Zompist Bboard Again

rotting bones wrote: ↑Sun Jan 11, 2026 8:19 pm Thanks for the interest.

Raphael wrote: ↑Sun Jan 11, 2026 1:21 pm I'm not sure I understand why the second poem would have gotten your great grand-uncle labelled an Islamophobe.

This line is heretical:

rotting bones wrote: ↑Sun Jan 11, 2026 8:49 am খোদার আসন ‘আরশ’ ছেদিয়া,

kʰod̪a-r

lord.gen

aʃon

seat

aroʃ

Arsh

tʃʰed̪ija

pierce.part

"'piercing the Lord's seat Arsh'"

BTW, /kʰod̪a/ "lord" is a Farsi word.

Ah, thank you!

rotting bones wrote: ↑Sun Jan 11, 2026 7:43 am *আপনি জদি বাহার আসেন...

apni

2s.resp

dʒod̪i

if

bahar

outside

asen

come.2

"If you would please step outside..."

Now in addition to /asen/ instead of /aʃen/, he's using Hindi words like /bahar/ instead of /baire/.

I'm wondering about /bahar/, and long vowels. I guess Bangla doesn't have a length distinction in vowels, is that right? My Hindi dictionary says 'outside' is बाहर /ba:har/ (though I'm using /r/ loosely) and that long vowel is also how I remember the word. Does that mean the fictional Hindi speaker in the Bangla film isn't actually saying the Hindi words right? (I noticed in one of the other film excerpts that there were inconsistencies in the Hindified Bangla and I think I should not be expecting total realism.) Or I guess there's no good reason for you to transcribe distinctions that aren't phonemic in Bangla.

I do like a velar nasal. Bangla doesn't have an initial velar nasal, though, does it?

The pun-with-explanation was much appreciated.

I also don't like how the movie later shows her needing someone to complete her.

Oh, ew, I hate that sort of thing.

It was interesting and fun to hear actual audio and not just read transcriptions - including you reading the poem : )

Axas mlö wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:47 am I'm wondering about /bahar/, and long vowels. I guess Bangla doesn't have a length distinction in vowels, is that right? My Hindi dictionary says 'outside' is बाहर /ba:har/ (though I'm using /r/ loosely) and that long vowel is also how I remember the word. Does that mean the fictional Hindi speaker in the Bangla film isn't actually saying the Hindi words right? (I noticed in one of the other film excerpts that there were inconsistencies in the Hindified Bangla and I think I should not be expecting total realism.) Or I guess there's no good reason for you to transcribe distinctions that aren't phonemic in Bangla.

Good point. I might have confused the phonetic and phonemic levels. I will take another look when I have time.

I should note that I don't speak all that much better Hindi than the stereotypical American "highschool French". I can speak and read it at a conversational level. Not so sure about writing it with correct spelling. (I'm slowly forgetting Bengali spelling too.) I have been hearing Hindi spoken all my life, but I'm not a fan of large quantities of media in Hindi or Urdu*. By contrast, I am a big fan of Rabindrasangeet and I'm trained to sing it while playing the harmonium. The traditional performance looks like this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Oro5r3DzP8 (This kid is adorable.) I know all of the songs and poems in those last two glossed posts by memory.

* I do like a few songs here and there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swlik5Hfu-A I'm not ideologically opposed to Hindi, unlike my brother. My brother would throw up if he were made to sit through that very well-received song. Traditionally, Bengalis said they don't like Hindi media's lack of softness, gentleness or demureness. I don't know if the contrast is visible to non-Indians or even non-Bengalis. Personally, some of the non-gentleness in Hindi media is distasteful to me, but I'm more concerned about the documented association of Hindi speech with BJP's far right politics.

Axas mlö wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:47 am I do like a velar nasal. Bangla doesn't have an initial velar nasal, though, does it?

I think the standard language only has medial and final velar nasals. Here's why I think so:



There might be dialectal words that violate this rule.

Axas mlö wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:47 am Oh, ew, I hate that sort of thing.

To be fair, it is a musical with a flimsy plot. On the other hand, they did seem to have pretensions of sophistication.

That movie's opening theme video is one of my most favorite songs.

Axas mlö wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:47 am It was interesting and fun to hear actual audio and not just read transcriptions - including you reading the poem : )

Thanks.

rotting bones wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 10:56 am

Axas mlö wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:47 am Oh, ew, I hate that sort of thing.

To be fair, it is a musical with a flimsy plot. On the other hand, they did seem to have pretensions of sophistication.

That movie's opening theme video is one of my most favorite songs.

Aren't a disturbingly large percentage of Hindi films musicals?

Travis B. wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 3:51 pm
Aren't a disturbingly large percentage of Hindi films musicals?

I dunno, but I had the impression that that's the norm in the Indian movie industry.

Travis B. wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 3:51 pm Aren't a disturbingly large percentage of Hindi films musicals?

The stereotype is that Bollywood says films aren't fun without big songs and dances. Personally, I have never watched a Bollywood film through to the end.

Raphael wrote: ↑Tue Jan 20, 2026 4:25 pm I dunno, but I had the impression that that's the norm in the Indian movie industry.

The typical Bengali movie has slow and boring (i.e. "gentle") songs with no dancing. A lot of old Bengali movies didn't have songs unless they were musicals. (That Feluda movie from earlier has none.) These days, larger and larger numbers of them do.

In fact, Tollywood (Bengali movies filmed in Tollygunge, Kolkata) films are increasingly imitating Bollywood films in art direction. Here's an old Bengali movie song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0q4J93TRvk Here's a new Bengali movie song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTsxOzNdbRQ

The scene from the older movie is more shameless by modern standards (unless I'm mistaken, it explicitly depicts female arousal), but the art direction doesn't look like a modern Hindi movie. Both songs are in a relatively "gentle" boring style. The second one sounds less traditional to me, but that's an unscientific judgment since I already know which one comes later.

