Hamsa (The Swan)

English

I will tell the king about the desires you hold dear

English
I will tell the king about the desires you hold dear
The king too will be pleased to hear.
But if you were to fall in love with another
You may receive the king’s displeasure.
 
Your father may get you married to another man.
You may also begin to like him; that is human.
Many times people talk without purpose.
You may later feel I too was capricious.
Our lives may come in harm’s way
Is your mind firm on Nala? Now you must say.

 

Whatever your heart feels- let these be revealed

English
Whatever your heart feels- let these be revealed.
Oh! Willowy-bodied, only then you will feel fulfilled.
The good should join the good, not lesser
For you there is surely no suitor any better.
 
He is stronger than the lord of cloud
and of high standing, virtuous and bold.
Gold and jewel are made for each other
Your match with Nala is similar.
 
As Vishnu is for Rema and night is for the moon,

Confide in me happily, let your feelings unfurl

English

Sloka:-
The sweet-voiced maiden, the crown among women,
her mind now swinging open slowly to the swan,
yet knowing that her mind is not fully open
the swan attempted to know her feelings for Nalan.
 
Swan:-
Confide in me happily, let your feelings unfurl,
Oh! King Bheema’s darling girl.
Trust me more than the trust you carry
For your pals; tell me without shyness and worry. 
 
Oh! The crowned one among the bright-eyed women
Oh! Sister of Dama, sweet maiden,
To which man your heart had been given

Oh! The most charming of all maidens

English
Sloka:-
Each step she takes gets the swan in hand’s reach
Each step she takes gently, walking without stretch
Each step Damayanti and the swan took, the farther they went
From her friends, seeing this, the swan said thus in amusement.
 
Oh! The most charming of all maidens!
What are your intentions?
How are you planning to catch me?
I can fly off to the sky easily.
 
Youth has blossomed on you, yet you behave like a child

Oh! Kind king with a soul so tender

English

Sloka:-
Thus released from the king’s captivity,
Off the bird went to his flock in proclivity,
Then he came back without fear to the king’s proximity,
And spoke thus with the kind king in all magnanimity.
 
Oh! Kind king with a soul so tender,
I will do you a deed so good forever you will remember.
There are not many as generous and upright as thee,
To be found in the three worlds, certainly.
 
The expanse of this kingdom shows the value of the protection offered by your brow.

Oh! Shiva, what am I to do, my god?

English
Sloka:
The king approached the swan stealthily,
While it lay in slumber motionlessly
Befriending the bird the king’s only intention,
But when woken, it wailed in commotion.
 
Oh! Shiva, what am I to do, my god?
I am being killed in deceit by this land’s lord.
My family is going to be orphaned.
 
My father away in death,
Lonely he left me on earth,
My mother’s heart will burn like a hearth,
My child is soon to take birth