घामसँग के को डर ? / Why fear the sun?

Few weeks ago, when I had gone back to Nepal, I had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Mohan Duwal. He is a well known literary figure in Nepali literature. Not only has he contributed by writing various genre of Nepali literature but he has also continuously edited and published a literary journal, Janamat, and managed a publication house, Janamat Prakashan; that have supported Nepali literature and writers. He has established literary prizes, documented works of many rare literary figures, and provided invaluable contribution to Nepali literature.

I and my dad had gone to visit him. He is a very down to earth man who has a small bookstore in his house where he spends most of his time writing, reading, and doing all the literary work.

My dad, Dr. Bharat Prasad Lamichhane and Mr. Mohan Duwal at Mr. Duwal's abode

During the meeting, I had an opportunity to ask him if I could translate one of his work. I did let him know that I am a novice in the translation field. However, he said I could try with one of his poem Ghamsanga ke ko dar / Why fear the sun? Here it is for you:

घामसँग के को डर ?
  ---मोहन दुवाल

अविचल आफू निर्वस्त्र नाङ्गिएर
सधैं-सधैं आफूलाई देखाइरहने
निश्चल निश्चल भएर आफैं पोखिएर
अरूलाई जीवनरङ्ग छार्किरहने
ढाँटछल नजानेका निस्वार्थ मनसँग
माया साट्न खोजिरहने
लोभ के हो, थाहापत्तो नभएका उनी
बाँड्न रुचाउँछन् उज्याला आभाहरू
त्यसैले त सबैका लागि उनि प्रिय छन्
सबैक लागि सहारा पनि त हुन् |

युगौंयुगसम्म गर्दै आइरहेका
आफ्ना सेवा-मर्महरू भट्किन नदिन
र
जीवनको जग भत्किन नदिन
आफूजस्तै खोजिरहेछन उनी सधैंभरि
जहाँ पुगे पनि, जता लागे पनि
जसरी भए पनि  फैलाइरहन खोज्छन आभाहरू
निरन्तर निरन्तर फुलाइरहन्छन्
सधैं सधैं  फैलाइरहन्छन् स्पर्शहरू
जीवन मर्म-मर्ममा प्रियहरू खोज्दै
आफू दुखेर अरुलाई अमृत बाँड्ने उनी
धरतीभरि, जीवनभरि सबै-सबैलाई
मोहनी बाँड्न पाउँदा
खुशी रहन्छन् उनी |

पातहरूमा, फूलहरूमा, डाँठहरूमा
जराहरूमा, हाँगाहरूमा जहाँ पनि पुग्ने उनी
जीवहरूकै अस्तित्वमा अस्तित्वकै घाम भएर
चम्किन खोज्ने उनी
कति शालीन, कति भद्र, कसैलाई बिगार्न नजानेका
तर अरूलाई दिइरहने उनी
थाक्न नजानेर त होला
धरतीभरिभरि पोखिन सिपालु छन् |

दुस्मनी गर्दैनन् कहिल्यै उनी
कसैले इर्ष्या पनि गरेको थाहा छैन मलाई
आफू छर्किएर अरुलाई उज्यालो बाँड्न तल्लीन उनी
म त सधैं-सधैं मनमा घामजस्तै उनलाई
मनमा राख्न रुचाइरहेछु |

जसले अरूलाई दिन्छ मात्र, केही लिन जान्दैन
उससँग केको डर ?
जसले सबैलाई माया मात्र बाँड्छ, केही माग्दैन
उनीसँग के को डर ?
जो प्रकाश भएर फिंजीरहन्छ धरतीभरि
जो हाँसिरहन्छ हाँसो भएर सबैतिर भरिभरि
ऊसँग केको डर ?

घाम पनि त उनीजस्तै छन्
उनी पनि त घाम जस्तै छन्
उनीसँग के को डर ?
घामसँग के को डर ?

Why fear the sun?

---Mohan Duwal

Being motionless, clothless, bare-skinned
it always exhibits itself
Firm and stationary but always dripping
it sprays others the color of life
Unaware of deception, with a selfless heart
it always seeks to exchange love
Unfamiliar with greed
it likes to disseminate shiny sparkles
So, it is liked by all
It is also a lifeline for all

To prevent going astray
its core motto to serve
To prevent crumbling down of
the foundation of life
It is always in search of its own kind
Wherever it goes, wherever it reaches
It tries to spread the shine
It continuously makes things bloom
It always scatters touch
In every phase of life,
it finds beings to love
Even in agony,
it offers ambrosia to others
In the whole earth, lifelong
it takes pleasure in sharing enamoring affection

It reaches everywhere
leaves, flowers, branches, stems, roots
It tries to glow as the existence of beings
Calm, gentle, and innocuous
it is always benevolent and generous
It always pours itself onto the earth,
perhaps, it does not know exhaustion

Never known for animosity towards anyone
I do not know anyone being jealous of it as well
It is always busy spreading itself and distributing light
Oh, I want to keep someone like sun
always in my mind

Who always gives only,
does not know to take back,
why fear such a thing?
Who only shares love with everyone,
never asks back,
why fear such a thing?
Who disperses brightness everywhere on the earth
Who fills and delights everything with a smile
Why fear such a thing?

Someone too is like the sun
The sun too is like someone
Why fear that someone?
Why fear the sun?

(translation by Santosh Lamichhane)