Ok, maybe I'll gloss a short fragment. Here's the opening theme song from Jaatishwar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p6WvrFhsAA The video from the movie doesn't seem freely available. I believe Bollywood movies can have songs like this, but these are not their main draw. Their main draw are songs like the Pardesi Pardesi superhit I linked earlier.

প্রথম আলোয় ফেরা

prot̪ʰom

first

alo-j

light.loc

pʰera

returned

"Returning at first light,"

আঁধার পেরিয়ে এসে আমি,

ãd̪ʱar

darkness

perije

cross.part

eʃe

come.part

ami

1s

"having crossed the darkness,"

অচেনা নদীর স্রোতে

ɔ-tʃena

neg-known

nod̪i-r

river.gen

srot̪-e

stream.loc

"carried along an unknown river,"

চেনা চেনা ঘাট দেখে নামি

tʃena

known

tʃena

known

ɡʱaʈ

port

d̪ekʰe

see.part

nami

get.down.1

"I get off seeing a familiar port."

Note: The reduplication here makes the statement unsure: "known port" to "familiar port". Standard Bengali also prefers /æk/ "one" before /tʃena/ "known" like an indefinite article if the sentence had been referring to a known port.

চেনা তবু চেনা নয়

tʃena

known

t̪obu

still

tʃena

known

nɔj

be.3.neg

"Known yet unknown:"

এভাবেই স্রোত বয়ে যায়,

e-bʱab-e-i

this-way.loc-emph

srot̪

stream

boje

carry.part

dʒaj

go.2

"this is how the stream flows by."

খোদার কসম জান

kʰoda-r

lord.gen

kɔsom

swear

dʒan

dear

"I swear on the Lord, my dear,"

আমি ভালোবেসেছি তোমায়।

ami

1s

bʱalobeʃetʃʰi

love.1.perf

t̪omaj

2s.obj

"I have loved you."

This is the softest Hindi movie song I can think of on the spur of the moment: https://youtu.be/2Chj7DUhv8Y Notice the creepy dancing they simply can't do without. (Edit: To say nothing of the lyrics.)

Normally, Bollywood superhits are much, er... busier than the Pardesi Pardesi song. Pardesi Pardesi is a sad song about yearning after a foreign lover who is leaving the singer. It's much slower and tamer than average, which has something to do with why I like it.

Against the psychotic delusion that LGBT is a Western cultural phenomenon, this is the famously trans Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh: https://youtu.be/Wh6ZzAps3kc

Trying the new Gloss My Gloss. Thanks Neonnaut, this is much more convenient.

1. The least traditional film song I can think of (that I like): https://youtu.be/8-SWz-oJZbY?t=82 Does this sound like Bollywood or its own thing? I'm not sure.

এভাবেই চল খেলি

e-bʱab-e-i

this-way.loc-emph

tʃɔl

walk.2.inf

kʰeli

play.1

Come on, let's play this way

Note: [tʃɔl] before the main verb means "come on".

আমাকে যা খুশি ডাকিস

amake

1s.obj

dʒa

that

kʰuʃi

happy

ɖakiʃ

call.2.inf

Call me what you like

Note: য is <y> in Sanskrit. It's always [dʒ] in Bengali.

ঘাস ছুলে পা দুটো কেন তুই চোখ বুজে থাকিস

ɡʱaʃ

grass

tʃʰule

touch.cond

pa

foot

d̪u-ʈo

two-class

kæno

why

t̪ui

you.inf

tʃokʰ

eye

budʒe

close.part

t̪ʰakiʃ

stay.2.inf

When your two feet touch the grass, why do you close your eyes?

আমিও আদরে পড়ছি ধরা।

ami-o

1s-also

ad̪or-e

indulgence.loc

poɽtʃʰi

fall.1.cont

d̪ʱɔra

hold

I am also getting caught in indulgence

এইতো আমি চাই,

ei-t̪o

this-emph

ami

1s

tʃai

want.1

This is what I want

মাখবো গায়ে সোনা।

makʰbo

mix.1.fut

ga-je

body.loc

ʃona

gold

I will bathe in gold.

Edit: All the second person verbs in this song have informal politeness.

2. For balance, here's a song that sounds like the antithesis of indulgence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CldDBMoBLu4

এমন একটা ঝড় উঠুক

æmon

such

æk-ʈa

one-class

dʒʱɔɽ

storm

uʈʰuk

rise.imp

May such a storm rise

কোনোদিন যেন কোনো ফুল আর ফুটতে পারে না

kono-d̪in

any-day

dʒæno

as.if

kono

any

pʰul

flower

ar

and

pʰuʈt̪e

burst.part

pare

can.part

na

neg

that no flower can ever bloom again.

এখন এমন মেঘ করুক

ækʰon

now

æmon

such

meɡʱ

cloud

koruk

do.imp

May there be such a cloud

যেন মেঘ ছিঁড়ে কোনোদিনও চাঁদ উঠতে পারে না

dʒæno

as.if

meɡʱ

cloud

tʃʰĩɽe

tear.part

kono-d̪in-o

any-day-also

tʃãd̪

moon

uʈʰʈe

rise.part

pare

can.part

na

neg

that the moon can never rise through the clouds again.

এমন একটা ঝড় উঠুক

æmon

such

æk-ʈa

one-class

dʒʱɔɽ

storm

uʈʰuk

rise.imp

May such a storm rise.

