Translation
You’re the black ribbon in my braid
O black blending into black.
You’re in the mark on [my] forehead
in the kájala of my eyes.
Yet, love, I do not behold you close.
What a strange cosmic play this game
of hide-and-seek!
Why can’t I comprehend it?
There is indeed no end to my happiness.
I attained you so close.
There is indeed no end to my happiness.
I ever fear losing you.
Why I feel so I do not know.
When I think that I shan’t think of you,
the more I think of you.
Why this is so, I do not know.
I ever fear losing you.
Why I feel so I do not know.
For age after age,
I sit up staying awake for you
Lighting the lamp of life-breath,
Spreading the wings of my mind.
Appearing before me, O stand smiling
With your sweet feet splayed,
With your rosy feet splayed.
You are the black ribbon in my braid.
Black merging into black.
In the black mole on my cheek,
Fused into my every pore.
Latin Sanskrit
ÁCHO KABARIIVEŃIITE KÁLO D́OR HAYE
KÁLOY KÁLOY MILE’ GO.
ACHO KAPÁLERA T́IIPE COKHERA KÁJALE
KÁCHE TABU NÁHI DEKHI GO.
EI APARÚPA LIILÁ LUKOCURI KHELÁ
KENA TÁHÁ NÁHI BUJHI GO.
ÁMÁR SUKHER SHEŚ NÁHI JE
TOMÁY PELÁM ETO KÁCHE
ÁMÁR SUKHER SHEŚ NÁHI JE.
ÁMI HÁRÁI HÁRÁI SADÁ BHAYA PÁI
KENA PÁI TÁHÁ NÁHI JÁNI.
BHÁVIBO NÁ BHÁVI ÁRO BESHII BHÁVI
KENA BHÁVI TÁHÁ NÁHI JÁNI
HÁRÁI HÁRÁI SADÁ BHAY PÁI
KENA PÁI TÁHÁ NÁHI JÁNI.
ÁMI, YUGA YUGA DHARI’ BASE ÁCHI JÁGI’
MOR PRÁŃER PRADIIP JVELE’
MOR MANERI D́ÁNÁ MELE’.
SAMMUKHE ESE’ DÁṊŔÁO GO HESE’
TAVA MADHURA CARAŃA PHELE’
TAVA RÁTULA CARAŃA PHELE’.
ÁCHO KABARIVEŃIITE KÁLO D́OR HAYE
KÁLOY KÁLOY MISHE’ GO,
MOR KAPOLERA KÁLO TILE GO
RANDHRE RANDHRE MISHE GO
MOR RANDHRE RANDHRE MISHE GO
25-11-1982