Amrita Pritam

Amrita Pritam
This blog explores the poetry of Amrita Pritam. All her original poems are in Punjabi. I've translated them in Hindi. The Hindi translations are relatively straight forward and there are other authors who have translated her work in Hindi. In some cases, where I could, I have translated a few of her poems in English. This is an entirely different task from Hindi translation. I have major reservations and a few misgivings about any attempt to translate poems in general. All of those concerns apply here in full force. I consider these translations as my musings and explorations: they carry no weight and are no substitute for experiencing the poetry in Punjabi. I am acutely aware of the challenges this may pose to even Hindi readers, let alone English ones. I offer no recourse.

Saturday, September 10, 2016

पनाह Refuge ਪਨਾਹ






Amrita uses the imagery of praying at holy sites as a metaphor for promises made between lovers - making such promises scared. 



तेरे प्यार की पनाह !

वफ़ाओं की दरगाह में
है मोहब्बत प्रख्यात
इस को रख के तेरी अमानत
मैंने सब क़सूर लिए
झोली में अपना
तेरे प्यार की पनाह !

Refuge


I left my love
          for your safekeeping
          at the altar 
          of our promises

And embraced
          in the refuge 
          of your love
          all my blemishes

ਤੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰ ਦੀ ਪਨਾਹ !

ਵਫਾ'ਆਂ ਦੀ ਦਰਗਾਹ ਵਿਚ
ਹੈ ਸੁਰਖ਼ਰੂ ਮੁਹੱਬਤ

ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਤੇਰੀ ਰੱਖ ਕੇ ਅਮਾਨਤ
ਮੈਂ ਸੱਭੋ ਕਸੂਰ ਲੀਤੇ ਝੋਲੀ 'ਚ ਪਾ
ਤੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰ ਦੀ ਪਨਾਹ !



Excerpt from poem

Collection: Dawn  सरघी वेला   ਸਰਘੀ ਵੇਲਾ


Tērē pi'āra dī panāha!
Vaphā'āṁ dī daragāha vica
hai suraḵẖarū muhabata

isa nū tērī rakha kē amānata
maiṁ sabhō kasūra lītē jhōlī'ca pā
tērē pi'āra dī panāha!


tere pyaar kee panaah !
vafaon kee daragaah mein
hai mohabbat prakhyaat
is ko rakh ke teree amaanat
mainne sab qasoor lie
jholee mein apana
tere pyaar kee panaah !