TRANSLATIONS

 

CONTENTS

 

Pre-content

 

 

Part One 

Translations from Sanskrit

 

Section ONE

The Ramayana : Pieces from the Ramayana

1. Speech of Dussaruth

2. An Aryan City

3. A Mother's Lament

4. The Wife

An Aryan City: Prose Version

The Book of the Wild Forest

The Defeat of Dhoomraksha

 

Section Two

The Mahabharata   Sabha Parva or Book of the Assembly-Hall :

Canto I: The Building of the Hall

Canto II: The Debated Sacrifice

Canto III: The Slaying of Jerasundh

Virata Parva: Fragments from Adhyaya 17

Udyoga Parva: Two Renderings of the First Adhaya

Udyoga Parva: Passages from Adhyayas 75 and 72

 

The Bhagavad Gita: The First Six Chapters

 

Appendix I: Opening of Chapter VII

Appendix II: A Later Translation of the Opening of the Gita

Vidula

 

  Section Three

Kalidasa

Vikramorvasie or The Hero and the Nymph

 

 

In the Gardens of Vidisha or Malavica and the King:

 

 

The Birth of the War-God

Stanzaic Rendering of the Opening of Canto I

Blank Verse Rendering of Canto I

Expanded Version of Canto I and Part of Canto II

 

Notes and Fragments

Skeleton Notes on the Kumarasambhavam: Canto V

The Line of Raghou: Two Renderings of the Opening

The Cloud Messenger: Fragments from a Lost Translation

 

Section Four

Bhartrihari

The Century of Life

Appendix: Prefatory Note on Bhartrihari

 

Section Five

Other Translations from Sanskrit

Opening of the Kiratarjuniya

Bhagawat: Skandha I, Adhyaya I

Bhavani (Shankaracharya)

 

 

Part Two

Translations from Bengali

 

Section One

Vaishnava Devotional Poetry

Radha's Complaint in Absence (Chundidas)

Radha's Appeal (Chundidas)

Karma: Radha's Complaint (Chundidas)

Appeal (Bidyapati)

Twenty-two Poems of Bidyapati

Selected Poems of Bidyapati

Selected Poems of Nidhou

Selected Poems of Horo Thacoor

Selected Poems of Ganodas

 

 

Section Two

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

Hymn to the Mother: Bande Mataram

Anandamath: The First Thirteen Chapters

 

Appendix: A Later Version of Chapters I and II

 

 

Section Three

Chittaranjan Das

Songs of the Sea

 

 

Section Four

Disciples and Others

Hymn to India (Dwijendralal Roy)

Mother India (Dwijendralal Roy)

The Pilot (Atulprasad Sen)

Mahalakshmi (Anilbaran Roy)

The New Creator (Aruna)

Lakshmi (Dilip Kumar Roy)

Aspiration: The New Dawn (Dilip Kumar Roy)

Farewell Flute (Dilip Kumar Roy)

Uma (Dilip Kumar Roy)

Faithful (Dilip Kumar Roy)

Since thou hast called me (Sahana)

A Beauty infinite (Jyotirmayi)

At the day-end (Nirodbaran)

The King of kings (Nishikanto)

 

 

Part Three

Translations from Tamil

 

Andal

Andal: The Vaishnava Poetess

To the Cuckoo

I Dreamed a Dream

Ye Others

 

 

Nammalwar

Nammalwar: The Supreme Vaishnava Saint and Poet

Nammalwar's Hymn of the Golden Age

Love-Mad

 

 

Kulasekhara Alwar

Refuge

 

 

Tiruvalluvar

Opening of the Kural

 

 

Part Four

Translations from Greek

 

Two Epigrams

Opening of the Iliad

Opening of the Odyssey

Hexameters from Homer

 

 

Part Five

Translations from Latin

 

Hexameters from Virgil and Horace

Catullus to Lesbia

 

NOTE ON THE TEXTS

 

Section Two

 

The Mahabharata

 


Sabha Parva

or Book of the Assembly-Hall

 

CANTO I

The Building of the Hall

 

And before Krishna's face to great Urjuun

Maia with clasped hands bending; mild and boon

His voice as gratitude's: "Me the strong ire

Had slain of Krishna or the hungry fire

Consumed: by thee I live, O Kuuntie's son:

What shall I do for thy sake?" And Urjuun,

"Paid is thy debt. Go thou and prosper: love

Repays the lover: this our friendship prove."

