Bedi (Shackles)
   

Bedi (Shackles)


The following translation has been done by Anurupa Cinar.

 

 

 

" उजळित उजळित जें I काय करीं
लालिसी तूं दिवसभरी
बंदी, चांदीचे I किंवा ते
अलंकार सोनेरी ?"
अजि नचि I केवल ती I लोखंडी
बेडी माझी, खंडी
जखडोनी माझ्या I या पायां
स्वेच्छ गती जी चंडी
"फोडुनि तोडुनि जी I जाळावी
तीच कशी उजळावी
आपण अपुलिची I रे बेडी ?
हौस तुझी ही वेडी !"
सुटते सुटते ही I नचि हो ती
परि जोंवरी तोंवरतीं
गंजे ती तरि कीं I गांजी या
अधिक आपल्या पायां
"चरणासि सतत इच्छेच्या I जी वेढी
घडि कवण विधिनिषेधांची I ही बेडी "
जाणे कोण अजी I निश्चित तें
परंतु कीं मज गमतें
इच्छे घडि त्याची I इच्छाची
वा बेडी तदिच्छेची !

“O how you polish them, over and over,
Pampering them all day!
What think you----
Ornaments of silver and gold they are?”
My iron fetters---not just for today are they here!
O, break these shackles, do
They destroy my free will to move so!
“Fit only to be shattered and burnt they are---
Why then lavish care upon our very own fetters?
‘Tis an insane fancy you cherish!”
Break they will one day,
For ever they are not! Until then
Why let the fetters rust?
That will only add to the distress.
“Fetters forever encircling the Feet of our Desire---
Who forges those social fetters,
That impose the laws of decorum?”
Who knows that today? Ordained it be.
But think so do I,
We have the power to choose betwixt----
Desire or Fetters for that Desire!