Composed by Sri Sri Sankardev

O Sarangapani save me I am a dimwit
None I can see but Your feet
That can prevent hell, O Lord

Close on my heels are Death and Disease
How long will the body take to decease
I am a sinner, my end is getting near
Yet I’ve no thought of Your feet

Look, day by day is shriveling my body
By agonies and afflictions smitten
At the end Kamalapati is my haven
Me Sankara pray at Your feet

Click here to read the original Assamese poem.

Translated by Nirendra Nath Thakuria

Sri Sri Sankardev (1449-1568) was a 15-16^th Century Indian Saint-Scholar, social and religious reformer, poet, playwright and musician of Assam. Borgeet or Songs Celestial is a tradition of raga and tala based Assamese song developed by Sri Sri Sankardev and Sri Sri Madhavdev, another Indian Saint-Scholar, poet of Assam.

Nirendra Nath Thakuria, retired Associate Professor of English, is a translator.