Below are three original Bengali poems and their translations to English by Sri Chinmoy, as well as a last one by Shelley, exploring the theme of the surrender one´s life to a higher Goal, just like a moth (‘Patanga’ in Bengali) offering its life into the blazing fire, in total distaste of the darkness of the night.
Patanga Ase Jyotir Sakashe Karite Jibana Dan
Patanga ase jyotir sakashe karite jibana dan
Temane amar kareche paran asimer abhijan
Translation:
As an insect offers its life to the flame,
Oh, how I wish to offer my Infinity’s life
To the all-transforming Flame-Beauty.
Sri Chinmoy, Ashar duar, part 2, 2004
Nadi Chale Jai
Nadi chale jai
Sagarer pane
Na jani kena je
Paraner tane
Patanga ase jyotir sakashe
Karite jibana dan
Temani amar kareche paran
Asimer abhijan
Translation:
The river flows toward the sea.
I know not what urges the river-heart to flow.
The sea has a magnetic pull.
As an insect offers its life to the flame,
Oh, how I wish to offer my Infinity’s life
To the all-transforming Flame-Beauty.
Sri Chinmoy, Supreme, teach me how to surrender, 1975
Je Shuneche Taba Charaner Dhwani
Je shunechhe taba charaner dhwani je herechhe taba hasi
Swalpe tushta kemane se rabe tomare na bhalobasi
Patanga sama anale bhasma hai jadi deha pran
Tomar sakashe labhibo janani nishchoy ami sthan
Je paini taba kona parichoy se pare rahite bhule
Chena achenare ek sathe laho janani anke tule
Translation:
He who has heard the sound of Your Footsteps,
He who has seen the Smile of Your Face,
How can he remain satisfied with little things
on earth,
How can he remain without loving You as his
very own?
Like an insect inside a blazing fire, if my body
and vital are burned to ashes,
I know yet for certain I shall have a place
in the depth of Your Heart.
He who knows nothing about You can remain
forgetful of You, but not I, never.
O Mother Divine, do place us, the knowers of You
and those who know You not,
In Your ambrosial, Elysian Lap.
Sri Chinmoy, Garden of love-light, part 3, 1975
The desire of the moth for the star
The desire of the moth for the star,
Of the night for the morrow,
The devotion to something afar
From the sphere of our sorrow.
— Shelley
You can find more about these songs, as well as their sheet music at Sri Chinmoy Songs
Page compiled by Patanga Cordeiro