SRI AUROBINDO

Translations

from Sanskrit and Other Languages

II. From Bengali

Chittaranjan Das

Songs of the Sea (Sagar Sangit)

XXXIV

In this hushed evening on thy billows grey

Where swells thy chant or whither flows today?

To what far dimness is revealed thy cry?

Thou for my soul prepar’st what ministry?

The conch-shell’s sound for vesper worship blown

Is now within my heart thy evening tone;

With frankincense as at a holy tide

Like a dim temple I am purified.

Deep-souled and saved from passion and desire,

To whom then does thy solemn song aspire,

Vast worshipper? whose rites dost thou prepare?

Towards whom hold’st thou my soul, a lamp of prayer?

What rhythmic hymn of power dost thou repeat?

Initiate me, Ocean calm, complete

My heart of worship with thy mystic word:

Let all my soul with one wide prayer be stirred.