Generated with Gloss My Gloss.

rotting bones wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 7:13 pm Against the psychotic delusion that LGBT is a Western cultural phenomenon, this is the famously trans Bengali filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh: https://youtu.be/Wh6ZzAps3kc

The idea that LGBT is "Western cultural imperialism" is a lie rightists tell (who conveniently ignore things like the "third gender" that appears in southeast Asia).

Travis B. wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 8:32 am The idea that LGBT is "Western cultural imperialism" is a lie rightists tell (who conveniently ignore things like the "third gender" that appears in southeast Asia).

The third gender is a part of traditional South Asian Hindu doctrine. Unfortunately, I have had Hindus with engineering degrees confidently tell me that Hinduism promotes two genders, echoing Vivek Ramaswamy. This is why we have to keep reiterating obvious facts until we figure out how to administer enough antipsychotics to treat the 21st century's bizarre case of mass psychosis.

rotting bones wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 8:42 am

Travis B. wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 8:32 am The idea that LGBT is "Western cultural imperialism" is a lie rightists tell (who conveniently ignore things like the "third gender" that appears in southeast Asia).

The third gender is a part of traditional South Asian Hindu doctrine. Unfortunately, I have had Hindus with engineering degrees confidently tell me that Hinduism promotes two genders, echoing Vivek Ramaswamy. This is why we have to keep reiterating obvious facts until we figure out how to administer enough antipsychotics to treat the 21st century's bizarre case of mass psychosis.

Hindu nationalists often get things wrong, e.g. they miss that the Rig Veda tells how the Aryans immigrated into India and thereby falsifies the "Out of India" theory of PIE. (Of course, all nationalists get things wrong that way, especially if the facts conflict with their own beliefs.)

WeepingElf wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 10:03 am
Hindu nationalists often get things wrong, e.g. they miss that the Rig Veda tells how the Aryans immigrated into India and thereby falsifies the "Out of India" theory of PIE. (Of course, all nationalists get things wrong that way, especially if the facts conflict with their own beliefs.)

Or, as in this case, their own beliefs conflict with their own beliefs.

Raphael wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 10:10 am

WeepingElf wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 10:03 am
Hindu nationalists often get things wrong, e.g. they miss that the Rig Veda tells how the Aryans immigrated into India and thereby falsifies the "Out of India" theory of PIE. (Of course, all nationalists get things wrong that way, especially if the facts conflict with their own beliefs.)

Or, as in this case, their own beliefs conflict with their own beliefs.

Yes - of course, the Rig Veda doesn't state facts, it is mythology. But if I understand things right, Hindu nationalists consider it a reliable account of facts laid down by eye-witnesses, and the statement that the Aryans immigrated to India is confirmed by archaeology, genetics and linguistics, so that point is probably indeed a fact.

WeepingElf wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 3:11 pm

Yes - of course, the Rig Veda doesn't state facts, it is mythology. But if I understand things right, Hindu nationalists consider it a reliable account of facts laid down by eye-witnesses, and the statement that the Aryans immigrated to India is confirmed by archaeology, genetics and linguistics, so that point is probably indeed a fact.

True. I just kind of thought contradicting your own supposed sacred beliefs is arguably even more ridiculous than "just" contradicting plain facts.

Raphael wrote: ↑Fri Jan 23, 2026 12:43 am

WeepingElf wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 3:11 pm

Yes - of course, the Rig Veda doesn't state facts, it is mythology. But if I understand things right, Hindu nationalists consider it a reliable account of facts laid down by eye-witnesses, and the statement that the Aryans immigrated to India is confirmed by archaeology, genetics and linguistics, so that point is probably indeed a fact.

True. I just kind of thought contradicting your own supposed sacred beliefs is arguably even more ridiculous than "just" contradicting plain facts.

Fair.

Extracts from a speech given by the mad poet Nazrul. Regardless of what messages start coming out of Bangladesh following this election, this is what Nazrul said he stood for.

Note: Informal verbs often end in -iʃ. Respectful verbs like the ones used in this speech often end in -en.

...

কবিতা আর দেবতা সুন্দরের প্রকাশ

kobit̪a

poem

ar

and

d̪ebot̪a

god

ʃund̪or-er

beauty.gen

prokaʃ

expression

Poems and god are expressions of beauty.

সুন্দরকে স্বীকার করতে হয়, যা সুন্দর তাই দিয়ে।

ʃund̪or-ke

beauty.obj

ʃikar

acknowledge

kort̪e

do.part

hɔj,

be,

dʒa

that

ʃund̪or

beauty

t̪ai

so

d̪ije

give.part

Beauty is acknowledged with what is beautiful.

সুন্দরের ধ্যান, তার স্তব গানই আমার ধর্ম।

ʃund̪or-er

beauty.gen

d̪ʱæn,

meditation

t̪ar

of.that

st̪ɔb

praise

gan-i

song-only

amar

1s.gen

d̪ʱɔrmo

religion

Meditating on beauty, singing its praises is my only religion.

তবু বলছি, আমি শুধু সুন্দরের হাতে বীণা পায়ে পদ্মফুলই দেখিনি,

t̪obu

still

boltʃʰi

say.1.prog,

ami

1s

ʃud̪ʱu

only

ʃund̪or-er

beauty.gen

hat̪-e

hannd.loc

bina

veena

paj-e

foot.loc

pɔd̪:o-pʰul-i

lotus-flower-only

d̪ekʰini

see.1.perf.neg

Still, I haven't seen beauty only with veena in hand and foot on the lotus.

তার চোখে চোখ ভরা জলও দেখেছি।

t̪ar

3s.gen

tʃokʰ-e

eye.loc

tʃokʰ

eye

bʱɔra

full

dʒɔl-o

water-also

d̪ekʰetʃʰi

see.1.perf

I have also seen their (singular) eyes brimming with tears.