"Noble thy word and like thyself;" returned

The Titan, "yet in me a fire has burned

Some deed to do for love's sake. He am I,

The Titan architect and poet high,

The maker: something give me to create."

Urjuun replied, "If from the grasp of Fate

Rescued by me thou pray'st, then is the deed

Sufficient, Titan: I will take no meed.

Yet will I not deny thee: for my friend

Do somewhat and thy debt to me shall end."

Then by the Titan questioned Vaasudave

Pondered a while what boon were best to have.

At length he answered: "Let a hall be raised

Peerless, thou great artificer high-praised, —

If thou wilt needs do somewhat high designed, —

For Yudishthere such hall as may thy mind

Imagine. Wonderful the pile shall be,

No mortal man shall copy although he

 

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Labour to grasp it, nor on transient earth

Another equal wonder shall have birth.

Vast let it be. Let human and divine

And the Titanic meet in one design."

Joyful the builder took the word and high

The Pandove's hall he made imperially.

But first the heroes to the King repair,

Just Yudishthere, and all their story there

Tell out: the Titan also they present,

Their living proof of great accomplishment.

Nobly he welcomed was by that just King.

There in high ease, befriended, sojourning

The life of elder gods dethroned of old

The Titan to the Pandove princes told.

Short space for rest took the creative mind

And inly planned and mightily designed

A hall imperial for those mighty ones.

With Krishna then consulting and the sons

Of Pritha on a day of sacred light

All fate-appeasing ceremonies right

He ordered and with rice in sugared milk

Sated the priests, silver and herds and silk.

In energy of genius next he chose

Ten thousand cubits, mapped a mighty close,

Region delightful where divinely sweet

The joy of all the seasons seemed to meet.

Four were the sides, ten thousand cubits all.

This was the measure of the Pandove's hall.

But in the Khandav plain abode in ease

Junnardun mid the reverent ministries

Of the great five: their loves his home renew.

But for his father's sight a yearning grew

And drew him thence. He of the monarch just

And Pritha craved departure. In the dust

His head he lowered at her worshipped feet,

He for the whole world's homage only meet.

Him she embraced and kissed his head. Next he

 

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His sister dear encountered lovingly.

Wet were his eyes as with low words and few

Pregnant and happy, admirably true

He greeted that divine fair girl and heard

Of her sweet eloquence many a tender word

That to her kin should travel; reverent

She bowed her lovely head. And Krishna went

To Draupadie and Dhaum and took of these

Various farewell, — soft words her heart to ease,

But to the priest yielded the man divine

Obeisance just and customary sign.

Thereafter with Urjuun the hero wise

His brothers met and in celestial guise,

Like Indra with the great immortals round,

All rites that to safe journeying redound

Performing, bath and pure ablution made

And worship due with salutation paid,

Garlanded, praying, in rich gems arrayed,

All incenses that breathe beneath the sun

To gods and Brahmans offered. These things done

Departure now was next. Stately he came

Outward and all of venerable name

Who bore the sacred office, had delight

Of fruit and grain yet in the husk and white

 

Approved curds, much wealth; and last the ground

He trod and traced the gyre of blessing round.

So with a fortunate day and fortunate star

And moment in his chariot built for war,

Golden, swift-rushing, with the Bird for sign

And banner, sword and discus, bow divine

And mace round hung, and horses twin of stride,

Sugreve and Shaibya, went the lotus-eyed.

And in his love the monarch Yudishthere

Mounted, Daaruik, the great charioteer,

Put quite aside. Himself he grasped the rein,

Himself he drove the chariot o'er the plain.

And great Urjuuna mounted, seized the white

 

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Wind-bringer with the golden staff and bright

And called with his strong arm the circling wind:

And Bhema and the princes twin behind

Followed, and citizen and holy priest:

With the horizon the procession ceased.

All these with the far-conquering Krishna wend.

As a high Sage whom his disciples tend,

So for a league they journeyed; then no more

He suffered but Yudishthere's will o'erbore

And forced return; then grappled to his breast

Urjuun beloved. Greeting well the rest

Religiously the monarch's feet embraced

Govinda, but the Pandove raised and kissed

The head of Krishna beautiful-eyed. "Go then"

He murmured; yet even so the word was vain

Until reunion promised. Hardly at length

He stayed them with entreaty's utmost strength

From following him on foot; so glad has gone

Like Indra thundering to the immortals' town.

