Jad Ki Muskan (The Root's Smile)

(This is one poem that i can never forget. First heard during my 11th grade, I've been wanting to translate it for long. It gives you just one lesson--humility--the more humble you are, the better the person. Please excuse my understanding of the poem (and also the transliteration of the original Hindi version), and if there are mistakes, do let them know in the comments section)

Jad Ki Muskan (The Root's Smile)

By Harivanshrai Bachchan

Translated by Nishath Nizar

Ek din tane ne bhi kaha tha

Jad? Jad to jad hi hai

Jivan se sada dari rahi hai

aur yahi hai uska sara itihas

ki zameen me muh gadaye padi rahi hai

Lekin mai zameen se upar utha,

bahar nikala, badha hu, majboot bana hu.

Esi se to tana hu.

One day the trunk had had also said-

Roots? Roots are but just roots

Forever cowering from life

And this is its history

That it shall forever hide itself in the earth.

But we, rose out of the ground

Grew and became strong

That is why they call me the trunk.

Ek din daalo ne bhi kaha tha -

Tana? kis baat par hai tana?

Jaha bithaal diya gaya tha,

wahin par hai bana.

Pragatisheel jagati me til bhar nahi dola hai

khaya hai, motaya hai, sehlaya chola

hai

One day the branches had spoken –

Trunk? Why be so boastful?

You stay just where you are

Not budging a space

In this ever changing world, what change have you brought?

You have eaten, fattened and relaxed all this while.

Lekin hum tane se futi,

Deesha Deesha me gayi,

upar uthi, neehe aayi,

har hawa ke liye dol bani, laharai.

Esi se to Daal kehlayin.

But we arose from the trunk

Spread far and wide

Went up, came down

Became a percussion for every wind that blew

This is why they call us the branch

Ek din pattiyo ne bhi kaha tha -

Daal? Daal me kya hai kamaal?

Mana wah jhoomi, jhuki, doli hai. Dhwanipradhan duniya me

ek shabd bhi wah kabhi boli hai?

Lekin hum har-har swar karti hai.. Murmur swar marm bhara bharti hai. Nutan har warsh hui,

Pathjhar me jhar,

Bahar phut phir chahartin hai..

Vithkit chitta panthi ka shap tap harti hai.

One day the leaves had also said—

Branches? What is so great about branches?

We understand that they swayed, bowed and danced. But in this ever changing world

Did they even speak a word?

But we, have spoken our mind

Our voice filled the world with such sweetness

Every season seems anew

Falling in autumn,

And with spring a new beginning

Adding life to an otherwise meaningless life

Ek din phoolo ne bhi kaha tha - Pattiyan? Pattiyon ne kya kiya?

Sankhya k bal par bas daalo ko chap diya.

Daalo ke bal par hi chal chapal rahi hai,

Hawao ke bal par hi machal rahi hai.

Lekin hum apne se khule, khile ,phule ,hai

Rang liye, Ras liye, parag liye, Bhramro ne aakar hamare gun gaye hai, hum par boraye hai.

One day the flowers had also said – Leaves? What have the leaves done?

Just because of their sheer numbers are they so visible

They survive only due to the branches

They sway only due to the winds

But we have bloomed on our own

We’ve brought colour, fragrance and pollen; even the beetles have praised us in their songs,

They have lived on us

Sab ki sun payi hai,

Jad Muskayi hai.

After listening to everyone

The root just smiled.