শ্বশানের পথে, গোরস্থানের পথে

ʃɔʃan-er

charnel.ground.gen

pɔt̪ʰ-e,

path.loc

gorost̪ʰan-er

graveyard.gen

pɔt̪ʰ-e

path.loc

On the path to the graveyard and the charnel ground,

তাকে ক্ষুধা দীর্ন মুর্তিতে ব্যথিত পায়ে চলে যেতে দেখেছি।

t̪ake

3s.obj

kʰud̪ʱa

hunger

d̪irno

worn

murt̪i-te

appearance.loc

bæt̪ʰit̪o

pained

paj-e

foot.loc

tʃole

walk.part

dʒet̪e

go.part

d̪ekʰetʃʰi

see.1.perf

I have seen them walking on pained feet, hungry and weary.

যুদ্ধ ভূমিতে তাকে দেখেছি,

dʒud̪:ʱo

war

bʱumi-te

land.loc

t̪ake

3s.obj

d̪ekʰetʃʰi

see.1.perf

I have seen them on a battlefield,

কারাগারের অন্ধকূপে তাকে দেখেছি,

karagar-er

prison.gen

ɔnd̪ʱo-kup-e

blind-cell.loc

t̪ake

3s.obj

d̪ekʰetʃʰi

see.1.perf

I have seen them in a dark prison cell,

ফাঁসির মঞ্চে তাকে দেখেছি।

pʰãʃi-r

hanging.gen

mɔntʃ-e

platform.loc

t̪ake

3s.obj

d̪ekʰetʃʰi

see.1.perf

I have seen them on the hangman's platform.

আমাকে বিদ্রোহী বলে খামখা লোকের মনে ভয় ধরিয়ে দিয়েছেন কেউ কেউ।

amake

1s.obj

bid̪rohi

rebel

bole

say.part

kʰamokʰa

without.cause

lok-er

people.gen

mɔn-e

mind.loc

bʱɔj

fear

d̪ʱorije

catch.caus.part

d̪ijetʃʰen

give.3.perf.resp

keu

some

keu

some

Some have made people afraid of me without cause by calling me a rebel.

এই নিরীহ জাতটাকে আছড়ে-কাঁমড়ে তেড়ে নিয়ে বেড়াবার ইচ্ছা আমার কোন দিনই নেই।

ei

this

niriho

gentle

dʒat̪-ʈake

race.obj

atʃʰɽe-kãmɽe

throw.down.part-bite.part

t̪eɽe

chase.part

nije

take.part

bæɽabar

wander

itʃ:ʰa

wish

amar

1s.gen

kono

any

d̪in-i

day-emph

nei

neg

I have never wished to chase this gentle race around, biting them, throwing them down.

আমি বিদ্রোহ করেছি

ami

1s

bid̪roho

rebellion

koretʃʰi

do.1.perf

I have rebelled,

বিদ্রোহের গান গেয়েছি,

bid̪roh-er

rebellion.gen

gan

song

gejetʃʰi

sing.1.perf

I have sung the song of rebellion,

অন্যায়ের বিরুদ্ধে

an:æj-er

injustice.gen

birud̪:ʱe

against

against injustice,

অত্যাচারের বিরুদ্ধে।

ot̪:atʃar-er

oppression.gen

birud̪:ʱe

against

against oppression.

যা মিথ্যা, কলুষিত, পুরাতন, পচাঁ, সেই মিথ্যা সনাতনের বিরুদ্ধে।

dʒa

that.which

mit̪:ʰa,

false

koluʃit̪o,

polluted

purat̪ɔn,

old

pɔtʃa,

rotten

ʃei

that

mit̪:ʰa

false

ʃɔnat̪ɔn-er

convention.gen

birud̪:ʱe

against

Against that which is false, polluted, old, rotten, against those lying conventions.

ধর্মের নামে ভন্ডামী ও কুসংস্কারের বিরুদ্ধে।

d̪ʱɔrm-er

religion.gen

nam-e

name.loc

bʱɔnɖami

hypocrisy

o

and

kuʃɔŋʃkar-er

superstition.gen

birud̪:ʱe

against

Against hypocrisy and superstition in the name of religion.

...

রবীন্দ্রনাথ আমায় প্রায়ই বলতেন,

robind̪ronat̪ʰ

Rabindranath

amaj

1s.loc

praj-i

often.emph

bolt̪en

say.2.hab.past.resp

Rabindranath used to tell me often,

“দেখ উন্মাদ

d̪ækʰ

look.2.imp.inf

unmad̪

crazy.person

"Look, wild one,

তোর জীবনে

t̪or

2s.inf.gen

dʒibon-e

life.loc

in your life,

শেলীর মত, কীটসের মত

ʃeli-r

Shelley.gen

mɔt̪o,

like

kiʈs-er

Keats.gen

mɔt̪o

like

like Shelley, like Keats,

খুব বড় একটা ট্র্যাজেডি আছে-

kʰub

very

bɔɽo

big

ækʈa

one.obj

ʈrædʒeɖi

tragedy

atʃʰe

be.3.perf

there is a big tragedy-

তুই প্রস্তুত হ ।”

t̪ui

2s.inf

prost̪ut̪

ready

hɔ

be.2.imp

be prepared."

...

rotting bones wrote: ↑Tue Feb 03, 2026 12:46 am তার চোখে চোখ ভরা জলও দেখেছি।

t̪ar

3s.gen

tʃokʰ-e

eye.loc

tʃokʰ

eye

bʱɔra

full

dʒɔl-o

water-also

d̪ekʰetʃʰi

see.1.perf

I have also seen their (singular) eyes brimming with tears.

