Composed by Bankim Chandra, this song appears in the Bengali novel Anand Math. The English translation of Vande Mataram rendered by Shree Aurobindo, is considered to be the "official" and best. The first stanza of this song has been given the status of our national song.
SANSKRIT VERSION
Vande Mataram!
Sujalam,suphalam,
Malayaja shitalam,
Shasyamalamm
Mataram!
Shubharajyothsna
Pulakitayaminim
Phullakusumita drumadala
Shobinim
Suhasinim sumadhura
Bhashinim,
Sujahadam varadam,
Mataram!
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
I bow to thee, Mother,
Richly-watered,richly-fruited
Cool with the winds of the south,
Dark with the crops of the harvests,
The Mother!
Her nights rejoicing in the
Glory of the moonlight
Her lands clothed beautifully
With her trees in flowering bloom
Sweet of laughter,sweet of speech
The Mother, giver of boons,
Giver of bliss.
