Friday, January 29, 2010

Mongolia | Zavkhan Aimag | Vansemberuu Song

Here is a transliteration and translation of the Vansemberuu song by widely acclaimed translator, meditation teacher, and man-about-town Batbold.
Batbold
Torgo shig zoolon delbeetei
Togos udmiin Vansemberuu tsetsegiig
Uchirch haraad monhron gesen
Uridiin ug unen bolovuuu

Tegvel bi ter saikhan Vansemberuu tsetsgiig
Tertee uuliin oroid baival eejiigee
Bi uureed
Enehen nasandaa ochih bailaa

Tegvel bi ter saikhan Vansemberuu tsetsgiig
Tertee uuliin oroid baival eejiigee
Bi uureed
Enehen nasandaa ochih bailaa

Tuulvul bie chatsuu
Toolbol nas chatsuu
Hosoor urgadag Vansemberuu
Uud hoimriin zaitai urgajee

Ilbiin yum shig hosgui saikhan
Iher botgo shig horvood hongor
Seruun khangai hos tsetseg
Setgel bahdam goyomsog urgajee

Uranhan ter turuund ni hureed uzvel
Unaganii uruul shig zoolhon bailaa
Hurenhen ter dund ni hureed uzvel
Huugiin mini zulai shig zoolhon bailaa

Ilbiin yum shig hosgui saikhan
Iher botgo shig horvood hongor
Seruun khangai hos tsetseg
Setgel bahdam goyomsog urgajee

Tegvel bi ter saikhan Vansemberuu tsetsgiig
Tertee uuliin oroid baival eejiigee
Bi uureed
Enehen nasandaa ochih bailaa
Rough English Translation:
With petals tender like a silk
Of peafowl lineage, Vansemberuu
If stumbled upon, it gives eternity
Are the ancient words true

If so, if this beautiful flower called Vansemberuu
Lives on the faraway mountain, I'd
Carry my old mother on my back to it
In this lifetime

If so, if this beautiful flower called Vansemberuu
Lives on the faraway mountain, I'd
Carry my old mother on my back to it
In this lifetime

If measured, equal heights
If counted, ages same
Grows paired, Vansemberuu
With a distance of a ger's length

Unparalleled beauty like magic
Endearing like twin camel babies
The pair of cool Khangai
Are enrapturingly grown

(Voice)
I touched the fine corolla
Felt soft like a foal's lip
I stroked the inner side
Felt soft like my son's forehead

Unparalleled beauty like magic
Endearing like twin camel babies
The pair of cool Khangai
Are enrapturingly grown

If so, if this beautiful flower called Vansemberuu
Lives on the faraway mountain, I'd
Carry my old mother on my back to it
In this my life time