वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात - Kusumagraj

This week Apr 3rd was Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti. In his honor penning down one of my favorite poems...

Poem - वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात ! (Seven Silly Maratha Bravehearts)
Poet - Kusumagrag (Vishun Vaman Shirawadkar)

Summary
This poem is marathi equivalent of "Into the valley of death rode the six hundred - by Lord Tennyson. The plot is a true historical fact where seven Maratha Knights including King Shivaji's Chief Commander Prataprao Gujar assaulted Adilshahi General Behlol Khan's army of 15000 and died doing it. Just a few months back Prataprao defeated but released Behlol Khan which was not appreciated by King Shivaji who asked Prataprao not to see Shivaji again until the Khan was captured. Prataprao who was extremely loyal to Shivaji took Shivaji's words so much to his heart that he assaulted Behlol Khan by himself and perished. Six of his loyal lieutenants joined him in this glorious foolishness.

(Translation to follow ..)

म्यानातुनि उसळे तरवारीची पात (The sword came out of its sleeve)
वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात ! (Seven silly bravehearts rode away into history)

ते फिरता बाजूस डोळे किंचित ओले (With his emotional glance)
सरदार सहा सरसावुनि उठले शेले (Six of his knights rose up)
रिकिबीत टाकले पाय, झेलले भाले (Squeezed in their shoes in the saddle-steps; javelins in their hands)
उसळले धुळीचे मेघ सात, निमिषात (And rode away leaving seven clouds of dust in the air)

वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात ! (Seven silly bravehearts rode away into history)

आश्चर्यमुग्ध टाकून मागुती सेना (Leaving their stunned army behind)
अपमान बुजविण्या सात अर्पुनी माना (To restore their pride by sacrificing their lives)
छावणीत शिरले थेट, भेट गनिमांना (They went straight into the enemy camp)
कोसळल्या उल्का जळत सात दर्यात (Like seven shooting starts into an ocean)

वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात ! (Seven silly bravehearts rode away into history)

खालून आग, वर आग, आग बाजूंनी, (Assaulted from all sides)
समशेर उसळली सहस्त्र क्रुर इमानी, (Thousands of wicked swords came upon them)
गर्दीत लोपले सात जीव ते मानी (Seven proud souls lost in that melee)
खग सात जळाले अभिमानी वणव्यात (Seven birdies died in a forest fire)

वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात ! (Seven silly bravehearts rode away into history)

दगडांवर दिसतिल अजुनि तेथल्या टाचा (One can still see the horse shoe signs on that land)
ओढ्यात तरंगे अजुनि रंग रक्ताचा (The stream nearby still flows red)
क्षितिजावर उठतो अजुनि मेघ मातीचा (And one can still see the dust cloud in distance (as if these seven bravehearts are riding on the horizon))
अद्याप विराणी कुणि वाऱ्यावर गात (An aching heart is crying a lovesong for them)

वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात ! (Seven silly bravehearts rode away into history)