joy and bounty of each and every month proves insufficient to alleviate the sadness endured in the glaring absence of Gaurānga. In these verses, the poet deftly describes, through simple yet enchanting metaphor, the interminable heartbreak of a forlorn Gaurānga nāgarī in the absence of her Lord. It goes without saying, that Gaurānga nāgarī bhāva is not, or has never been, a sādhya (what to speak of a sādhana) for any Vaisnava, yet upon close inspection, Locan Dās Ṭhakura’s Dhāmālī is mostly devoted to the innocent and playful (Dhāmālī literally means playful) rupa-anuraga that the newly wedded Brahmana maids of Navadwipa experienced toward Gaurānga, and thus one discovers in Dhāmālī a delightful treasure of verses overflowing with intriguing and original insights which any Gauḍiya Vaisnava can surely appreciate. Here then is a sample from Dhāmālī.
vaiśākhe visama jhaḍa e hiyā ākāśe
ke rākhe e tari pati kāndārī videśe (1)
In the month of Vaiśākha, as fierce storms rage in the sky my heart, I wonder who will guide and protect the boat of my life, now that my Lord and helmsman (Gaurānga) has gone to a foreign land? (1)
jaiysṭhe rasāla rasa sabe pāna kare
virasa āmāra hiyā piyā nāhi ghare (2)
In the month of Jaiysṭha, everyone savours the rasa of the mango, which, due to the distemper of my heart, has now be rendered insipid, and thus no mangos are relished in my home. (2)
āsāḍe rathayātrā dekhi loka saba dhanya
āmāra yauvana ratha rahiyāche śunya (3)
In the month of Āsāḍa, everyone is blessed to behold the rathayātrā, but yet, the chariot of my youth remains barren and empty. (3)
śrāvaṇe ṇutana banyā jale bhāse dharā
kānta lāgi cakse mora sadā jaladhārā (4)
In Śrāvana, as water from the monsoon rains flow everywhere, my eyes are likewise flooded in a continual stream of tears, which I shed for my lover. (4)
bhādramāse janmāsṭamī hari janmamāsa
sabāra ānanda kintu mora hā hutāśa (5)
In Bhadra’s month we celebrate Hari’s birth on the Janmasṭhamī, which brings joy to one and all, but to me alone, who am left sighing without a hope. (5)
āśvine ambikā pūjā sukhī sava nārī
kāndiya gonāi āmi divasa śarvarī (6)
In Āśvine, every lady takes delight in Ambikā’s pūjā, except for me, who merely weeps day and night. (6)
kārttike himera janma haya himapāta
bhaye mare visnupriyā śire vajrāghāta (7)
As snow falls in the Himalyas during the month of Kārttika, Visnupriyā is slayen by fretful cares, which strike her head like bolts of lightening. (7)
aghrāṇe navānna kare ṇutana tandule
anna jala chāḍi mui bhāsiye akule (8)
The month of Aghrāṇa brings forth a fresh harvest of new rice, yet I have forsaken all food and drink, and simply float in (an ocean of) boundless sorrow. 8
pause pisṭika ādi khāya loke sādhe
vidhātā āmāra sange sādhiyache bāde (9)
In the month of Pausa, everyone longs to feast on pisṭika (rice cakes), yet destiny curtails all my desire to do so. (9)
maghera dāruṇa śīte kampaye bāghinī
ekelā kāminī kaiche vanciba jāminī (10)
In the month of Magha, as sever cold makes the bāghinī (female tiger) shiver, I wonder how a kāminī (an amorously stricken damsel) can survive the night all on her own? (10)
phāgune ānanda baḍa govindera dole
kānta binu abhāgī dulibe kāra kole (11)
In Phāguna, Govinda greatly enjoys himself on a swing, but in the absence of my lover, who will sway the unfortunate me in their lap? (11)
caitre vicitra sava vasante udaya
locan bale virahinīra maraṇa niścaya (12)
Locan says, the sure death of the virahinī is now unavoidable as all around the astonishing season of Spring begins to rise in the month of Caitra. (12)
THE END.