Rasa Leela Pala Kirtana - Part 1
language: bengali/brij bhasha/sanskrit (pala kirtana)
Note: This is from a complete kirtana set as recorded by Chhabi Banerjee. This has some tabla bols which are unique to Bengal, and hence I've written them exactly as they are heard. This composition also frequently flips between the three languages as mentioned above as is often the case with traditional, oral ballads.
One interesting part to me here is how the word 'Bodhu' or 'Bride' is used here to denote Krishna in addition to his more traditional names. This is a nod to the stories/songs where Radha and her friends use 'Bride' as a code name of sorts for Krishna so as to hide him from Radha's in-laws.
Aaji hote bawrsho-kaal poorbe, aymon i ayk rawjoni te,
Only a few years ago, on a night just like this,
Brojo-gopini-gawn Kaatyaayoni-broto kore,
The cowmaids of Vraja, after fulfilling the Katyayani-vrata,
Maa-yer paaye jaanaay obhilaash.
At the divine mother's feet, submitted their desire.
Bole, "Maa, Katyayani Mahaamaaye, maha-yogin-y-adheeshvari,
They said, "Mother, Katyayani, o divine mother, worshipped by the most exalted ascetics,
Nanda-braja-sutaam devi, patim me kuru de namaha!"
Nanda's son, Vraja's son, o goddess, pray grant unto me as our husband!"
Katyayani-broto sheshe Gobindo aashhashilen,
After the Katyayani-vrata, Govinda [Krishna] assured [the cowmaids],
"Aagoto shaarodo-purnima rawjoni-te puraaobo tawbo obhilaash,
"On the coming full-moon night of the month Sharada, I shall fulfil your desires,
Prokotito hoyobo nawrtono raash."
I shall incarnate as the Rasa dance personified."
Aaj shei modhur Shaarodo-purnima ratri.
Tonight is the same Sharada's full moon night.
Shaarodo chondo pawbono mawndo bipin-e bhawrolo
Under the Sharada moon, the leisurely wind filled in the forest
The fragrance of flowers.
Phullo mollika maaloti juthi,
Jasmines bloomed aplenty,
Drunk bees sang their way through them.
Mawtta modhu taara gungun kawre,
Ghire ghire maaloti-r juthi, ghire ghire.
As they flitted around the jasmines.
Herawto raatri oi chhawno bhaati,
Seeing the night, as short as a second,
Shyaam mohono maadol-e maati re.
Shyam [Krishna] lost himself to the beats of the madal drums.
Seeing a night such as this,
Bhawkto-baanchha-kawlpo-toru,
The one who always fulfils his devotees' wishes,
Bhawgobaan, peeta-raatri shaarod-ot phula-mallika,
That god, seeing the autumn night bloom with flowers,
Deekshaarantum manaschakre yugomaayam upaasitam,
At the end of their penance, in this divine moment that comes but once a yuga,
Murali gaan baanchhayatana, kuloboti griho-choroni.
Made his flute sing, stealing the wives of householders from their homes.
Baaje oi, baaje oi, baaje oi, baaje oi,
There it sings, it sings, it sings, it sings,
Muralir dhhoni bheshe aashe oi,
The music of the flute wafts in with the breeze,
Aakaash baataash maataaiye,
The sky and the winds all enchanted,
"Radhe Radhe Radhe," bole,
"Radha Radha Radha," It says,
Aakaash baataash maataaiye.
Enchanting the sky and the winds.
Suna lo gopi prema-hi-ropi manahi manahi apon shopi re,
Hearing thus, the cowmaids, having surrendered their hearts and minds,
Taahi chalat jaahi bolat murali ko kawla-kawloni.
Did whatever the sing-song melody of the flute told them to do.
Aek dike shokhi-gawn emni bhaabe cholilo.
On on hand, like thus, the cowmaids walked.
Keli-vipinaam pravishati Radha-s-pratipada sama-jita manasija badha,
Into the forest of [amorous] games, Radha walked, winning over all obstacles to love,
Binitad-hati mridu manthara paadam rachayati kunjara gati mana-vaadam.
Bowing, in a slow pace, Radha walked, with gait like that on an elephantess.
Bipin-e milaalo gopo-naari, heri haashote bongshi-dhaari.
Into the forest vanished the cowmaids; seeing thus laughed the flute-bearer [Krishna].
