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Nov 16, 2021

Pinjada Ko Suga

By: Lekhnath Paudyal

Pinjada Ko Suga

( पिंजडाको सुगा )

Pinjada Ko Suga (literally translated as "A parrot in a cage") was composed by Lekhnath Paudyal. Here, the poet has described the lamentation of a caged parrot. The parrot shares its story of pain and loss of separation from its near ones. Through the parrot's word, we can understand how it is merely surviving in the hopeless dungeon with a regretful life and how it has somehow accepted its fate and destiny. The theme of the poem is about freedom, justice, happiness and serenity. It is also a bitter satire on the then Rana regime that deprived Nepalese people's freedom.



बालक बबुरो दिजशुक नाम
हुँ म परेको छु पिंजडामा
मकन हरे शिव शान्ति र चैन
सपना बीच पनि रति भर छैन ।

A pitiful, twice-born child I am, who have been trapped in a cage. For me, O Lord Shiva, there is no peace or relief even in dreams.


मेरा बान्धव बाबु र आमा
बस्छन् वनका एक कुनामा
को सित पोखुँ मनको ताप
गर्दै पिँजडा बाट बिलाप ।

My relatives, father and mother live in some corner of the forest (and here I am, inside the cage). So, to whom can I pour out my anguish? This is how I am lamenting from this cage.


आँशु बगाई कहिले रुन्छु
कहिले मुर्दा तुल्य म हुन्छु
कहिले पागल सरि उफ्रन्छु
केवल वनका सुख सम्झन्छु ।

Sometimes I weep and shed my tears, while sometimes I become like a corpse. Sometimes I jump in madness, remembering all the joys (with grieve heart) I used to have in the forest.


फलफुल खाइ नित्य रमाई
वनमा फिर्ने बबुरो लाई
विधिले पार्यो पिँजडा भित्र
कर्म हरे शिव हुन्छ बिचित्र ।

One who used to eat fruits and wander with happiness in the forest, that poor child is now tricked by his fate to be trapped in a cage. O God, the law of Karma is strange.


वरी परी वैरीहरु छन् सारा
छैन कतै तिर कोही सहारा
के गरुँ कसरी उम्की जाऊँ ?
को सित मन को दर्द बिसाऊँ ?

Around me are only the enemies; there is no help anywhere. What shall I do now, and how shall I escape? To whom shall I unburden my heart?


पिँजडा फोडुँ भनिकन चुच्चो
बल सँग धस्दा भो सब बुच्चो
बेसरी कुजिए पक्ष्य र पाउ
कसरि अब हा काल बिताऊँ ?

With the thought of breaking the cage, I forcibly tried to hit it with my beak, but alas, they are now blunt. Also, my wings and feet are cramped heavily. Now, how shall I live my remaining life?


यो कस्तो हो कसरि आयो
बसी कन पिँजडा बीच के खायो
यो सब बुझ्ने कोहि छैन
हाय यसैले मन रहँदैन ।

"What creature is this and how it has come here? What has it eaten in those cages?", no one is there to understand this all. And by this thought, I cannot hold my heart (and tears).


सुख्खा छ घाँटी बन्धन चर्को
बोल्नै पर्ने झर्को अर्को
बोलेन भने लाठी उजाई
आउँछ अर्को पिट्न लाई ।

My throat has become dried, and tiresome are these bonds. Amid these, there still exists a compulsion to chatter. Or else, the master comes to threaten me by waving a stick on his hand.
[Note: Such is the life of caged parrot. It is forced to respond to callers. It is forced to speak even when it doesn't want to, or even when it can’t. In the forest, it loved talking, but here talking is all but cruel pleasure.]


यौटा भन्दछ यो हो पाजी
आर्को भन्दछ यो छ बिराजी
भन्दछ तेस्रो आत्मा राम
पढो पढो जी राखो नाम ।

One says "it's a stupid ass", another says "it just sits idle". A third wants me to utter God's name saying "read and speak, it will keep your name".
[Note: The parrot in a cage is only forced to speak what pleases its master, it cannot speak its heart or stay silent.]


गुणको बैरी मनुष जाति
सूश्क गराई गुणीका छाती
प्राण पखेरु नलिए सम्म
खुश किन हुन्थ्यो हाय अचम्म ।

Mankind is the enemy of virtue. They exploit the good till their hearts are dry. How could they become happy then before the life of winged creature is snatched away?


पृथिवी तलमा एउटा सम्म
मानिस बाँकि रहँदा सम्म
तुच्छ सुगाको जन्म नदेऊ
दीन दयालु बिन्ती लेऊ !

Until on this Earth a single man remains, O Lord, please do not give insignificant (and cursed) life of a parrot to me (or anybody). O compassionate God, please listen to my prayers.






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