Hua Shankhnaad – Kailash Kher Song Translated and Explained
Meta Description: Hua Shankhnaad is the title track of Dassehra. This veer rasa song is rendered by Kailash Kher and features Neil Nitin Mukesh. Enjoy the powerful translation.
Setting the Background for Translating Hua Shankhnaad
Dassehra (2018) is a Bollywood film in the familiar
genre in which an honest individual is forced by circumstances to take on a
corrupt establishment. DSP Rudra Pratap Singh Chauhan (played by Neil Nitin
Mukesh) finds his investigations thwarted at every turn by those in power. When
his wife and colleague, SP Aditi Rudra Pratap Singh, is killed, Rudra takes on
the role of a one-man army and sets out to eradicate the corrupt system at its
roots.
In the film, the
culmination of Rudra’s mission takes place on Dassehra, the day traditionally
associated with Rama’s slaying of Ravana and therefore with the triumph of good
over evil. Hua Shankhnaad, which opens with the blowing of the conch to
announce the commencement of battle, ends with an invocation of victory on
Dassehra. It is for this reason that the song is also referred to as the film’s
“title track.” Along the way, it contains several references to the Ramayana,
as well as one to the Mahabharata, all of which are explained in the meanings.
Hua Shankhnaad belongs to the veer rasa tradition and
consequently has a powerful, martial beat. The original achieves much of its
force through consistent internal and end rhymes built around recurring sounds.
In my translation, I have sacrificed the internal rhymes, while allowing the
end-rhyme pattern to vary from verse to verse. This was necessary to keep the
poetic translation as close in meaning and imagery to the original as possible,
while retaining its martial character and singability.
The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Hua
Shankhnaad
The conch has been blown, take up arms,
challenge them, yours is the field
The enemy hosts surround you now, blood
soak the earth but do not yield
Here beasts look on with vulture eyes, they
pierce your hearts with spikes of fear
The clouds lie hidden in night’s dark veil,
the altar prepared, and the goal is clear
Where deceit masquerades as power, misdeeds
protect the unsavoury
Strike down the foe, let heads roll free,
unfurl the flag of your victory
Sky high burns the flame in Dassehra, end
evil’s reign in Dassehra,
Justice itself is Dassehra, victory is the
aim of Dassehra
There was a Rama in
Treta Yuga
One Ravana fell
beneath his hand
This dark age breeds
countless Ravanas
Rama was reborn to
cleanse the land
The conch has been blown, take up arms,
challenge them, yours is the field
The enemy hosts surround you now, blood
soak the earth but do not yield
Ravana in the guise of
man does
Lakshman’s protective
line transgress
Then Rama, Sita awaits
your coming
In each age when she
is in distress
The conch has been blown, take up arms,
challenge them, yours is the field
The enemy hosts surround you now, blood
soak the earth but do not yield
The enemy hosts surround you now, blood
soak the earth but do not yield
Now do this much for
me
Vanquish the enemy
Guarantee my safety
Do save me do save me
Let goodness bear its
fruit
Wicked you execute
Enemy you uproot
The enemy the enemy
Yaksha asks a timeless
question
When shall sin be
trampled on
Rama’s patience is on
its edge
Ten-headed Ravana will
be gone
Now rage surges
through the blood
Evil shall burn and
not endure
Rama has now drawn his
bowstring
Ravana’s death is
written for sure
The conch has been blown, take up arms,
challenge them, yours is the field
The enemy hosts surround you now, blood
soak the earth but do not yield
Here beasts look on with vulture eyes, they
pierce your hearts with spikes of fear
The clouds lie hidden in night’s dark veil,
the altar prepared, and the goal is clear
Where deceit masquerades as power, misdeeds
protect the unsavoury
Kill the enemy, let the heads roll, unfurl
the flag of your victory
Sky high burns the flame in Dassehra, end
evil’s reign in Dassehra,
Justice itself is Dassehra, victory is the
aim of Dassehra
The Original Hindi Lyrics of Hua Shankhnaad from Dassehra
Yahaan Dusht Giddh Sa
Taad Raha, Bhay Keel Hriday Mein Gaad Raha
Ghane Andhkar Mein Gum Hai Chhata, Balivedi Saji, Gatirodh Hata
Chhal, Bal, Varchasva
Ne Swaang Bhara, Dushkaram Adharma Ka Hai Pehra
Kar Shatru Hanan, Nar-Mund Gira, Dhwaj Apni Vijay Ka Tu Lehra
Jale Agni Shikha Sa
Dussehra, Unmaad Krodh Ka Dussehra
Yehi Parv Nyay Ka Dussehra, Hai Lakshya Vijay Ka Dussehra
Ram Hue Ek Treta Mein
Ek Ravan Ka Sanhaar Kiya
Is Yug Mein Sau Sau Ravan Hai
Phir Ram Ne Hi Avtaar Liya
Bhesh Badal Nara Ka
Ravan
Hai Langh Raha Lakshman Rekha
Har Yug Mein Lut Ti Sita Ne
Hai Ram Tera Rasta Dekha
Itna To Tu Kaam Kar De
Khel Tamam Kar De
Ab Traahi Maam Kar De
Traahi Maam Traahi Maam
Sheesh Gira De Dhad Se
Taap Bujha De Tad Se
Shatru Mita De Jad Se
Shatru Mita Shatru Mita
Puchh Raha Hai Yaksh
Prashna Ye
Paap Ka Mardan Kab Hoga?
