How many knots I've loosened, how many remain,
How many knots I've loosened, how many remain?
Anklets on my feet, bangles on my wrists, a necklace adorning my throat,
A waist chain, rings, and toe rings, nose and ears pierced,
Adorned, adorned, they called, by custom's tight rope,
I was bound, alas, in how many ways I was held.
Now my hands and feet begin to peel, and how many scratches emerge,
How many knots I've loosened, how many ropes have fallen away?
How many ropes have fallen away?
Each part of my being, my form, my color, my features, my eyes, my speech,
In my voice, the nightingale's praise was found,
My hair, so pure, my hair, like night,
In my tresses, a storm, my lips, roses, my eyes, wine,
Ghazals and Nazms, I spoke,
In the tales of beauty and love,
I was bound, I was bound,
Alas, in how many ways I was held.
I ask, I ask,
In my eyes, wine they saw,
The sky, none saw, the rainy season, yes, but,
Did they see no pain? Did they see no pain?
In a linen sheet, like a sun-peeled hide, idols peeled away, of Aranyani,
Thread by thread, my garments were stripped,
My garments were stripped, on my body, artists were thrilled,
And calling it art, art,
I was bound in marble,
Alas, in how many ways I was held.
Let someone tell, let someone tell,
Let someone tell, let someone tell,
How many knots I've loosened, how many remain,
Remain...
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