by Tukaram Bolhoba Ambile (flourished 17th century)
Translation by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 - 1948)
What words, what speech
Language: English after the Sanskrit (संस्कृतम्)
What words, what speech, Can tell the joy of those who know our God? Their life is lived Not for themselves, but for the need of men: In others’ service They suffer arduous adversity: Mercy towards all that lives — This is their spiritual substance: They give no second thought To what may benefit themselves: Their bliss they find in others’ bliss alone: And all unknowingly They hand to other men the draught immortal.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Songs from Prison. Translations of Indian Lyrics Made in Jail by M. K. Gandhi, adapted for the Press by John S. Hoyland, New York, The MacMillan Company, 1934, page 143.
Text Authorship:
- by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 - 1948), no title, appears in Songs from Prison. Translations of Indian Lyrics Made in Jail by M. K. Gandhi, first published 1934 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Sanskrit (संस्कृतम्) by Tukaram Bolhoba Ambile (flourished 17th century) [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "What words, what speech", op. 123 no. 1 (1938) [ voice and piano ], from Two Sets of Five Songs Each. Set II: Tukaram: Songs from Prison, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2022-01-21
Line count: 13
Word count: 75