Ritual songs and folksongs of the Hindus of Surinam

35 [Paramaribo, 1965]
The qualifications of a girl in an arranged marriage⁴

sūtala rahilyaų maį bābā phulavariyā re
dhā̈ī bakhariyā ke jā̈ų re
kekare duvāre maiyā bājana bajaį
kekara maiyā racalyau biyāha re
sūtala rahilau beṭī bābā phulavariyā re
dhā̈ī bakhariyā ke jā̈u re
bābā duvariyā beṭī bājana baje re
tuharo beṭī racalyaų biyāha re
na sikhalyaų e maiyā līpana potana
nahį sikhalyaų sijhahi rasöī re
sāsū nanada mili bābā gariyäihäį
[sāsū nanada mili (bhaiyā) gariyäihäį]
more būte sahā ī na jā̈ī re
sikhi lehu e beṭī līpana potana
sikhi lehu sijhahi rasöī re

4 Cp. R. Tripāṭhī ('29: 191); D. Siṁha ('44: 404).

[p. 85]

XV.

sāsū nanada mili bābā gariyäihäį

 

[sāsū nanada mili (bhaiyā) gariyäihäį]

XVI.

lai līho ącarā pasāri re

I was asleep in father's flower garden;
I run and go towards (his) storeroom.
- Mother, at whose door are the musical instruments being played?
Mother, whose wedding have you arranged?
- Daughter, You lay asleep in (your) father's flower garden
And ran to go towards (his) store-room.
Daughter, (it is) at (your) father's door (that) the musical instruments are being played;
Daughter, (it is) your wedding (that) I have arranged.
- Mother, I have not learnt plastering and smearing (the floor),
Nor have I learnt to cook meals.
The mother-in-law and nanad will join together and curse my father¹;
This will be unbearable for me.
- Daughter, learn to plaster and smear (the floor),
Learn to cook the meals.
(Your) mother-in-law and nanad will join together and curse your father -¹
(Then), you should spread the añcal and take (the curses quietly).

1 Variant: brother.