শ্বশানের পথে, গোরস্থানের পথে

ʃɔʃan-er

charnel.ground.gen

pɔt̪ʰ-e,

path.loc

gorost̪ʰan-er

graveyard.gen

pɔt̪ʰ-e

path.loc

On the path to the graveyard and the charnel ground,

তাকে ক্ষুধা দীর্ন মুর্তিতে ব্যথিত পায়ে চলে যেতে দেখেছি।

t̪ake

3s.obj

kʰud̪ʱa

hunger

d̪irno

worn

murt̪i-te

appearance.loc

bæt̪ʰit̪o

pained

paj-e

foot.loc

tʃole

walk.part

dʒet̪e

go.part

d̪ekʰetʃʰi

see.1.perf

I have seen them walking on pained feet, hungry and weary.

যুদ্ধ ভূমিতে তাকে দেখেছি,

dʒud̪:ʱo

war

bʱumi-te

land.loc

t̪ake

3s.obj

d̪ekʰetʃʰi

see.1.perf

I have seen them on a battlefield,

কারাগারের অন্ধকূপে তাকে দেখেছি,

karagar-er

prison.gen

ɔnd̪ʱo-kup-e

blind-cell.loc

t̪ake

3s.obj

d̪ekʰetʃʰi

see.1.perf

I have seen them in a dark prison cell,

ফাঁসির মঞ্চে তাকে দেখেছি।

pʰãʃi-r

hanging.gen

mɔntʃ-e

platform.loc

t̪ake

3s.obj

d̪ekʰetʃʰi

see.1.perf

I have seen them on the hangman's platform.

This might be inappropriate, but these lines somehow make me think of the first line of the second verse of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

I made some effort for the sake of consistent practice. Some of my favorite Rabindra Sangeet is when the flowers call the poet away from the path into the forests of desire. I've been trying to find the time to gloss these for weeks. Does anyone like any of these songs? Conversely, does anyone hate any of them?

In these songs, Rabindranath is basically rushing off to play in the forest. God, he's such a child. At the same time, he introduces various aesthetic and philosophical dimensions to his desire to play in the forest, anthropomorphizing the flowers and its other inhabitants. It didn't strike me before I glossed this that all the inhabitants of the forest seem to behave like shy girlfriends, but that's only because I'm an idiot.

1. The flowers call the poet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdn-0NYBLY

না, যেয়ো না, যেয়ো নাকো।

na

no

dʒejo

go.2.imp

na

neg

dʒejo

go.2.imp

na-ko

neg-emph

No, don't go, don't go, I beg you.

মিলনপিয়াসী মোরা-- কথা রাখো, কথা রাখো॥

milɔno-pijaʃi

meeting-thirsty

mora

3p

kɔt̪ʰa

word

rakʰo

keep.2.imp

kɔt̪ʰa

word

rakʰo

keep.2.imp

Thirsty to meet are we-- keep your word, keep your word.

আজো বকুল আপনহারা হায় রে,

adʒo

today

bokul

Bokul

apon-hara

self-lost

hai

alas

re

emph

Today the Bokul tree has lost itself, alas,

ফুল ফোটানো হয় নি সারা,

pʰul

flower

pʰotano

burst.caus

hɔj

be

ni

neg

ʃara

finished

The flowers haven't finished blooming.

সাজি ভরে নি--

ʃadʒi

flower.tray

bʱɔre

fill.3

ni

neg

The flower tray is not yet filled.

পথিক ওগো, থাকো থাকো॥

pot̪ʰ-ik

path-person

o-go

oh-voc

t̪ʰako

stay.2.imp

t̪ʰako

stay.2.imp

Oh traveler, stay! Stay with us!

চাঁদের চোখে জাগে নেশা,

tʃãd̪-er

moon.gen

tʃokʰ-e

eye.loc

dʒage

rise.3

neʃa

intoxication

Intoxication rises in the moon's eye.

তার আলো গানে গন্ধে মেশা।

t̪ar

3s.gen

alo

light

gan-e

song.loc

gɔnd̪ʱ-e

scent.loc

meʃa

mix.3

Their light is mixed with songs and scents.

দেখো চেয়ে কোন্‌ বেদনায় হায় রে

d̪ækʰo

see.2.imp

tʃeje

look.part

kon

what

bed̪ona-j

hurt.loc

hai

alas

re

emph

Look! Having been hurt, alas,

মল্লিকা ওই যায় চলে যায় অভিমানিনী--

mol:ika

lily

oi

there

dʒaj

go.3.past

tʃole

walk.part

dʒaj

go.3.past

obʱiman-i-ni

sulk-person-fem

The lily goes, walking away in a huff (feminine).

পথিক, তারে ডাকো ডাকো॥

pot̪ʰ-ik

path-person

t̪are

3s.obj

ɖako

call.3.imp

ɖako

call.3.imp

Traveler, call her! Call her back!

---

2. The flowers anticipate the poet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja46HWEb_Mc

যদি তারে নাই চিনি গো

dʒod̪i

if

t̪are

3s.obj

nai

neg

tʃini

know.1

go

voc

If I don't recognize him

সে কি আমায় নেবে চিনে

ʃe

3s

ki

what

amaj

1s.obj

nebe

take.2.fut

tʃine

know.part

will he, knowing me, take me,

এই নব ফাল্গুনের দিনে--

ei

this

nɔbo

new

pʰalgun-er

Phalgun.gen

d̪in-e

day.loc

on this new winter morning?

জানি নে জানি নে॥

dʒani

know.1

ne

neg

dʒani

know.1

ne

neg

I know not, I know not.

