The arrival of the king (Agaman)

Translation from Tagore by Amitabha Mukerjee. Original Bengal (transcribed), followed by English translation. See phoneticization for more help on reading the Bengali text.

takhan rAtri Andhar halo, shAnga hala kAj,
AmrA mane bhebechhilAm Ashbe nA keu Aj.
moder grAme dUar jato, ruddha hala rAter mato,
dUekjane balechhila Asbe mahArAj,
AmrA henshe balechhilem Asbe nA keu Aj.

'Twas evening and our work was done,
Guests of the day were all long gone
There were some who would say -

"The King's on his way."
But we brushed it aside - "A joke, alright!"
And the village bolted its doors for night.

dwAre jeno AghAt holo shunechhilam sabe,
AmrA takhan balechhilem bAtAs bujhi habe.
nibhiye pradeep ghare ghare, shuyechhilem Alasbhare,
duekjane balechhila dUt elo bA tabe,
AmrA henshe balechhilem bAtAs bujhi habe.

Did someone knock? We thought we heard it
"Oh - merely the wind," and we ignored it
Though one or two did dare to venture

"Perhaps it was his royal messenger?"
Such fools we ignored and retired spent
The candles went out, to our beds we went.

nishith-rAte shona gelo kisher jeno dhwani
ghumer ghore bhAbi morA megher garajani.
khane khane chetan kari kanpla dharA tharahari,
duekjane kahe kane chAkAr jhanjhani,
ghumer ghore kahi morA - megher garajani.

In the deep of night, a rumble was heard
"Thunder" we thought, all sleep smothered.
There was a rumble intense

Knocking us to sense
A few they did whisper - "Chariot sounds!"
"Shut up," we grumbled, "Thunder pounds..."

takhana rAt AndhAr Achhe, beje utHlo bheri,
ke fukAre - jAgo sabAi, Ar kara nA deri.
baksha pare duhAt chepe AmrA bhaye utHi kenpe.
dUekjane uthe bale - rAjAr dhwajA heri,
AmrA jege uthe bali - Ar tabe nai deri.

In the glimmer of dawn, a bugle calls out -
"Arise! Awake! Up and about!"
We tremble with fear

What voice so near?
Some can even see the pennant of the king
And we burst awake - no time for sleeping.
On top of our walls: the pennant regal
Not a moment to waste - instant arousal.

kothAy mAlA, kothAy Alo, kothAy Ayojan!
rAjA AmAr deshe elo, kothAy singhAsan?
hAyre bhAgya hAyre lajjA, kothAy sabhA, kothAy sajjA,
duekjane kahe kAne - brithA e krandan,
riktakare shUnyaghare karo abhyarthan.

What garlands, What decor, What welcome royal?
The king's in our midst, What house so dismal?
What misfortune! Shame!

None to praise his name!
But some of us say - "To lament gets nowhere
Let's greet our king though our hands be bare."

ore dUAr khule dere, bAjA shankha bAjA,
nishith rAte esechhe Aj AndhAr gharer rAja.
bajra dAke shunyatale, bidyuteri jhilik jhale,
shUnya shayan Tene ene angina tor sAjA,
jhaDer rAte hathAt elo dukkhorAter rAjA.

Throw open the doors then - blow the conch with might,
The king of the lightless comes in the dark of night.
Let thunder roll and lightning threaten

Drag the bare cots into courtyard barren
Let's welcome the king with our meager delight,
For the king of the despairing came suddenly at night.