The Essential Works of Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore

spring, O mother mine, the fragrance from your mango groves

       Makes me wild with joy

       Ah, what a thrill!

       In autumn, O mother mine,

       In the full blossomed paddy fields

       I have seen spread all over sweet smiles.

      O mother mine, words from your lips

       Are like nectar to my ears.

       Ah, what a thrill!

       If sadness, O mother mine, casts a gloom on your face,

       eyes are filled with tears!

      AMAR SHONAR BANGLA

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      Amar shonar Bangla,

       Ami tomae bhalobashi.

      Chirodin tomar akash,

       Tomar batash,

       Amar prane

       Bajae bãshi.

      O ma, phagune tor amer bone

       Ghrane pagol kôre,

       Mori hae, hae re,

       O ma, ôghrane tor bhôra khete

       Ami ki dekhechhi modhur hashi.

      Ki shobha, ki chhaea go,

       Ki sneho, ki maea go,

       Ki ãchol bichhaeechho

       Bôţer mule,

       Nodir kule kule!

      Ma, tor mukher bani

       Amar kane lage shudhar môto,

       Mori hae, hae re,

       Ma, tor bôdonkhani molin hole,

       Ami nôeon ami nôeonjôle bhashi.

      THE MORNING SONG OF INDIA

      (JANA GANA MANA)

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      THE MORNING SONG OF INDIA (JANA GANA MANA)

      Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people, dispenser of India's destiny. Thy name rouses the hearts of the Panjaub, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha, of the Dravida and Orissa and Bengal; it echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas, mingles in the music of the Jamuna and Ganges and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea. They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise. The saving of all people waits in thy hand, thou dispenser of India's destiny.

      Victory, Victory, Victory to thee.

      Day and night thy voice goes out from land to land calling the Hindus, Buddhists, Shikhs and Jains round thy throne and the Parsees, Mussalmans and Christians. The East and West join hands in their prayer to thee, and the garland of love is woven. Thou bringest the hearts of all people into the harmony of one life, thou dispenser of India's destiny.

      Victory, victory, victory to thee.

      The procession of pilgrims passes over the endless road rugged with the rise and fall of nations; and it resounds with the thunder of thy wheels, Eternal Charioteer! Through the dire days of doom thy trumpet sounds and men are led by thee across death. Thy finger points the path to all people, Oh dispenser of Indias destiny!

      Victory, victory, victory to thee!

      The darkness was dense and deep was the night. My country lay in a deathlike silence of swoon. But thy mother arms were round her and thine eyes gazed upon her troubled face in sleepless love through her hours of ghastly dreams. Thou art the companion and the saviour of the people in their sorrows, thou dispenser of India's destiny,

      Victory, victory, victory to thee!

      The night fades; the light breaks over the peaks of the Eastern hills; the birds begin to sing and the morning breeze carries the breath of new life. The rays of the mercy have touched the waking land with their blessings. Victory to the King of Kings, Victory to thee, dispenser of India's destiny.

      Victory, Victory, victory to thee.

      Rabindranath Tagore

      GITANJALI

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      GITANJALI

      Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life.

      This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales, and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new.

      At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable.

      Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine. Ages pass, and still thou pourest, and still there is room to fill.

      When thou commandest me to sing it seems that my heart would break with pride; and I look to thy face, and tears come to my eyes.

      All that is harsh and dissonant in my life melts into one sweet harmony — and my adoration spreads wings like a glad bird on its flight across the sea.

      I know thou takest pleasure in my singing. I know that only as a singer I come before thy presence.

      I touch by the edge of the far-spreading wing of my song thy feet which I could never aspire to reach.

      Drunk with the joy of singing I forget myself and call thee friend who art my lord.

      I know not how thou singest, my master! I ever listen in silent amazement.

      The light of thy music illumines the world. The life breath of thy music runs from sky to sky. The holy stream of thy music breaks through all stony obstacles and rushes on.

      My heart longs to join in thy song, but vainly struggles for a voice. I would speak, but speech breaks not into song, and I cry out baffled. Ah, thou hast made my heart captive in the endless meshes of thy music, my master!

      Life of my life, I shall ever try to keep my body pure, knowing that thy living touch is upon all my limbs.

      I shall ever try to keep all untruths out from my thoughts, knowing that thou art that truth which has kindled the light of reason in my mind.

      I shall ever try to drive all evils away from my heart and keep my love in flower, knowing that thou hast thy seat in the inmost shrine of my heart.

      And it shall be my endeavour to reveal thee in my actions, knowing it is thy power gives me strength to act.

      I ask for a moment’s indulgence to sit by thy side. The works that I have in hand I will finish afterwards.

      Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor respite, and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil.

      Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs; and the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.

      Now it is time to sit quite, face to face with thee, and to sing dedication of live in this silent and overflowing leisure.

      Pluck this little flower and take it, delay not! I fear lest it droop and drop into the dust.

      I may not find a place in thy garland, but honour it with a touch of pain from thy hand and pluck it. I fear lest the day end before I am aware, and the time of offering go by.

      Though its colour be not deep and its smell be faint, use this flower in thy service and pluck it while there is time.

      My song has put off her adornments. She has no