সে কি আমার কুঁড়ির কানে

ʃe

3s

ki

what

amar

1s.obj

kũɽi-r

bud.gen

kan-e

ear.loc

Will he, in my bud's ear,

কবে কথা গানে গানে,

kɔbe

tell.2.fut

kɔt̪ʰa

speech

gan-e

song.loc

gan-e

song.loc

tell stories by singing songs

পরান তাহার নেবে কিনে

pɔran

life

t̪ahar

2s.gen

nebe

take.2.fut

kine

buy.part

and steal his life away

এই নব ফাল্গুনের দিনে--

ei

this

nɔbo

new

pʰalgun-er

Phalgun.gen

d̪in-e

day.loc

on this new winter morning?

জানি নে, জানি নে॥

dʒani

know.1

ne

neg

dʒani

know.1

ne

neg

I know not, I know not.

সে কি আপন রঙে ফুল রাঙাবে।

ʃe

3s

ki

what

apon

self

rɔŋ-e

color.loc

pʰul

flower

raŋabe

color.2.fut

Will he dye my flowers with his own colors?

সে কি মর্মে এসে ঘুম ভাঙাবে।

ʃe

3s

ki

what

mɔrm-e

core.loc

eʃe

come.part

ɡʱum

sleep

bʱaŋabe

break.2.fut

Will he enter my being and break my sleep?

ঘোমটা আমার নতুন পাতার হঠাৎ দোলা পাবে কি তার। ,

ɡʱomʈa

veil

amar

1s.gen

not̪un

new

pat̪a-r

leaf.gen

hɔʈʰat̪

suddenly

d̪ola

sway

pabe

get.3.fut

ki

what

t̪ar

2s.gen

Will my veil of new leaves suddenly flutter at his passing?

গোপন কথা নেবে জিনে

gopon

secret

kɔt̪ʰa

speech

nebe

take.3.fut

dʒine

win.part

Will he win my secret words

এই নব ফাল্গুনের দিনে--

ei

this

nɔbo

new

pʰalgun-er

Phalgun.gen

d̪in-e

day.loc

on this new winter morning?

জানি নে, জানি নে॥

dʒani

know.1

ne

neg

dʒani

know.1

ne

neg

I know not, I know not.

---

3. The poet addresses the flowers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoXn6i6qD0U

Note: This song uses rare vocabulary I haven't heard elsewhere.

'আমি পথভোলা এক পথিক এসেছি।

ami

1s

pɔt̪ʰ-bʱola

path-forgetting

æk

one

pot̪ʰ-ik

path-person

eʃetʃʰi

come.1.perf

"I have come, a traveller who has lost the way.

সন্ধ্যাবেলার চামেলি গো, সকালবেলার মল্লিকা

ʃond̪ʱa-bela-r

evening-time.gen

tʃameli

jasmine

go

voc

ʃɔkal-bela-r

morning-time.gen

mol: ika

lily

Oh jasmine of the evening, oh lily of the dawn,

আমায় চেন কি।'

amaj

1s.obj

tʃeno

know.2

ki

what

Do you know me?"

'চিনি তোমায় চিনি, নবীন পান্থ--

tʃini

know.1

t̪omaj

2s.obj

tʃini

know.1

nobin

new

pant̪ʰo

wayfarer

"We know, we know you, young wayfarer.

বনে বনে ওড়ে তোমার রঙিন বসনপ্রান্ত।

bɔn-e

forest.loc

bɔn-e

forest.loc

oɽe

fly.3

t̪omar

2s.gen

roŋin

colorful

bɔʃon-prant̪o

cloth-edge

Your colorful hem flies from forest to forest.

ফাগুন প্রাতের উতলা গো, চৈত্র রাতের উদাসী

pʰagun

Phalgun

prat̪-er

morning.gen

ut̪ola

anxious.person

go

voc

tʃoit̪ro

Chaitra

rat̪-er

night.gen

ud̪aʃ-i

melancholy-person

Oh anxious one of winter mornings, oh melancholy soul of spring nights,

তোমার পথে আমরা ভেসেছি।'

t̪omar

2s.gen

pɔt̪ʰ-e

path.loc

amra

1p

bʱeʃetʃʰi

float.1.perf

We have floated along your path."

'ঘরছাড়া এই পাগলটাকে এমন ক'রে কে গো ডাকে

ɡʱɔr-tʃʰaɽa

house-leaving

ei

this

pagol-ʈa-ke

madman-def-obj

æmon

like.this

kore

do.part

ke

who

go

voc

ɖake

call.3

"Who calls this mad vagabond like this,

করুণ গুঞ্জরি,

korun

sorrowful

gundʒori

humming

with sorrowful humming,

যখন বাজিয়ে বীণা

dʒɔkʰon

when

badʒije

play.part

bina

veena

when playing his veena

বনের পথে বেড়াই সঞ্চরি।'

bɔn-er

forest.gen

pɔt̪ʰ-e

path.loc

bæɽaj

wander.3

ʃɔntʃori

wanderer

he wanders the forest path?"

'আমি তোমায় ডাক দিয়েছি ওগো উদাসী,

ami

1s

t̪omaj

2s.obj

ɖak

call

d̪ijetʃʰi

give.1.perf

o-go

oh-voc

ud̪aʃ-i

melancholy-person

"I have called you, oh melancholy soul,

আমি আমের মঞ্জরী।

ami

1s

am-er

mango.gen

mɔndʒori

blossom

I am the mango blossom.

তোমায় চোখে দেখার আগে

t̪omaj

2s.obj

tʃokʰ-e

eye.loc

d̪ækʰ-ar

see.adj

age

before

Before my eyes saw you

তোমার স্বপন চোখে লাগে,

t̪omar

2s.gen

ʃɔpon

dream

tʃokʰ-e

eye.loc

lage

touch.3

your dream touched my eyes.

