Re: Sri Ramakrishna and Urdu language

[UTPAL CHAKRABARTY]

It may seem that Farsi literature was popular in India duirng Thakur's time. At that time the words which are originally from Farsi were perhaps not known as Urdu. At any rate one finds Thakur using several Farsi / Urdu words like "Umer" to mean age, "Dhup" to mean Sunny.

 

These are rather common words and perhaps became part of Bengali. However, it amazes me that He understood some of the Urdu words which are very uncommon.

 

When Srimat Hiranand, Takur's Devotee from Sindh, had come to see Him for the last time at Cossipore Gardne House, Thakur had asked Swamiji to sing a Urdu devotional song by Zafar Ali which goes as follows:

 

Tujhse hamne dilko lagaya - jo kuch hai so tuhi hai,

Ek tujhko aapna paya - jo kuch hai so tuhui hai

 

Sabke makan dil ka makeen tu - kaun sa hai dil jisme nehi tu

Har ek dil me hai tu samaya - jo kuch hai so tuhi hai

 

Kya malayak kya insan kya hindu kya mussalman

Jaise chaha tune banaya - jo kuch hai so tuhui hai

 

Kaba me kya aur deir mein kya, teri paristish hogi sab jan

Age tere sar sabone jhukya, jo kuch hai so tuhi hai

 

Ars se le kar farsh jamin tak, aur jamin se ars bari tak

Jaha mei dekha tuhi nazar aya, jo kuch hai so tuhi hai

 

Socha samjha dekha bhala, tu jeysa koi dhund nikala

Aab e samajh me Zafar ki aya, jo kuch hai so tuhi hai

 

I tried to translate it in English as follows:

 

I have placed you in my heart - whatever exists is you

I found you alone to be my very own - whatever I have is you alone 

 

You are omnipresent in every heart - there is none where you are not present

Your presence can be felt in every heart -  whatever exists is you

 

Whether it is an angel, or human, hindu or mussalman

You made one according to your wish - whatever exists is you

 

Whether in the mosque or in the temple, you are being worshipped everywhere

Everyone bows his head in front of you - whatever exists is you

 

From the highest high to the lowest low and from lowest low to the highest high

Where ever I looked I only found you - whatever exists is you

 

I thought, understood, saw and pondered but could not find anyone like you

Now Zafar realizes that whatever exists is you

 

The above is flawed by my limited Urdu and English - I am not sure if the highlighted portions are correct but it is my contribution and I expect someone more knowledgeable in Urdu and more poetic to provide a better rendering  

 

Thanks