Final Words

Harshita told me about this translation class she had taken.

She took up a challenge of translating a short poem by Bharat Bhushan Aggrawal which her professor had so far been unable to.

Of course I was intrigued and wanted to translate it myself! Which I did!

Hindi original

समाधी - लेख

रस तो अनंत था, अंजूरी भर ही पिया
जी में वसंत था, एक ही फूल दिया

मिटने के दिन आज मुझको यह सोच है
कैसे बड़े युग में
कैसा छोटा जीवन जिया.

-- भारत भूषण अग्रवाल

My English translation

Final Words

Drank but a drop from 

The infinite stream of nectar.

Offered but a flower from

The endless spring in my heart.

My last breath brings my last thought

Lived but a fleeting moment from

This age of eternal consequence.

Harshita's English translation

Epitaph

The nectar flowed freely
Yet I tasted only a drop
Spring flourished in my heart
yet there bloomed only a flower

On this day of departure it occurs
it was a time for such greatness
and yet, I led such a trivial life.