বেদন জাগে গো--

bed̪on

longing

dʒage

rise.part

go

voc

My longing rises,

না চিনিতেই ভালোবেসেছি।'

na

neg

tʃinit̪ei

knowing

bʱalobeʃetʃʰi

love.1.perf

I have loved you without knowing you."

"যখন ফুরিয়ে বেলা চুকিয়ে খেলা

dʒɔkʰon

when

pʰurije

spend.part

bæla

hour

tʃukije

finish.part

kʰæla

play

"When the day is spent and play time is over,

তপ্ত ধুলার পথে

t̪ɔpt̪o

burning

d̪ʱula-r

dust.gen

pɔt̪ʰ-e

path.loc

and on a path of burning dust

যাব ঝরা ফুলের রথে--

dʒabo

go.1.fut

dʒʱɔr-a

fall.adj

pʰul-er

flower.gen

rɔt̪ʰ-e

chariot.loc

I ride a chariot of fallen petals,

তখন সঙ্গ কে লবি'

t̪ɔkʰon

then

ʃɔŋg-e

together.loc

ke

who

lobi

take.2.future.inf

then who will go with me?"

Note: লবি is Tagore's Birbhum dialect. /l/ in that dialect corresponds to /n/ in standard Bengali. However, the vowel also changes: /lobi/ to /nibi/. Interesting that the vowel raising remains intact.

'লব আমি মাধবী।'

lɔbo

take.1.fut

ami

1s

mad̪ʱob-i

honey-fem

"I will go with you, the honey vine."

Note: /lɔbo/ to /nebo/ in Standard Bengali. Madhavi vine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiptage_benghalensis The name Madhavi sounds like the feminine of this name of Krishna: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhava_(Vishnu) It means honey. It could be a reference to Radha.

'যখন বিদায়-বাঁশির সুরে সুরে

dʒɔkʰon

when

bid̪aj-bãʃi-r

farewell-flure.gen

ʃur-e

tune.loc

ʃur-e

tune.loc

"With the tunes of my farewell flute,

শুকনো পাতা যাবে উড়ে

ʃukno

dry

pat̪a

leaf

dʒabe

go.part

uɽe

fly.3.fut

dry leaves will fly,

সঙ্গে কে র'বি।'

ʃɔŋg-e

together.loc

ke

who

robi

stay.2.fut

then who will stay with me?"

'আমি রব, উদাস হব ওগো উদাসী,

ami

1s

rɔbo

stay.1.fut

ud̪aʃ

melancholy

hɔbo

be.1.fut

o-go

oh-voc

ud̪aʃ-i

melancholy-person

"I will stay, I will be wistful with you, oh melancholy soul.

আমি তরুণ করবী।'

ami

1s

t̪orun

youthful

kɔrobi

oleander

I am the tender oleander."

'বসন্তের এই ললিত রাগে বিদায়-ব্যথা লুকিয়ে জাগে--

bɔʃont̪-er

spring.gen

ei

this

lolit̪

serene

rag-e

raga.gen

bid̪aj-bæt̪ʰa

farewell-pain

lukije

hide.part

dʒage

wake.3

"In the serene melody of spring, the ache of farewell secretly awakens--

ফাগুন দিনে গো

pʰagun

Phalgun

d̪in-e

day.gen

go

voc

on winter mornings

কাঁদন-ভরা হাসি হেসেছি।'

kãd̪on-bʱɔra

cry-filled

hãʃi

laugh

heʃetʃʰi

laugh.1.perf

I have smiled a sorrowful smile."

---

4. The poet spies the doe of desire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8wEmsY796o

Note: This is almost certainly a reference to the legend of Rama and the Golden Deer. The previous songs were closer to Krishna's Rasa Lila.

মায়াবন বিহারীনি হরিনী

maja-bon(o)

illusion-forest

bihar-i-ni

wander-person-fem

horin-i

deer-fem

The doe who wanders the forest of illusion

গহন স্বপন সঞ্চারীনি

gɔhon(o)

deep

ʃɔpon(o)

dream

ʃɔntʃar-i-ni

roam-person-fem

The girl who roams the deepest dreams

কেন তারে ধরিবারে করি পণ- অকারণ

kæno

why

t̪ar-e

2s.obj

d̪ʱoribare

catch

kori

do.1

pɔn

resolution

ɔ-karon

neg-reason

Why do I resolve to catch her for no reason?

থাক থাক নিজ মনে দূরেতে

t̪ʰak

let.stay

t̪ʰak

let.stay

nidʒo

own

mon-e

mind.loc

d̪ure-te

far.loc

Let her stay undisturbed far away

আমি শুধু বাসরীর সুরেতে

ami

1s

ʃud̪ʱu

only

baʃor-ir(o)

flute.adj

ʃure-te

tune.loc

I will only, with the tune of my flute,

পরশ করিব ওর প্রাণমন- অকারণ

pɔroʃ(o)

touch

koribo

do.1

or

2s.gen

pran(o)-mon

life-mind

ɔ-karon

neg-reason

touch her life and mind for no reason.

মায়াবন বিহারীনি

maja-bon(o)

illusion-forest

bihar-i-ni

wander-person-fem

The wanderer of the forest of illusion

চমকিবে ফাগুনেরও পবণে

tʃɔmɔkibe

startle.3.fut

pʰagun-er-o

Phalgun.gen-emph

pɔbon-e

wind.loc

will be startled by a winter wind,

বসিবে আকাশবাণী শ্রবণে

boʃibe

sit.3.fut

akaʃ(o)-bani

sky-message

srɔbone

hear.loc

will sit hearing a voice from the skies.

