जब नाव जल में छोड़ दी When launched the boat into water

जब नाव जल में छोड़ दी
तूफ़ान में ही मोड़ दी
दे दी चुनौती सिंधु को
फिर धार क्या मझधार क्या

कह मृत्यु को वरदान ही
मरना लिया जब ठान ही
फिर जीत क्या फिर हार क्या

जब छोड़ दी सुख की कामना
आरंभ कर दी साधना
संघर्ष पथ पर बढ़ चले
पिर फूल क्या अंगार क्या

संसार का पी पी गरल
जब कर लिया मन को सरल
भगवान शंकर हो गए
फिर राख क्या श्रृंगार क्या 

                 "हरिवंशराय बच्चन"

      Roman script

Jab naav jal mein chhod dee
Toofaan mein hee mod dee
day dee chunauti Sindhu ko
Phir dhaar kya majhadhaar kya

keh mrityu ko vardaan hee
Marnaa liya jab thaan hee
Phir jeet kya phir haar kya

Jab chhod dee sukh ki kaamnaa
Aarambh kar dee Saadhnaa
Sangharsh path par badh chalay
Phir phool kya Angaar kya

Sansaar ka pee pee garal
Jab kar liya man ko Saral
Bhagvaan Shankar ho gaye
Phir raakh kya shringaar kya
              "Harivansh Rai Bachchan"
Sindhu = Ocean
Garal = Poison
                 

                 English translation

When the boat was launched into the water
And it was steered right into the storm
When the vast ocean was thrown a challenge
Then the current or the whirlpool is all the same

When dying is considered a boon - a blessing
And embracing death has been resolved upon
Then victory or defeat is all the same 

When the desire for comfort was abandoned
And the path of spiritual discipline was chosen
When the journey on the path of struggle was undertaken
The flowers or embers are all the same

Having drunk the poison of the world 
When the mind became pure and simple
When one became like Lord Shankar himself
Then ash or adornment is all the same
             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          "Rajan Sachdeva 

Translated from original Hindi Poetry by: Harivansh Rai Bachchan