Roam and see, in this forest of creepers

Bhima Bhoi

Translated by Sailen Routray

Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/Helen Sharp

Roaming in this forest of creepers,
see this pair of flowers.
Every day these two take on forms
across the three worlds. [0]

The roots of this tree of appearance
are not developed much.
But it seems twice the size of the axis
around which the earth revolves. [1]

It’s not the month of Chaitra,
but it flowers even when it’s not spring.
It flowers and falls off everyday.
It does not persist. [2]

These hang underneath a tree
that has no shadow.
When they would fall off from the buds,
they will all perish. [3]

Its form and colour
are visible in four ways.
It has no nectar.
It’s filled with poison. [4]

The fourth petal grows
from the second one.
The petals have four different colours,
near which even the bumblebees do not go. [5]

This is apparent in the minds of the devotees.
The righteous ones, partake of its smell,
says Bhima Bhoi. [6]

Note: Bhima Bhoi (1850-1895) was an 19th century Odia saint poet. His compositions were instrumental in the spread of Mahima religion in peninsular India, especially in the Odia speaking regions. His bhajans remain popular even today, and are performed widely. Although he was ignored by the literary establishment of his times, he is a major figure in the history of Odia literature now, with texts like "Stuti Chintamani" and "Bramha Nirupana Gita" considered as classics.