চিত্ত আকুল হবে অনুক্ষন-অকারণ

tʃit̪:o

mind

akul(o)

restless

hɔbe

be.3.fut

onuk:ʰɔn

always

ɔ-karon

neg-reason

Her mind will always be restless for no reason.

Note: You might recognize the word /tʃit̪:o/ if you go through the Abhidhamma in Daily Life pdf I posted in Ephemera.

দূর হতে আমি তারে সাধিব

d̪ur

far

hot̪e

abl

ami

1s

t̪are

1s.loc

ʃad̪ʱibo

worship.1.fut

I will worship her from afar.

Note: It crossed my mind that "worship" could be a pun on "wedding" in Hindi.

গোপনে বিরহডোরে বাঁধিব

gopon-e

secret.loc

birɔhoɖor-e

wilderness-loc

bãd̪ʱibo

bind.1.fut

I will secretly bind her in/to the wilderness.

Note: Ambiguous.

বাঁধনবিহীন সে যে বাঁধন- অকারণ

bãd̪ʱon(o)-bihin(o)

binding-without

ʃe

3s

dʒe

that

bãd̪ʱon

binding

ɔ-karon

neg-reason

Why bind her for whom bindings are needless?

মায়াবন বিহারীনি

maja-bon(o)

illusion-forest

bihar-i-ni

wander-person-fem

She wanders the forest of illusion.

---

5. The poet takes a look around him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VT_mZqvKN4

আকাশভরা সূর্য-তারা, বিশ্বভরা প্রাণ,

akaʃ-bʱɔra

sky-filled

ʃurdʒo-t̪ara

sun-star

biʃ:o-bʱɔra

world-filled

pran

life

The sky is filled will suns and stars, the world is full of life.

তাহারি মাঝখানে আমি পেয়েছি মোর স্থান,

t̪ahar-i

3s.gen-emph

madʒʱ-kʰan-e

middle-place.loc

ami

1s

pejetʃʰi

get.1.perf

mor

1s.gen

st̪ʰan

place

In their middle, I have found my place.

Note: /st̪ʰan/ as in Kazakhstan.

বিস্ময়ে তাই জাগে আমার গান॥

biʃ:ɔj-e

wonder.loc

t̪ai

so

dʒage

rise.3.cont

amar

1s.gen

gan

song

That's why, in wonder, my song rises.

অসীম কালের যে হিল্লোলে জোয়ার-ভাঁটার ভুবন দোলে

ɔʃim

endless

kal-er

age.gen

dʒe

that

hillol-e

swell.loc

dʒowar-bʱãʈa-r

rising.tide-falling.tide.gen

bʱubɔn

world

d̪ole

sway.3.cont

That swell of endless ages in whose tide the world sways,

নাড়ীতে মোর রক্তধারায় লেগেছে তার টান,

naɽi-te

artery.loc

mor

1s.gen

rɔkt̪o-d̪ʱara-j

blood-stream.loc

legetʃʰe

touch.3.perf

t̪ar

3s.gen

ʈan

pull

its pull has touched the blood in my arteries.

বিস্ময়ে তাই জাগে আমার গান॥

biʃ:ɔj-e

wonder.loc

t̪ai

so

dʒage

rise.3.cont

amar

1s.gen

gan

song

That's why, in wonder, my song rises.

ঘাসে ঘাসে পা ফেলেছি বনের পথে যেতে,

ɡʱaʃ-e

grass.loc

ɡʱaʃ-e

grass.loc

pa

foot

pʰeletʃʰi

fall.caus.1.perf

bɔn-er

forest.gen

pɔt̪ʰ-e

path.loc

dʒete

go.cont.part

I have stepped on grass patch to grass patch on the way to the forest.

ফুলের গন্ধে চমক লেগে উঠেছে মন মেতে,

pʰul-er

flower.gen

gɔnd̪ʱ-e

scent.loc

tʃɔmok

amaze

lege

touch.part

uʈʰetʃʰe

rise.3.perf

mɔn

mind

met̪e

wild.caus.part

Amazed at the scent of the flowers, my mind has become wild.

ছড়িয়ে আছে আনন্দেরই দান,

tʃʰoɽije

scatter.part

atʃʰe

be.3.perf

anond̪-er-i

happiness.gen-emph

d̪an

donation

Gifts of happiness are scattered around me.

বিস্ময়ে তাই জাগে আমার গান।

biʃ:ɔj-e

wonder.loc

t̪ai

so

dʒage

rise.3.cont

amar

1s.gen

gan

song

That's why, in wonder, my song rises.

কান পেতেছি, চোখ মেলেছি, ধরার বুকে প্রাণ ঢেলেছি,

kan

ear

pet̪etʃʰi

lay.1.perf

tʃokʰ

eye

meletʃʰi

hang.1.perf

d̪ʱɔra-r

world.gen

buk-e

chest.loc

pran

life

ɖʱeletʃʰi

pour.1.perf

I have opened my ears, looked around and poured my life into the center of the world.

Note: I feel like /ɖʱ/ like in /ɖʱeletʃʰi/ is one of the rarer sounds in Bengali.

জানার মাঝে অজানারে করেছি সন্ধান,

dʒana-r

known.gen

madʒʱ-e

middle.loc

ɔ-dʒana-re

neg-known.obj

koretʃʰi

do.1.perf

ʃɔnd̪ʱan

search

I have searched for the unknown in the middle of the known.

বিস্ময়ে তাই জাগে আমার গান॥

biʃ:ɔj-e

wonder.loc

t̪ai

so

dʒage

rise.3.cont

amar

1s.gen

gan

song

That's why, in wonder, my song rises.

Note: Compare the outro of Adventure Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbCLr4RzZSM