Friday, June 13, 2014

The Temptress


These are possibly Rabindranath Tagore's ('Thakur' is the way the Bengalis spell and pronounce it. Heaven knows why even today the anglicized 'Tagore' is used. It means nothing and sounds as artificial as it is.) last expression of his contemplations on the concept of Maya. Much of this is subjective and personal but makes a broader point.
This is not a direct translation as some of the Bengali words when translated into English are completely inappropriate and sometimes mean exactly the opposite.
Needless to say it has shaped much of my consciousness.

Sheshlekha 15
You have strewn the path of your creation with snares of illusion, you forever the Temptress!
You have spread the lure of false faith with expert hands in simple lives.
With this deceit you have marked the Seer.
For him there is no mystery to the night.
The path that he sees by the light of your star is the same path that is walked by his soul.
It is ever clear.
With simple faith he lights it ever luminous.
He may seem deceptive, but he is honest within.
In that is his pride.
People think he is contrary.
But he realizes the truth in the radiance of the light that shines within.
Nothing deludes him.
The ultimate reward is for him to have.
He, who can embrace your play with serenity, receives from you the right to eternal peace.

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