SRI AUROBINDO

Translations

from Sanskrit and Other Languages

II. From Bengali

Chittaranjan Das

Songs of the Sea (Sagar Sangit)

XIX

O loud blind conqueror, stay thy furious car,

Lay down thy arrow. Evening from afar

Comes pacing with her smooth and noiseless step.

And dusk pale light of quiet in heavens of sleep.

Stay then thy chariot, rest! O tired with strife!

O wearied soul of death! conqueror of life!

Vain was thy war, O Lord, my soul to win;

Myself was giving myself without that pain.

Now I will light the evening lamps for thee,

My soul with vesper hymns thy fane shall be,

And I will spread a cool couch for thy sleep

And at thy feet calm’s holy water keep.

What need, to conquer me, hadst thou to strive,

Who only longed unasked myself to give?