The Pilgrim - Yatri

A few months ago I had this post on Laxmi Prasad Devkota. I found a better translation of Yatri than the one I'd posted there, so here it is.

The original by Laxmi Prasad Devkota in Nepali
"यात्री"

कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन मन्दिरमा जाने हो?
कुन सामग्री पुजा गर्ने, साथ कसोरी लाने हो?
मानिसहरूको काँध चढी, कुन देवपुरीमा जाने हो?

हाडहरूका सुन्दर खम्बा, मांसपिण्डका दिवार !
मस्तिष्कको यो सुनको छाना, इन्द्रियहरूका द्वार !
नसा-नदीका तरल तर, मन्दिर आफू अपार !
कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन मन्दिरको द्वार ?

मनको सुन्दर सिंहासनमा, जगदिश्वरको राज !
चेतनाको यो ज्योति हिरण्यमय, उसको शिरको ताज !
शरिरको यो सुन्दर मन्दिर, विश्वक्षेत्रको माझ।

भित्र छ ईश्वर बाहिर आँखा, खोजी हिड्छौ कुन पुर?
ईश्वर बस्तछ गहिराइमा, सतह बहन्छौ कति दुर?
खोजी गर्छौ हृदय लगाऊ, बत्ति बाली तेज प्रचुर ?

साथी यात्री बीच सडकमा, ईश्वर हिड्छ साथ
चुम्दछ ईश्वर काम सुनौला, गरिरहेका हात
छुन्छ तिलस्मी करले उसले, सेवकहरूको साथ ।

सडक किनार गाउँछ ईश्वर, चराहरूको तानामा
बोल्दछ ईश्वर मानिसहरूका, पिडा, दु:खको गानामा
दर्शन किन्तु कहिँ दिँदैन, चर्म-चछुले कानामा ।
कुन मन्दिरमा जान्छौ यात्री, कुन नव-देश बिरानामा?

फर्क फर्क हे ! जाऊ समाऊ, मानिसहरूको पाउ !
मलम लगाऊ आर्तहरूको, चहराइरहेको घाउ
मानिस भइ ईश्वरको त्यो, दिव्य मुहार हँसाऊ ।।

Here is a translation of this poem by Prashant Sharma.

The Pilgrim

Which temple will you visit, Pilgrim,
To which temple will you go?
What things will you take for worship,
and how will you do so?
Riding upon the peoples' backs,
To what heaven will you go?

The bones are the gorgeous columns,
The muscles are the walls.
The brain is the golden roof,
The senses are the doors!
The liquid waves of blood and veins;
The temple itself incomparable!
Which temple will you go to, Pilgrim,
To which temple's door?

In the glory throne of the spirit,
Reigns the Lord of the world.
The golden light of consciousness,
Is the crown on His head!
The gorgeous body-temple,
amidst the world.

God is inward; with outer eyes
What city do you seek?
God lives in depth; How far
on the surface will you drift?
Do you search? Arouse your heart,
light a luminous torch.

Pilgrim friend, God walks with you
on the middle of the road.
God kisses the hands
Doing the golden works.
He touches with his magic hands,
His servants' heads.

God sings by the roadside,
In harmony with birds.
God speaks in the songs
of human pain and sorrow.
But nowhere will he reveal himself
to your mortal eyes.

To which temple will you go, Pilgrim,
To which new, strange land?
Return, return! Go and hold
The feet of the people!
Put ointment in the rankling wounds
of the afflicted.
Be human, and make God's
divine face smile.

Prashant says - "This is my tentative translation/ adaptation of another of Devkota's Poems ("Yatri"). I have tried very hard to imitate the rhythm and lyricism of the original. All advices welcome."