The Pleasure of Serving, by Gabriela Mistral

सेवा का सुख
-गैब्रिएला मिस्ट्रल (५ अगस्त, २०१५)

सम्पूर्ण प्रकृति सेवा के लिए एक चाह है:
सेवा करते हैं, वो बादल, और वो हवा, और वो कुंड।

जहां एक पेड़ बोने की ज़रूरत है, उसे तुम बोओ।
जहां कोई गलती सुधारने की ज़रूरत है, उसे तुम सुधारो।

तुम्ही वह बनो जो हटाए खेत से चट्टान,
मनुष्य के मन से घृणा,
और परेशानियों से मुश्किलें।

विवेकी और निष्पक्ष होने में खुशी है,
लेकिन उससे कहीं ज़्यादा सुंदर है,
सेवा करने का अपार सुख।

यह दुनिया कितनी उदास होती अगर यहां पहले से ही सब कुछ किया जा चुका होता।
अगर एक भी गुलाब का पौधा लगाने को न होता,
कोई नया काम शुरू करने को न होता।

खुद को आसान काम करने पर ही सीमित मत रखो।
वो करना कितना खूबसूरत है जिससे और लोग बचना चाहते हैं।

लेकिन इस गलती के शिकार मत बनो कि केवल
किये हुए महान कार्य ही उपलब्धियों में गिने जा सकते हैं।
बहुत से छोटे-छोटे सेवा के कार्य हैं जो बहुत अच्छे है:
अच्छी तरह से एक मेज़ लगाना,
किन्हीं किताबों को करीने से लगाना,
एक छोटी बच्ची के बाल संवारना।
जो वहाँ पर है वह निंदा करता है
वो जो दूसरा है वो सब नष्ट कर देता है
तुम वो बनो जो सेवा करे।

सेवा करना सिर्फ निम्न स्तर के प्राणियों का ही काम नहीं है।
भगवान जो फल और प्रकाश देता है, वो सेवा करता है।
उसका नाम इस प्रकार लिया जा सकता है - वो जो सेवा करता है।

और उसकी निगाहें हमारे हाथों पर हैं,
और वो दिन के अंत में हमसे पूछता है:
“क्या आज तुमने सेवा की? किसकी?
किसी पेड़ की, किसी दोस्त की, अपनी माँ की?”

-- गैब्रिएला मिस्ट्रल

विचार के लिए कुछ मूल प्रश्न: आप इस बात से क्या समझते हैं कि सेवा सिर्फ निम्न वर्ग के प्राणियों का काम नहीं है? क्या आप अपना कोई व्यक्तिगत अनुभव बांटना चाहेंगे जहां आपने जो और लोग नहीं करना चाहते, उसे करने में आनंद महसूस किया हो? हम सेवा के छोटे-छोटे कार्यों में गहरी खुशी महसूस कर पाने के लिए अपने आप को कैसे विकसित कर सकते हैं?

गैबरिएला मिस्ट्रल ने 1945 में साहित्य के लिए नोबेल पुरस्कार प्राप्त किया। यह कविता ताल नमक संग्रह में से ली गयी है और जनवरी 1953 में होसे मार्टी के जन्म की 100 वीं वर्षगांठ के अवसर पर सुनाई गयी थी।

Gabriela Mistral received the 1945 Nobel Prize for Literature. This poem is from the collection Tala recited on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of José Martí’s birth, in January 1953.

Seed Questions for Reflection

How do you relate to the notion that serving is not a labor just for inferior beings? Can you share a time where you felt the beauty of doing what others dodge? How do we develop ourselves to experience deep gladness in small acts of service?

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13 Past Reflections

Carlos Cardoso Aveline

Dec 5, 2022

Whose is the translation?

Lovie

May 7, 2022

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Thomas

Oct 30, 2017

Great poetry!

Alison

Aug 26, 2016

For me this poem is what life is all about. It's what we came here to learn. To give of ourself from the heart with no expectation of receiving something in return is a God like quality. And most importantly it makes for a most fulfilling life.

Jack

Nov 23, 2015

I just loved this poem back when i was in university. Really appreciate you for sharing this.

Vijay shah

Oct 28, 2015

The pleasure of serving is really give peace to mind and person get sound sleep at night. In next morning he gathers energy for doing best for serving.

http://awriter.org/

Sep 29, 2015

Bonjour et merci pour votre contribution,, puis-je vous soumettre une question : me permettez-vous de faire un lien par mail vers cet article ? Merci pour tout.

Aug 6, 2015

This past evening, I had the privilege of serving two people who have frequently served me throughout my 54 years. (My sister Vicki and my mother in law, Mom Boom)
What goes around . . . Comes around!
My mother in law's most asked question, "what can I do for you?"
My sister Vicki, has "invisible wings"!
Yes . . . Joy comes in serving!

Brinda

Aug 6, 2015

Compassion + presence makes our actions into service and endless opportunities to serve present themselves to us when our mindset is one that sees all our fellow beings/creatures/nature as our own family.
Thanks David for the reminder of the Tagore quote--have always loved it!! :-)

John Atkinson

Aug 4, 2015

WEll, the other day I did a meditation with a few others in N. Scotland and the leader said our aim is to be in service for peace. At 68 this was the first time I had understood the meaning of the word , despite having sung in "Services" in Cathedrals for much of my life! Anyway maybe I did some good, despite thinking-oh here we go again- yet another daily service and I'm not really always in the mood!

Sidney DeKoven

Aug 4, 2015

It is difficult for me to serve and at the same time I can see the enormous benefit of it if I can do it. The obvious benefit is to those we serve but there is an even greater benefit for our true selves. For service diminishes self- will and takes one out of one's false sense of "me" to put it in one way. Small services are my best chance right now. Helping someone across the street, even smiling at a baby can give one an idea of the benefits of service. Ghandi's life was a life totally dedicated to service. Although he is sometimes not depicted as such, he was probably one of the most joyful beings ever to have lived.

david doane

Aug 2, 2015

A favorite quote of mine is Tagore's "I slept and dreamed that life is joy. I awoke and saw that life is service. I took action and behold service is joy." Serving is certainly not a labor just for inferior beings. All beings are to be of service. Every being, animate and inanimate, is by nature of service. Some service is deliberate. We can be of service by choice and we can stop being of service or be of little service. It's our choice. It's my choice. There are acts of service that I've done, most of which seem small. I am also aware there are large acts of service that I have dodged, not wanting to take the time or put out the effort. As an experiment, we can do more acts of service and experience how that is for us. If it is a positive experience, we can practice more acts of service which will develop us into persons of service. I have felt joy in being of service. Tagore is right.&nb... View full comment

Jagdish P Dave

Jul 30, 2015

This beautiful poem deeply resonates deeply with me in my heart.I wonder who has not been touched by the tender and gentle touch serving joyfully. I see the signatures of many, both natural and human, extending their helping and nurturing hands right from my childhood until my old age. The world will not be able to survive and flourish if there were no serving hands. Some have served the whole mankind leaving their foot prints behind on the sands of time.They left their names behind with no conscious intention of leaving their name and fame behind.They served because that was in their nature. It was their breath. And there are many who do small acts of kindness joyfully. We have a vegetable and fruit garden on our front and back yard. Nature's hand is bountiful. She serves us by the gifts she gives us the gifts of fruits and vegetables. We express our gratitude for the gifts we receive from her. We serve her by doing whatever we can, watering the seeds and plants and... View full comment