Re: Bhalo achi bhalo theko (aka Amar bhitore bahire)

Hey,

Are there any helpful Bengalis amongst us that could possibly help translate this song for me? I've had a crack at it myself but there are still bits that are missing. The bits that I have translated isn't all that coherent either, so I would really appreciate your help.

Bengali literture seems to use, or make reference to, too many metaphors; and so, even if I find the literal meaning, I'm way off the implied meaning!

Anyhow, here's my attempt at it:


It's obvious my bengali isn't that strong!
Hope you can help.

Thank you!

Here,a lot of lines are so much related to the next and/or previous lines that translating without context would break the whole theme.I am no expert at translation,but I'll try to help you in it.
I tried googling for a translation and failed, I'm sure one must exist,but maybe it has not been brought to the net yet.
Translating a poem is a difficult task,for the main essence is to be retained,which none but only the most brilliant can achieve. So I'm sure I'll mess it up,but hey,lets give it a try.


I think you've done an excellent job in this part



Here,ঢেকে রাখে যেমন কুসুম,পাপড়ির আবডালে ফসলের ঘুম
This part metaphors the hidden grains inside the petals of a flower
with
তেমনি তোমার নিবিড় চলা,মরমের মূল পথ ধরে
the intimate position of "you" in the core of the heart.

Here,my friend,Marom means Heart,or mind, opposed to Moron,which means death.
So the translation can be:
ঢেকে রাখে যেমন কুসুম
As a flower hides
পাপড়ির আবডালে ফসলের ঘুম
The sleep of the grain inside the petals.
তেমনি তোমার নিবিড় চলা
Such is your intimate hold
মরমের মূল পথ ধরে
By the core of this heart.


Here
পূষে রাখে যেমন ঝিনুক
metaphors the caring from the oyester
খোলসের আভরণে মুক্তার সুখ
to the pearl hidden inside the shell
and compares it to
তেমনি তোমার গভীর ছোয়া
the touch of "you"
ভিতরের নীল বন্দরে
In the blue harbor inside,again another metaphor for heart.
Here,Muktar represents pearl,not mukhtar,face.and pushe means store,not piche,left.

So,here we go:
পূষে রাখে যেমন ঝিনুক
Like a oyster storing
খোলসের আভরণে মুক্তার সুখ
The joy of a pearl inside the shell
তেমনি তোমার গভীর ছোয়া
Your deep touch
ভিতরের নীল বন্দরে
Is in the blue harbor inside.

ভালো আছি ভালো থেকো
আকাশের ঠিকানায় চিঠি লিখো
My favorite lines in the whole poem,no translation can express the vibrancy of these lines,no translator simply has the power to convert such an artistic beauty.
In literal meaning,this means "I'm fine,be fine,mail me at the sky."
But such is the love in ভালো আছি ভালো থেকো and the bauliana in আকাশের ঠিকানায় চিঠি লিখো they are just unparalleled.
This can be:
ভালো আছি ভালো থেকো
I'm fine, wish you thrive,
আকাশের ঠিকানায় চিঠি লিখো
Mail me at the address of the sky.


দিয়ো তোমার মালাখানি
বাউলের এই মনটারে
In literal meaning,this means "please give your Mala to this baul mind."
Here,mala rather represents love rather than necklace and baul is used in a rather vagabond metaphor than in the sense of a devotional singer.

so it might be:
দিয়ো তোমার মালাখানি
Please give the crown of yours
বাউলের এই মনটারে
To this vagabond/devious mind

BTW,I got it at another source and it differs from your version slightly:

Aamar Bhitore Bahire
====================
Aamar bhitore bahire, ontore ontore
Aacho tumi, hridoy jure
Ooo...Aamar bhitore bahire, ontore ontore
Aacho tumi, hridoy jure

Bhalo aachi bhalo theko
Aakasher thikanae chithi likho
Bhalo aachi bhalo theko
Aakasher thikanae chithi likho

Diyo tomar mala khani
Ooo... Diyo tomar mala khani-
Baauler ei montare...
Aamar bhitore bahire, ontore ontore
Aacho tumi, hridoy jure
Aamar bhitore bahire, ontore ontore
Aacho tumi, hridoy jure

Pushe raakhe jemon jhinook
Kholoser abhorone muktar shukh
Pushe raakhe jemon jhinook
Kholoser abhorone muktar shukh
Temni tomar nibid chola...
Ooo...Temni tomar nibid chola
Hridoyer nil bondore...
Aamar bhitore bahire, ontore ontore
Aacho tumi, hridoy jure

Dheke raakhe jemon kushum
Papdir abdale fosoler ghum
Dheke raakhe jemon kushum
Papdir abdale fosoler ghum
Temni tomar nibid chowa...
Ooo...Temni tomar nibid chowa
Hridoyer nil bondore...
Aamar bhitore bahire, ontore ontore
Aacho tumi, hridoy jure

Bhalo aachi bhalo theko
Aakasher thikanae chithi likho
Bhalo aachi bhalo theko
Aakasher thikanae chithi likho

Diyo tomar mala khani
Ooo... Diyo tomar mala khani-
Baauler ei montare...
Aamar bhitore bahire, ontore ontore
Aacho tumi, hridoy jure
Aamar bhitore bahire, ontore ontore
Aacho tumi, hridoy jure

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Shafin yaar, you are an absolute legend!! Thank you so much!

I knew my attempt at it was poor (not helped by too many metaphors!).

The greatness of Rudra Mohammed Shahidullah has just increased exponentially in my eyes and I can now understand why he is so revered.

I really have start learning bengali properly lol.

Thanks Shafin!

PS, where are you from?

BTW, about the different versions - I got mine from the one sung by Kabir Suman and Sabana Yasmin. I know there are some that end the verses with "hridoyer neel" as oppesed to "maromer neel" and "bhitorer neel".

There also seems to be discrepancies at "temni tumar nibid chowa" and "temni tomar ghobir chola".

I don't know, some even start the song with "bhalo achi bhalo theko" and some with "amar bhitore bahire".

I guess now we'll never know which is the "correct" way to sing it.

Anyhow, thank you.

Excellent collection