Jagat 1 Report post Posted March 26, 2001 When I was a babaji in India, one of my most memorable experiences came when travelling on one of those long distant locals north of Katwa. I was headed to Rampur Hat, which is the nearest train station to Ekchakra, the birthplace of Lord Nityananda. North of Katwa, things really change. You lose practically all vestiges of modern India; no more Calcutta babus commuting. Nor is it anything like those long-distant trains between Calcutta and Delhi, or an air-conditioned super express train from Howrah to Madras. This is a local slow train, winding through the backside of Bengal into the Santal Paraganas of Bihar. None of those commuter cars of hawkers with their milk and begun baskets, the floor ankle deep in rotting banana leaves and tossed out guavas. This is all small-market stuff. A party of Santals going to a marriage in a distant village. But it’s also Baul country and it was a Baul musician who very strongly affected me with the following song. He was dressed in white and playing the ektara one-stringed gourd instrument, jingling his ankle bells to give the rhythm. He sang with so much feeling, and the minute he uttered Radha’s name, I was totally absorbed in his song. Though other people were there in the train, which was only moderately crowded, I felt that he was singing just for me. Before it was over, tears were pouring from my eyes. I literally emptied my pockets for that Baul busker, and I would do it again. I felt that I could even become a Baul just for this song. Recently, I found the same song on a CD “Musique du monde” called “Inde: Chants d’initiation des Bauls de Bengale.” When I saw the title, I immediately bought the record. Though on the whole, there is some pretty bad singing on this album, luckily the 8’45” version by Paban Das Baul of “Be born as Radha in your next life” (as the title is given there), with dotara and kartal accompaniment, is every bit as good as I remember it from that day. I transcribed it as best as I could, with all the repetitions and everything, and provide a translation. This is Radha, cursing Krishna to become Gauranga. <h1><center>Be born as Radha in your next life.</h1></center> Refrain: <center>para janame amari moton radha hoio tumi priya para janame amari moton radha hoio tumi priya In your next life, O dear one, become like me, Radha. (1) sundara viraha -- mone hobe jena sundara viraha -- mone hobe jena keno kande braja-bala para-janame hobe radha para janame amari moton radha hoio tumi priya You will the separation from your handsome lover, then you will know why the girls of Braja cried. You will be Radha in your next life. In your next life, O dear one, become Radha like me. (2) shyama raya kandiya kandiya amari moton tumi kandiya krishna krishna nama vadane bolibe kandiya kandiya amari moton tumi kandiya krishna krishna nama vadane bolibe na maniya monodi badha para janame hobe radha para janame amari moton radha hoia tumi priya Like me, you will cry and cry, And crying, call out Krishna’s name. Like me, you will cry and cry, And crying, call out Krishna’s name, without any regard for the world outside. You will be Radha in your next life. In your next life, O dear one, become Radha like me. (3) bujhibe jokhon narira bedon shyama raya shyama raya bujhibe jokhon narira bedon radhar porane koto byetha para janame hobe radha para janame amari moton radha hoia tumi priya Then you will understand how much women suffer, Just how Radha’s life is full of pain., Shyama, O Shyama! Then you will understand how much women suffer, Just how Radha’s life is full of pain., You will be Radha in your next life. In your next life, O dear one, become Radha like me. (4) kandayacho shyama tumi kandibe temoni shyama raya shyama raya kandayacho shyama tumi kandibe temoni kandibo na ami kothin pashaniya para janame hoio radha para janame amari moton radha hoio tumi priya O Shyama, then you will cry, just as you made me cry. Shyama O Shyama. O Shyama, then you will cry, just as you made me cry. But I won’t cry, I’ll be as hard as stone. You will be Radha in your next life. In your next life, O dear one, become Radha like me. (5) [Repeats first verse.] sundara viraha mone hobe jeno keno kande braja-bala keno kande braja-bala sundara viraha mone hobe jeno keno kande braja bala keno kande braja bala As you experience separation from your beautiful lover, you will know why the girls of Braja cried. As you experience separation from your beautiful lover, you will know why the girls of Braja cried. You will be Radha in your next life. In your next life, O dear one, become Radha like me. (6) tomara banshi-ti amara vinati tomara banshi-ti amara vinati eki sudhechilo sadha para janame hoio radha poro jonome amari moton radha hoio tumi priya.. priya radha hoio tumi priya.. priya poro jonome amari moton radha hoio tumi priya.. priya I humbly pray to your flute, I humbly pray to your flute, I have revealed to you this, my desire. You will be Radha in your next life. In your next life, O dear one, become Radha like me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
a_kaul 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2001 Absolutely fantastic !! (I hope these two words convey it all) Ajay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtam 0 Report post Posted March 27, 2001 Hi, Wonderful posting,touching.Anticipating to read more of such postings. Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vishal krishna das 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2001 Many, many thanks for this, Jagatji. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ananga 0 Report post Posted April 26, 2001 I had the great fortune to sit across from one of the Baul kirtaniyas on a train once. You could tell he was not some ordinary bard and that his realization was deep. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
