Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Shomoy gele shadhon hobe na ~ Fakir Lalon Shah

Reposted after adding a beautiful translation below:

Farida Parveen's recites the words of Lalon Shah in her beautifully haunting voice accompanied by the sound of the flute:
Poetry: Lalon Shah
Recital: Farida Parveen
Jahan-e-Khusrau

Shomoy gele shadhon hobe na
Din thakite diner shadhon keno janle na

Shomoy gele shadhon hobe na
Janona mone khale bile thaken amir jol sukale

Shomoy gele shadhon hobe na
Kihobe aar badjha dile shukna mohona

Shomoy gele shadhon hobe na
Ashomoy re krishi kiore moche miche khete more gach

Jodi hoi bijer jore Tate phol dhore na
Shomoy gele shadhon hobe na

Amoboshay purnima hoi mohajog shei dine uudoy
Shomoy gele shadhon hobe na

Lalon bole tahar shomoy donde royena
Shomoy gele shadhon hobe na

~ Fakir Lalon Shah (Bengali: ফকির লালন শাহ, also known as Lalon Shah; c. 1774–1890)
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Introduction and translation by Fauzia Ali :
This is a Sufi music from the district of Kushtia , situated in the north western region of present - day Bangladesh. This lyric and many others were composed by the legendary Lalon Shah, the tune was also scored by him and the song was originally sung by him . These are called Lalon Geetis after his name.

Since then many Fakirs ans Bauls (who sing devotional songs ) sung these songs and hundreds of other folk singers, over a period of centuries sang these songs. Even Rabindranath Tagore used to invite the singers of Lalon geetis in his palace and on his boat to listen to these songs. He used to listen to these songs with high appreciation and admiration.

In our time of living Farida Parveen is the most prominent singer of Lalon Geetis.

Pre-text :
The key word “Shadhon “ (in Bengali), derived from Sanskrit is used in both high (classical)
Bengali and also in colloquial Bengali.

The word “ Shadhon “ as it is used here has a very rich and multiple meaning such as :
a) self - enrichment (SPIRITUALLY ) and self enlightenment
b) To practise to achieve something one wants to do to reach a goal.
c) a spiritual exercise controlled , systematized for a divine purpose ( it could also mean anything
: religion, music etc. etc ) for which we have come to this world .
d) a way, a method of accomplishing something
e) a committed prayer
f) In Buddhism it means something that prevents attachment to worldliness and passion and shapes the mind to disengagement from bondage and liberates the mind and gives deep faith. One who does Shadhon is called a Shadhok.

Translation of the text:

If the time runs out (passes by ) there will be no self achievement or ( spiritual ) or enlightenment

Why did you not care to ( or did not learn to ) do the practice of self enrichment in time ?

repeat the first verse : If the time runs out there will be no (Shomoy gele)

O my mind. , don't you know that if all the waters dries out in the pond . in the lagoons ,the fish does not stay there anymore !

repeat the first verse : If the time runs out there will be no (Shomoy gele)

What good is it erecting a barrage on the river mouth (Estuary or the place where the
river meets the sea) if it is all dry ! *

repeat the first verse : If the time runs out there will be no (Shomoy gele)

What good it is putting in your futile labour for nothing in cultivating, doing an untimely farming!
Even if the plants grow by virtue of strong seed, there will be no harvest (no fruit) !

repeat the first verse : If the time runs out there will be no (Shomoy gele)

If a day comes up when the full moon rises on the day of the dark moon that will be the day of the final destruction

repeat the first verse : If the time runs out there will be no (Shomoy gele)

Lalon says that at that time there will not be a single moment for that ( Shadhon )

repeat the first verse : If the time runs out there will be no (Shomoy gele)

~ Trans: Fauzia Ali, Montreal

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