Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Search the Poetry Chaikhana site:


Poetry Chaikhana Home
New | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | Contact
Poets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | Commentary
Blog | Forum | Video Channel
www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com

<<Previous Poem | View All Poems by Ravidas | Next Poem >>

Upon seeing poverty

Ravidas, Ravidas poetry, Yoga / Hindu, Yoga / Hindu poetry,  poetry, [TRADITION SUB2] poetry, Sikh poetry by Ravidas
(1398? - 1448?) Timeline

English version by
Nirmal Dass

Yoga / Hindu
Sikh
15th Century

Upon seeing poverty
people laugh and jeer,
and such was my plight.
But now I hold the powers
of creation
in the palm of my hand --
all because of Your mercy.

You know I am nothing,
O Ram, Destroyer of fear.
All creatures seek Your refuge,
O Prabhu, Fulfiller of desires.

Those who find Your refuge
suffer no more afflictions.
Because of You,
the high and the low --
all have gone across,
escaping from the prison
of this world.

Ravi Dass says,
The tale cannot be told,
so why speak further?
You are what You are.
What metaphor
can I possibly use
to describe You?

 

 

-- from Songs and Saints from the Adi Granth, Translated by Nirmal Dass

Amazon.com

 

Themes

  Pain and Wounding
 
 
 
 


Recommended Books


Guru Ravidas: Life and Teachings (Mystics of the East series) , by K. N. Upadhyaya
Songs and Saints from the Adi Granth, Translated by Nirmal Dass
Songs of the Saints of India, Translated by John Stratton Hawley / Translated by Mark Juergensmeyer
Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Translated by Gurbachan S. Talib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Translated by Winand M. Callewaert

 

<<Previous Poem | View More Poems by Ravidas | Next Poem >>

 

 


Poetry Chaikhana Home
New | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | Contact
Poets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | Commentary
Blog | Forum | Twitter
www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2009 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.