Composed by Sri Sri Sankardev
Masters are they who reveal Hari Chant His name recall His glory I remain a slave to them Pandits merely recite sastras, devotees absorb the essence Lotuses open up nectar, bees suck in the substance He who has devotion attains salvation; devotees know this tenet Like jewelers who admire the value of a jade or a garnet Says Sankara, slave of Krishna, lie at Govinda’s feet The sants are they, the praised ones, who chant Hari’s feat
Translated by Nirendra Nath Thakuria
Sri Sri Sankardev (1449-1568) was a 15-16th 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.