But they stood following with the eyes their light

Until he vanished from the paths of sight.

Ev'n then their hearts, though distance now conceals,

Run yet behind his far invisible wheels.

But the swift chariot takes their joy and pride,

Too swift, alas! from eyes unsatisfied

With that dear vision, and reluctant, slow,

In thoughts that still with Krishna's horsehooves go,

Ceasing at last to their own town again

Silent they wend, the lion lords of men.

So entered the immortal Yudishthere

Girt round with friends his glorious city; here

He left them and in bowers for pleasure made

With Draupadie the godlike hero played.

But Krishna, glad of soul, in whirling car

Came speeding to his noble town afar

With Daaruik and the hero Saatyakie. 

Swift as the great God's winged favourite he

 

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Entered, and all the Yadove lords renowned

Came honouring him, with one the chief and crowned.

And Krishna stayed his father old to greet

And Ahuik and his glorious mother's feet

And Bullaraam, his brother. His own sons

He next embraced and all their little ones.

Last of his elders leave he took and went

To Rookminnie's fair house in glad content.

In Dwarca he; but the great Titan Mai

Still pondered and imagined cunningly

A jewelled brightness in his thought begun,

An audience-hall supreme for Hades' son.

So with the conqueror unparalleled,

Urjuun, the Titan now this discourse held.

"To the great hill I go and soon return,

Whose northern peaks from Coilas upward burn.

There when the Titans sacrifice of yore

Intended by the water Windusor,

Rich waste of fine material was left,

Wondrous, of stone a variegated weft

That for the mighty audience-hall was stored

Of Vrishapurvun, the truth-speaking lord.

Thither I wend and make, if yet endure

All that divine material bright and pure,

The Pandove's hall, a glory to behold,

Admirable, set with jewelry and gold

Taking the heart to pleasure. These besides

A cruel mace in Windusor abides,

Massive endurance, studded aureate,

Ponderous, a death of foes, commensurate

With many thousand more in murderous will.

There after slaughter huge of foes it still

Lies by a king relinquished. This believe

For Bheme created as for thee Gandeve.

There too the mighty conch Varunian lies:

Thunders God-given swell its Ocean voice.

Expect these from my hand infallibly."

 

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Thus saying went the Titan hastily

To the north-eastern edge of heaven where high

Soars Mainaac hill into the northward sky

From Coilas. Golden soar its ridges large

And noble gems it stores and bright the marge

Of Windusor. The high conceiving Lord,

King of all creatures and by worlds adored,

Here grandiose offerings gave and sacrifice

By hundreds, and with excellent device,

For beauty not to old tradition, made

Pillars of sacrifice with gems inlaid

And monumental temples massed with gold.

Long here enduring Bhogiruth the bold

Through tedious seasons dwelt, yearning to see

Ganges, his self-named river Bhaagirothie.

Nor these alone but he, the Argus-eyed

Lord of imperial Sachi, to his side

Victory by sacrifice compelled. Creating

World systems, energy irradiating

He sits here whom the awful ghosts attend,

Shiva, who no beginning has nor end.

Nur and Naraian there and Brahma there

And Hades and the Immoveable repair, —

Revolving when a thousand ages wend,

To absolve with sacrifice the cycle's end.

Here now ambitious of religion gave

Long years his mighty offerings Vaasudave,

Devoutly, and bright temples raised their head,

Memorial columns golden-garlanded,

Unnumbered, multitudinous, immense.

Thither went Maia and recovered thence

Conch-shell and mace and for the audience-hall

The old Titanic stone marmoreal.

All mighty wealth the servile giants guard,

The Titan genius gathered and prepared

His famous hall unparalleled, divine,

Where all the jewels of the world combine.

 

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To Bheme he gave that mighty mace, the shell

God-given called, whose cry unutterable

When from the great conch's ocean mouth 'tis hurled

Far borne, trembling of creatures fills the world,

To great Urjuuna. But immense the hall

Ten thousand cubits spread its bulk and all

Its sides ten thousand, upon mighty boles

Columnar elevate: nor either rolls

The sun through heaven, moon nor vast fire so bright.

