Mathura nagarpati*

Subaha subaha ka khyaal aaj / Early in the morning the thought arose

Wapas gokul chal mathura raaj / to go back to Gokul, in the king of Mathura’s mind

Mathura nagarpati kaahe tum gokul jaaon? / Oh lord of Mathura why are you going to Gokul?

Manohar vesh chhod nand raaj / Leaving this beautiful attire oh son of Nanda

Sar se utaarke sundar taaj / Removing the beautiful crown from your head

Raj dand chhod bhumi par vaaj / Giving up ruling this world

Phir kaahe baansuri bajaao? / Why are you playing the flute again?

Mathura nagarpati kaahe tum gokul jaao / Oh lord of Mathura why are you going to Gokul?

Kaun sa anokha geet gaye pee kakool / What unique song did the cuckoo sing

Raj paat jaise aaj bhai dhool? / That made you leave the throne like so much dirt?

Kaun sa anokha geet gaaye pee kakool / What unique song did the cuckoo sing

Birhan laage phir hridaya akool / That the pangs of separation are stirred anew?

Raj kaaj man na lagaao / The heart is no longer in kingly matters

Mathura nagarpati kkahe tum Gokul jaao? / Oh lord of Mathura why are you going to Gokul?

Poor naari saari vyakul nayan / Men and women watched with anxious eyes

Kusum sajaa lage kantak shayan / The flowers strewn on the bed felt like thorns

Poor naari saari vyakul nayan / Men and women watched with anxious eyes

Raat bhar madhav jaagat bechain / As Maadhav stayed awake the whole restless night

Kaahe aadhi raat saarathi bulaayo? / Why did he call the charioteer in the middle of the night?

Mathura nagarpati?../

Dheere dheere pahunchat jamuna ke teer / Slowly he reached the shores of the Jamuna

Sunsaan panghat mridul sameer / Lonely banks, soft breeze

Dheere dheere pahunchat jamuna ke teer / Slowly he reached the shores of the Jamuna

Khan khan madhav birha madeer / Madhav felt the bittersweet pangs

Use kaahe bhool na paao / Why can’t you forget her?

Mathura nagarpati?.

Tumhari piriya ab puri gharvaali / Your love is now a complete housewife

Doodh navan ghivoo din bhar khaali / Getting new milk and busy the whole day

Biraha ke aansoon kab ke, ho kab ke ponch daali / The tears of separation have long since been wiped away

Phir kaahe dard jagaao? / Then why awaken the pain again?

Mathura nagarpati kaahe tum Gokul jaao? / Oh lord of Mathura why are you going to Gokul?


* \Gulzar/