Nahi Punyachi Mojani

 Nahi Punya chi Mojani

Goa may be a small state within a large country like India. Yet it has produced literary, artistic and spiritual giants like poet B.B. Borkar, Pandit Jeetendra Abhisheki and Sant Sohiroba. Pandit Abhisheki has soulfully rendered the poetry of both Borkar and Sohiroba in a way only he was capable of doing. Here I make a feeble attempt to express the meaning of this immortal poem from Mr Borkar.

The poem stands on the premises of karma yoga as explained in the Bhagwad Gita. Simply doing one’s assigned duties in the spirit of service and surrender to the creator without any consideration of rewards or fear of retribution is the perfect way of living as endorsed by the Bhagwad Gita. It is the poet’s genius to express the same wisdom in such a way that the words remain original, stem from the truest inner chambers of the heart, while maintaining both economy and precision. And as if that was not enough, the lyrics effortlessly dance to their own musical melody and rhythm. It is therefore no wonder that music directors and vocal artists took instant liking to Borkar’s poetry. 

नाही पुण्याची मोजणी
नाही पापाची टोचणी

नाही पुण्याची मोजणी
नाही पापाची टोचणी
जिणें गंगोघाचें पाणी

कशाचा न लागभाग
कशाचा न पाठलाग
आम्ही आम्ही हो फुलांचे पराग
आम्ही हो फुलांचे पराग

आम्हां नाही नामरूप
आम्ही आकाशस्वरूप
जसा निळानिळा धूप

पूजेतल्या पानाफुला
मृत्यु सर्वांगसोहळा
धान्य निर्माल्याची कळा

Here the poet declares in an autobiographical voice how he lives his life. 

Nahi Punyachi mojani

Nahi papachi pochani

Jeene Gangaughaache paani 

Neither counting on the rewards of all good deeds (Nahi Punyachi mojani) nor worried about accruing sin when executing the rightful duties( Nahi papachi pochani). When acting with such clarity of selfless purpose and good idea of right and wrong, life is bound to be pure like the waters of the Ganges(Jeene Gangaughaache paani).

A thing to note here is the use of the word Gangaugh! Ogha (ओघ) means flow, current. Flow of the waters of Ganga. The holiest of rivers in India. Life is compared to the flowing waters, not still waters. At any given moment there is action implied, not inertia. Thus along with purity of thought there is industry in manifestation. 

Amha nahi laagbhaag 

Amha nahi paathlaag 

Amhi phoolaanche parag 

I go about life without any attachments(Amha nahi laagbhaag). And without any desires to pursue( Amha nahi paathlaag). My existence is akin to the pollen of flowers(Amhi phoolaanche parag). 

Amhi phoolaanche parag. This is one of the most beautiful analogies the poet has used to convey his life’s philosophy. Flowers are metaphorical representations of everything that is beautiful in life, that which makes life desirable and worthwhile. Within the flowers, it is the pollen that is of most practical use for the continuity of the essence of beauty and purpose. Fruits will not come to be if there was no pollen. And if fruits don’t form, there would be no seeds and no propagation of the flowers. Also, while serving such an important purpose in the lifecycle of the plant (plant representing the universe), the pollens remain mostly inconspicuous and lightweight. The show is stolen by other components of the plant. Something to think about when you see people around you being appreciated and you forgotten. Remember you are in a different league altogether, not an inferior one certainly. 

Another feature of the pollen is it readily disperses wherever the bees or wind takes it and still produces results that it is supposed to. Without resistance to the motions of life it serves its designated purpose.

Amha nahi naam roop

Amhi aakaash swaroop 

Jasaa nila nila dhoop 

I do not identify with my physical form, name or fame( Amha nahi naam roop). Compare me to the wide open sky( Amhi aakaash swaroop). Or think of me as the burning incense that creates a blue hued smoke(Jasaa nila nila dhoop). 

The sky can be identified by a name and color but when you actually go to feel it, there is a void. There is nothing there to match the appearance. Nothing real there. 

The incense is visible from the blue smoke that arises from its burning. Also the burning( living) emits fragrance from which it is recognizable. But in no time both the fragrance and the blue smoke disappear into nothingness. Thus the presence of the incense although felt around, it is very fleeting and before you can pinpoint it, it is nowhere to be found. It does its job and leaves the scene. 

Poojetalyaa paanaa phoolaa

Mrityu sarvaanga sohalaa 

Dhanya nirmaalyaachi kalaa

I like to live my life like the offerings of leaves and flowers( Poojetalyaa paanaa phoolaa )made to the deity during puja( worship). I draw inspiration from their lives. For them, death is an elaborate celebration( Mrityu sarvaanga sohalaa). Even in death, the glory of these short lived offerings is praiseworthy(Dhanya nirmaalyaachi kalaa).

Life lived with the spirit of service and without fear of death is to be hailed as glorious. Ordinary people live for themselves and at every moment think of ways to defy death. Truly worthy are those who live for a higher purpose and care the least about their own mortality in the course of this cause. Such people who have forsaken their lives, what would they care about lesser things? They live above such ordinary desires and attachments. 

Nahi Punyachi mojani

Nahi papachi pochani

How then can they spare any concern for merit or sin? They are blessed and enjoy the blessings every moment of their existence. They exist in the domain of immortality simply by rejecting ties with anything in the mortal realm.

Jeene Gangaughache paani….

Their lives are like the holy waters of the Ganges whose origins are traced to the heavenly kingdom and who herself traces her way through the mortal world washing the sins of lowly people and nourishing their lives until she disappears into the vast ocean without caring to leave behind her individual identity. 

Jeene Gangaughache paani….