'Banalata Sen' by Jibanananda Das

Translated from original Bengali by Saikat Guha

I am walking on the way of the world for thousand years,

From the sea of Singala to the ocean of Malaya in dark nights

I have wandered a lot; in the obscure reign of Bimbisara-Ashoka

Yes, I was there; also in the dark city of Vidarva;

I am a tired soul, everywhere I find the vast sea of life,

I’ve found great peace with Banalata Sen of Natore.

Her hair resembles the dark Vidisha’s nights,

And face Sravasti’s sculpture; in far fathomed sea

Just as a sailor who have lost his way

Finds a land of greenness amidst the island of cinnamon,

I have found her in darkness; she asked ‘Where have you been?’

Lifting her eyes like bird’s nest, Banalata Sen of Natore.

After the day’s end, same as silently falling dew

Comes night; skylarks wipe out the hues of sun from wings;

When all the lights are extinguished, manuscripts

Start shining in the dim light of glow-worms;

The birds return-- the rivers too-- traumas of this life come to an end;

Only darkness remains and sits in front of me Banalata Sen.

Footnotes:

Singala--Former Sri Lanka

Bimbisar (558–491 BC)--Indian monarch of Magadha dynasty

Ashoka (304–232 BC)--The legendary Indian monarch of Maurya Dynasty, known for his great service to his pupils.

Vaidarva--Ancient prosperous Indian cirty

Natore--A town in undivided Bengal, now in Bangladesh

Vidisha--Ancient Indian city famous for its rock-cut sculptures, now in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Sravasti--Famous ancient Indian city, one of the largest cities in ancient India during Lord Buddha's lifetime (563–483 BC). Ruins of Buddhist architecture can still be seen today in Uttar Pradesh, India.

  

Note:

   Jibananda was essenatially a poet of Bengal. The charming rural landscapes of Bengal fascinated him. In this complex poem the poet as a representative of tired humanity seeks refuge in the lap of a rustic maiden, Banalata Sen, who can be regarded as synonymous to the soothing atmosphere of Bengal (Banalata means 'wild creeping plant'). Men form times unimaginable went abroad for the sake of livelihood or for adventure. But a tired man finds peace only after returning to home, in the company of his lady-love. Especially remarkable in this poem is the way Jibanananda describes Banalata Sen. To the lover-poet her appearance is as soothing as a shipwrecked sailor's seeing a green island at a distance. Through his description the poet also salutes the rich ancient culture of India characterized by its marvellous architectural beauty. In the third stanza, we find a note of serenity at the end of a busy life's buzz and bustles, which refers to the ultimate goal of life--salvation.