Heshe heshe kawye, "Kayne bahirili? Ei ghoro rawjoni te?
Laughing and laughing, he said, "Why did you come out? In the middle of the night?
Shoti dhorom noto kore, ei ghoro rawjoni te?"
Betraying your marriage vows, in the middle of this night?"
Pawraan-bodhu mukhe gopi-gawn ei kawtha shune,
Hearing such words from the Bride of their hearts, the cowmaids
Tutalo sabahu manorath karani, abanata aanane nakhilika dharani.
Lost all heart; with lowered heads they scratched the earth with their nails.
"Didha how hey dhawroni tumi, ebaar aamra probesh kori!"
[They said out of shame,] "Please open up, o Earth, and let us enter!"
Aabaar praan-bodhu-r paane ingit kore gopi-gawn bawle,
Again pointing at the Bride of their hearts, the cowmaids said,
"Tomaar bongshi-rawb-aakorshawne, kesh-e dhori aaniyaachhe ei gawhon bon-e.
"The music of your flute has pulled us here by our hair, into this deep forest.
Ab kaho kapat dharam-yuta bol,
Now say your treacherous righteous words,
Dhaarmik-e haraye ki kumaari'r chol?
Does a righteous man steal a woman's honour thus?
Ke na jaane hey, tumi je prodhan chor, ei brojo majhe!
Who doesn't know, hey, you are the foremost among thieves in Vraja!
Tohe shopito jo tuba-rasa paabo, tuba pada chhodi ab ko kaha jabo?
We have surrendered unto you for our enjoyment, leaving your feet where would we go?
Where on earth will we go?
Tomaay chhere naagor, kotha ba jaabo he?"
Leaving you Nagar [Krishna], where would we go?"
Etehu kahat jab jubati melo,
When thus was said by all the youthful women,
Suni Nanda-nandana harashita bhelo.
Nanda's son [Krishna] became exceedingly happy.
"Ki ba chaao hey e ghoro rawjoni te?
"What do you want in the middle of this night?
Emon gawhono bon-e, ki ba chaao he?"
In this dark forest, what do you want from me?"
Shuni gopi kohe, "Aamra aar kichu chaaina.
Hearing thus said the cowmaids, "We do not want anything else.
Aaj bawro mon-e shaadh jaage ekotro naachibo,
Today, we desire to all dance together,
Naachbo bodhu-r kawr dhore,
We shall dance o Bride, holding your hand,
We came with a lot of hope,
Upon seeing this night bloom."
Kawtha shune Naagor bawle,
Hearing this, Nagar said,
"Naachbe jodi naachuk aage,
"If you must, then first she must dance,
That Radha, for my entertainment,
Jemni baashi baajaai aami, naachuk taymon-i."
Just as I play my flute, let her dance just like that."
Ei bole Shyaam Naagor aamaar baashi baajaaye baajaaye bawle,
Saying thus, playing his flute again and again says Shyam,
Tawbe aamaar ekti shawrto aache.
But I have a condition first.
Tomaar na hawbe bhushawn-er dhhoni,
Your ornaments must not make any noise,
Neither should your garments move,
Druto-goti-chawron-e na baajibe monjir.
On your fast-moving feet, your anklets must not jingle.
O Wealthy [in love]/Illustrious One, dance, let's see!
To the Mortal-Peril rhythm,
Oi dhonu-onko maajhe naacho
Inside that bow [semi-circle] dance
And then I shall belive in you my love.
[Let's see] How well you dance!
Aaha dhonu-maajhe kaymon naachte paaro!
Oh, within the bow how you can dance!
Here, I draw a bow [on the soil],
Dhonu maajhe naachte paaro."
Within the bow, now dance."
Shyaam Naagor bawle ei shawrte Raai-dhoni ke naachte hawbe.
Shyam [Krishna] says that on this condition Rai-Dhoni [Radha] must dance.
Shawrto shune shokhi-gawn bawle, "Ohe Shyaam,
Hearing the conditions, the friends [of Radha's] said, "Hey Shyam,
Aamaar Raai jodi tomaar shawrte naachte pare,
Our Rai, if she can dance as per your conditions,
"Haarile tomaar nibo beshawr kaachuli,
"If you lose, I shall take your precious blouses,
Jinile tomaare dibo mohono-muroli,
If you win, I shall surrender my enchanting flute,