Toot Raha Hai Dhairya Ram Ka
Bhasam Dashanan Ab Hoga
Khaul Raha Aakrosh
Rakt Mein
Paap Dahan Ho Jaavega Re
Taan Diyo Ab Baan Ram Ne
Raavan Bach Na Paavega
Yahaan Dusht Giddh Sa
Taad Raha, Bhay Keel Hriday Mein Gaad Raha
Ghane Andhkar Mein Gum Hai Chhata, Balivedi Saji, Gatirodh Hata
Chhal, Bal, Varchasva
Ne Swaang Bhara, Dushkaram Adharma Ka Hai Pehra
Kar Shatru Hanan, Nar-Mund Gira, Dhwaj Apni Vijay Ka Tu Lehra
Jale Agni Shikha Sa
Dussehra, Unmaad Krodh Ka Dussehra
Yehi Parv Nyay Ka Dussehra, Hai Lakshya Vijay Ka Dussehra
Meanings of Difficult Words
Shankhnaad = The sound
from blowing a conch shell (equivalent to a bugle call)
Shastra = Weapons
Aahwan = Challenge
Ran Kshetra = Battle
field
Chahu Oar = All around
Vyuha = Battle
formations
Dhara = Earth
Shaurya = Valour
Dusht = Evil
Giddh = Vulture
Taad Raha = Staring
Bhay = Fear
Keel = Nail
Gum Hai = Lost
Chhata = Clouds
Balivedi = Sacrificial
altar
Gatirodh = Obstacles
(literally speed breakers)
Chhal = Deceit
Varchasva = Domination
Swaang = Mockery
Dushkaram = Evil deeds
Adharma = Immorality
Hanan = Killing
Nar-Mund = Human head
Dhwaj = Flag
Shikha = Peak
Unmaad = Mania
Parv = Festival
Treta = The Hindu timeline is divided into four yugas (eras) of which Treta is the second one. Rama took avatar in Treta yuga.
Sanhaar = Killing
Avtaar = Incarnation
Langh = Transgress
Lakshman Rekha = In the Ramayana narrative this refers to the magical line that Lakshman drew to protect Sita when he left her alone in the hermitage.
Rasta Dekha = Waited
Khel Tamam Kar De = To finish the game
Traahi Maam = A Sanskrit invocation translating to Help Me
Sheesh = Head
Dhad = Body
Tad Se = Instantly
Yaksh Prashna = Yaksh is a revered nature spirit in Hindu mythology. In the
Mahabharat, a Yaksh asked several philosophical questions to Yudhishthira, and
hence “Yaksh Prashna” has become an idiom for a difficult but relevant question
Mardan = Crushing
Dhairya = Patience
Bhasam = Burnt to cinders
Dashanan = Ten Headed
– an epithet for Ravana
Khaul Raha = Boiling
Aakrosh = Rage
Rakt = Blood
Dahan = Burning
Taan Diyo = Drew the
bowstring
Baan = Arrow
The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Hua Shankhnaad
The conch has been
sounded, take up arms, this is your battle field
You are surrounded on
all sides by battle formations, redden the earth, show your valour
Here the evil stare at
you like vultures (getting ready for a feast), they drive fear like a nail into
your heart
The clouds are lost in
the darkness, the sacrificial altar is adorned, remove the obstacles
Deceit, power,
domination mock (the innocent), evil deeds guard immorality
Kill the enemy, cut
off the heads, unfurl the flag of your victory
Let Dassehra burn like
peak of fire, let Dassehra unveil manic rage
Dassehra is the
festival of justice, the objective of Dassehra is victory (over evil)
There was a Rama in
Treta Yuga
He killed one Ravana
then
In this age there are
hundreds of Ravanas
So, Rama has taken
incarnation again
Ravana in the guise of
man
Is transgressing the Lakshman
Rekha
In every age the
distressed Sita
Has waited for Rama
Do this much work
Finish the game (by
destroying evil)
Now save me
Save me save me
Lop off the head from
the body
Extinguish the heat
instantly
Eliminate the enemy
from the roots
Eliminate the enemy
eliminate the enemy
The Yaksh is asking
this question
When will sin be
crushed?
Rama is losing his
patience
Dashanan will now be
burnt to ash
(This relates to an
effigy of Ravana being burnt on Dassehra Day)
Rage is boiling in the
blood
Sin will be burnt
Rama has strung an
arrow now
Ravana will not be
saved
Hua Shankhnaad Fact Sheet
· Movie: Dassehra
· Aarambh Hai Prachand
