Shriman Gambhir

Shriman Gambhir

English: May Glory Crown You, Courageous Sovereign
Former national anthem of Nepal
Lyrics	Chakrapani Chalise, 1924
Music	Bakhat Bahadur Budhapirthi, 1899
Adopted	1962
Relinquished	2006
Succeeded by	Sayaun Thunga Phulka
Audio sample
"Rastriya Gaan" (instrumental) file help

"Shriman Gambhir" (Nepali: श्रीमान् गम्भीर, romanized: Srīmān Gambhīr, pronounced [sriman ɡʌmbʱir]), formally known as "Rastriya Gaan" (Nepali: राष्ट्रिय गान्, romanized: Rāṣṭriya Gān, pronounced [rasʈrie ɡan], literally meaning "national song") was the national anthem of the Kingdom of Nepal from 1962 to 19 May 2006, when the country prepared to abolish the monarchy. In English, it may be glossed as "May Glory Crown You, Courageous Sovereign" or "May Glory Crown Our Illustrious Sovereign".

History

The music was composed by Bakhat Bahadur Budhapirthi (grandfather of musician Louis Banks) in 1899, and the lyrics were written by Chakrapani Chalise in 1924. It was adopted as the country's national anthem in 1962, as a homage to the Nepalese sovereign.

The song originally had two stanzas, but the Nepalese government dropped the second stanza upon adopting the song as the national anthem. The stanza that was retained honoured the king.

Replacement

Following the 2006 democracy movement in Nepal, "Rastriya Gaan" was discontinued by order of the interim legislature of Nepal in August 2007, after it was seen as merely glorifying the monarchy instead of representing the nation as a whole. It was then replaced by the current national anthem, "Sayaun Thunga Phulka".

Full Version (with second verse)

The second verse of the song largely remained unknown to most people. On 10 January 2019, a YouTube channel, Classic Reignite, released a re-recorded and rendered version of the anthem with its second verse. The first four-bar of the song features a regal orchestral introduction which is soon followed by a choir singing. It was dropped in the version which became the national anthem.

Lyrics

Official lyrics

Nepalese Text श्रीमान् गम्भीर नेपाली प्रचण्ड प्रतापी भूपति श्री ५ सरकार महाराजाधिराजको सदा रहोस् उन्नति राखुन् चिरायु ईशले प्रजा फैलियोस, पुकारौँ जय प्रेमले हामी नेपाली साराले

Transliteration Śrīmān gambhīra nepālī pracaṇḍa pratāpī bhūpati śrī pā̃ch sarkār mahārājādhirājako sadā rahos unnati rākhun cirāyu īśale prajā phailiyōs, pukāraũn jaya prēmale hāmī nepālī sārāle

IPA transcription sriman ɡʌmb(ʱ)iɾʌ nepali prʌt͡sʌɳɖʌ prʌt̪api bʱupʌt̪i sri pãt͡s sʌrkar maːɾad͡zad̪ʱiɾad͡zʌko sʌd̪a rʌos unːʌt̪i rakʰun t͡siɾaju isʌle prʌd͡za pʰʌi̯lios pukaɾʌ̃ũ̯ d͡zʌe premʌle ɦami nepali saɾale

English translation May glory crown you, courageous Sovereign, You, the gallant Nepalese, Shri Pānch Māhārājādhirāja, our glorious ruler, May he live for many years to come, And may the number of his subjects increase, Let every Nepalese sing this with joy.

Second verse

When officially adopted, the government of Nepal dropped the second verse of the song.

Nepalese Text वैरी सरु हराउन्, शान्त होउन् सबै बिघ्न व्यथा, गाउन् सारा दुनियाँले सहर्ष नाथको सुकीर्ति-कथा; राखौँ कमान,भारी-वीरताले,नेपालीमाथि सधैँ नाथको, श्री होस् ठुलो हामी गोर्खालीको

Transliteration Vairī saru harāun, śānta houn sabai bighna vyathā Gāun sārā duniyā̃le saharṣa nāthako sukīrti kathā Rākhaũn kamān bhārī vīratāle nepālīmāthi sadhaĩ nāthako Śrī hos ṭhulo hāmī gorkhālīko

IPA transcription bʌi̯ɾi sʌɾu ɦʌɾaun sant̪ʌ ɦoun sʌbʌi̯ biɡnʌ bet̪ʰa ɡaun saɾa d̪unijãle sʌːrsʌ nat̪ʰʌko sukiɾt̪i kʌt̪ʰa rakʰʌ̃ũ̯ kʌman bʱaɾi biɾʌt̪ale nepalimat̪ʰi sʌd̪ʌ̃ĩ̯ nat̪ʰʌko sri ɦos ʈʰulo ɦami ɡorkʰaliko

English translation Let all enemies disappear, upheavals and unrest calm down. Let the whole world sing in rejoice the glorious story of the lord. Let the lord’s bow ladened with bravery, act as an armor to protect the Nepalese forever. Victory to thee, the supreme ruler or Gorkhali.