With folded hands, the maiden spoke,
"You, who dwell in every realm,
While you build homes, you choose the wild.
Oh, the wild, a place of trial!
Chant Ram, chant Ram, with every breath,
Praise Shiva, with every plea,
Bagad bum, babam bum, babam bum, lahri.
Listen, oh Inner Soul, my Lord,
Listen, oh innocent one,
Your servant through all lives,
From tender years, my devotion blooms,
From youth, my worship burns,
I cannot leave, nor can I stray,
To leave you means my end.
Bagad bum, babam bum, babam bum, lahri.
Hear me, Lord of all,
Hear me, Savior of the meek,
All day I'll grind your sacred herb,
Grind the bhang, the datura too,
And offer all to you,
To drink, a draught of bliss divine,
And what remains, I'll drink,
Embracing wisdom's purest light.
Shelter me, oh Lord of all,
Make me thine, oh Lord of the poor.
Bagad bum, babam bum, babam bum, lahri.
Hear me, Parvati, my love,
Hear me, fair-skinned queen,
In this wild, what will you find?
A life of pain, a wasted plight.
Elephants, tigers, lions roar,
I'll smear ash, stoke the fire,
Dance the tandav, beat the drum,
My cave, my dwelling place.
Yield now, oh my love,
This garland of ghosts around my neck,
Will frighten you, I know,
What can you gain with me?
Seek a noble prince,
Sit upon a throne,
Understand, oh fair one,
Yield now, my love.
Bagad bum, babam bum, babam bum, lahri.
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