Flower’s Desire

puShpa kii abhilaashaa

chaaha nahiiM, maiM surabaalaa ke gehnaoM meM gunthaa jaauM
chaaha nahiiM, premimaalaa meM bidh pyaari ko lalachaauM
chaaha nahiiM, samraaToM ke shav par, he hari Daalaa jaauM
chaaha nahiiM, devo.n ke sar par cha.Dhu.n, bhaagya par itaraauu.n

mujhe to.Da lenaa banamaalii
us path par denaa tum phe.nk
maatribhumi par shiish cha.Dhaane
jis path jaawe.n viir anek

Flower’s desire
I desire not; be decked in the floral ornaments of an enchantress.
I desire not; be strung in the lovers’ garland.
I desire not O Lord!
To be wreathed on Emperor’s corpse.
I desire not to adorn the deity’s crown,
smug at my good fortune.

Pluck me, O gardener!
throw me on the path taken by patriots
who offer the ultimate sacrifice
for the motherland