Bhakti-The Piety (Translation) Poem by GOBINDA SAHOO

Original Odia: ‘Bhakti’ from ‘Arghyathaali’ by Gangadhar Meher
English rendering: Gobinda Sahoo

Oh! Heart and soul of the cosmos
My mind just shrinks back
From calling thou the benign-ocean,
For deep-sea is a mere drop of thy compassion.

Under no coercion, Oh Lord! I’ll be
With thy hymn to count rosary beads,
Who has the guts to accomplish
For counting rosary of planets in millions?

Haven’t been graced with power
enough, the dust of thy feet to bear;
For crores of suns have flocked
In the feet of thine as mere dust.

Power infinite thy do possess
the feeling of heart to comprehend
Thou wouldst receive as much piety
For thou I do possess with sincerity.

Tiny heart of mine has little space
An idol of thine to coronate,
Can the Himalayas gigantic
Within the kernel of mustard reside?

What can I offer to thee?
All are but yours that I see
To offer his presents to him
Would but to commit a crime!

No choice I’ve but to say,
to the haughtiness in me, ‘Nay’
Oh master of cosmos, I surrender right from here
Receive and accept one and all that I bear.