Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

About Ramprasad

Timeline (1718? - 1775?)

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English version by
Rachel Fell McDermott

Original Language
Bengali

Love Her, Mind;

Themes

Birth, Rebirth

Death

Honey

Lover and Beloved

Water

Recommended Books

	Devoted to the Goddess : The Life and Work of Ramprasad, by Malcolm Mclean
	The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, by M. (Sri Mahendra Gupta) / Translated by Swami Nikhilananda
	Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair: Ramprasad Sen - Selected Poems to the Mother Goddess, Translated by Leonard Nathan / Clinton Seely
	Great Swan: Meetings with Ramakrishna, by Lex Hixon
	Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar, by Elizabeth U. Harding

More >>

Love Her, Mind;
She can ferry you across
the sea of birth and death.

Taxes must be paid in this worthless marketplace,
but it's stupid to trust in wealth and family.
Have you forgotten your past?
Where were you? Where have you come to?
Where are you going?

You wear nothing
but a costume in the world.
The Enchantress makes
illusion dance, so you dance.
And you sit on Her lap
in Her prison.

Egotism, hatred, love, attachment to pleasing things --
why did you share
your kingdom with these?
Tell me that!

What you've done can't be helped;
the day is almost over.
On a jeweled island
Siva sits in Siva's house.
Contemplate Her always.
Prasad says,
Durga's ambrosial name libertates.
Repeat it without ceasing;
drench your tongue in nectar.

-- from Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal, Translated by Rachel Fell McDermott

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Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

About Ramprasad

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World