Madhuban Khushboo Deta Hai English Translation

Madhuban Khushboo Deta Hai loosely translates into English as a garden provides fragrance... Khushboo (also Khushbu) means fragrance. Madhuban loosley approximates to forest, and was the name of the place where Krishna frequented. However it became a colloquial term for garden in some places of India. These lyrics are very appropriate for use on Mahatma Gandhi’s Remembrance Day. They highlight a common motif of selfless giving, comparing forces of nature that provide and sustain life continuously, to great souls that also gave their lives for the needs of the many. It explores what a good life could be classed as, for surely it is one that gives others the opportunity and chance to live happily. Hence a selfless life that has lived for the benefit of others is a good life and that is what living really is, Jeena, usaka, jina hai. This type of life makes it possible for others to live. For example Mahatma Gandhi was happy to sacrifice his life to prevent a war in which thousands would have died on both sides. Or Mother Teresa who gave her life in service of the sick and the ill, so they could have a life. The common pattern here is that the needs of the many outweighs the needs of the few or the one.

The lyrics explore how the path of truth is never an easy one to walk upon, and sometimes you will be walking on flowers (Phool) and other times it will be on hot-coals (angaare). Nevertheless, one must remain righteous and true and endure it. If you have read Kabir’s teachings he mentions a similar idea that there is no greater penance in life than truth, because that is a more difficult path to walk.

Everything one does in life matters, even the smallest acts of compassion makes a difference to someone and is noted. Therefore, if you cannot burn bright like the sun, then try to burn bright like candle-light (dipak). Love and compassion are like a handkerchief (daaman) for wiping the tears (ushko) off a person’s face. When someone has fallen, just the smallest amount of compassion can make a difference to them. Ram and Krishna were full of compassion and that is what living really is.

Always remember that the freedom, peace, prosperity, and love, we have today exists because people in the past gave-up their lives (tyaag), knowing that someday you would be able to enjoy these things. Hence, great people give others a life, and they truly know the meaning of life and what living really is, and they go to God. Conversely, those who take lives know nothing; and consequently, they go to the downstairs department...

Meaning and Context

Daaman is usually the end part of a sari that is tucked in at the waist. In Gujarati, it is known as chaado. You might remember your mother using the end part of her sari to wipe your tears when you were a child. It can also be the end part of a shirt or a garment. It is like a handkerchief, a means to wipe the tears.

Tyaag is to give up, for example to sacrifice your entire life.

Prit is another way to mean compassion.

Paltee approximates to reside in.

Saans approximates to breathing, which in this context implies to be alive or living.

Saawan is a month of the year when it rains a lot, and is a colloquial term for rain.

Jaalta means to burn.

Dipak approximates to light from small flame made by a diva, and here we translate as candle-light.

Angaare is a special word usually reserved to mean cinders or hot coals, which are usually used for the fire-walking test.

Ushko approximates to tears (in English), or aansoo (in Gujarati).

Lehraan approximates to waves or ebb-and-flowing in this context.

Dhadkan translates as heartbeat, however in this context it means the rhythm or beat, which is the voice of the heart sending a message.

Deta means to give or provide

Saagar which approximates to sea is a colloquial term for water in this context.

Pyaar approximates to love. There are many types of love, however in this context, it means compassion.

English Translation

Madhuban, khushboo deta hai

A garden, provides fragrance

Saagar, saawan deta hai

The sea, gives rain

Jeena, usaka, jeena hai, jo auro ko jivan deta hai

Those that give life to others, have truly lived

Suraj na ban paaye toh, banke dipak jaalta chal

(If) you cannot (burn bright) like the sun, then burn (bright) as a candle-flam.

Phool mile ya angaare, saach kee raho, pe chalta chal

Whether you find flowers, or burning coals, (in your path) keep walking on the path of truth.

Pyaar, dilo ko, deta hai, ushko ko daaman deta hai

Those hearts that give compassion, give a way to wipe the tears

Chalate hai lehraan ka pawan, ke saans sabhee ke chalte rahe

The wind flows endlessly, so everyone may continue to breath

Logo ne tyaag diye jivan, ka prit dilo me paltee rahe

People gave up their lives, so that compassion may live in (everyone’s) hearts.

Dil woh, dil hai, jo auro ko, apnee dhadkan deta hai

A (real) heart is a heart if it gives others our message.