Slaying the sunshine with superior light

It blazed as if aflame, most luminous, white,

Celestial, large, raised like a cloud to soar

Against the heavens whose lustre it o'erbore.

Nor weariness nor sorrow enter might

That wide and noble palace of delight.

Of fair material was it made, the walls

And arches jewelled were of those rich halls.

Such wonder of creative genius won

The World's Designer to comparison.

For neither Brahma's roof nor Vishnu's high

Might equal this for glorious symmetry.

No, not Sudhurma, Indra's council hall,

With Maia's cunning strove. At Maia's call

Eight thousand Helots of the Giant blood

Upbore the pile and dreadful sentries stood

Travellers on wind, huge-bodied, horrible,

Shell-eared, far-strikers, with bloodshot eyes and fell.

And in the middle a lotus-lake he made

Unparalleled, white lotuses displayed,

And birds innumerable and all the stems

Of that fair blossom were of beauteous gems

And all the leaves were sapphires: through them rolled

Gold tortoises and wondrous fish of gold.

Marble mosaic was the stair: the wave

Translucent ran its edges fine to lave,

Wrinkled with soft cool winds that over it sped.

A rain of pearl drops on the floor was shed.

 

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And seats from slabs of precious stone combined

The marble banks of that fair water lined.

And all around it ever-flowering trees

Of various race hung dark and huge with ease

Of cool delightful shade, sweet-smelling woods

And quiet waters where the white swan broods

And ducks and waders of the ripples. Sweet

The wind came from them, fragrance in its feet

The lotus gave and lily of the land,

And with its booty the great brothers fanned.

Full fourteen months he laboured: the fifteenth

Saw ready jewelled arch and luminous plinth.

Then only came the Titan and declared

To the just King his mighty hall prepared.

Ceremony of entrance Yudishthere

Then held. Thousands of Brahmins luscious cheer

Of rice with sugared milk enjoyed wherein

Honey was mingled; flesh besides they win

Of boar and stag and all roots eatable

And fruits and sesamum-rice that tastes full well

And grain of offering and pedary,

Yea, meats of many natures variously

Eaten and chewed, of drinks a vast array;

And robes brought newly from the loom that day

Were given, all possible garlands scented sweetly

To Brahmins from all regions gathering, meetly

Presented, and to each a thousand cows.

O then was air all thunder with their vows:

The din of blessing touched the very skies.

With these the notes of instruments arise

Varied, celestial, and sweet fumes untold.

Before the son of Hades mighty-souled

Wrestlers and mimes made show and those who play

With fencing staves and jongleurs. For that day

He who installed the deities, worshipping,

Was greatest of the Kuurus and a king.

He by his brothers hemmed, high worship done,

 

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With saint and hero for companion,

In that his palace admirably bright,

Like Indra in his heaven, took delight.

 

CANTO II

The Debated Sacrifice

 

* * * * * * * * * * But when Yudishthere had heard

The sage's speech, his heart was moved with sighs.

He coveted Imperial Sacrifice.

All bliss went from him. Only to his thought

The majesty of royal saints was brought

By sacrifice exalted, Paradise

Acquired augustly, and before his eyes

He most was luminous who in heaven shone,

Heaven by sacrificial merit won.

He too that offering would absolve; so now

Receiving reverence with a courteous brow,

The assembly broke, to meditate retiring

On that great sacrifice of his desiring.

Frequent the thought and ever all its length

His mind leaned that way. Yet though huge his strength,

His heroism though admired, the King

Forgot not Right, but pondered how this thing

Might touch the peoples, whether well or ill.

For just was Yudishthere and courted still

His people and with vast, impartial mind

Served all, nor ever from this word declined,

"To each his own; nor shall the King disturb

With wrath or violence Right, but these shall curb."

So was all speech of men one grand acclaim;

The nation as a father trusted him:

No hater had he in his whole realm's bound,

 

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By the sweet name of Enemiless renowned.

And through his gracious government upheld

By Bhema's force and foreign battle quelled

By the two-handed might of great Urjuun;

Sahadave's cultured equity and boon

Necoola's courteous mood to all men shown,

The thriving provinces were void of fear;

Strife was forgotten and each liberal year

The rains were measured to desire; no man

The natural limit of his course outran:

Usury, tillage, rearing, merchandise

Throve with good government and sacrifice

Prospered; rack-renting was not nor unjust

Extortion; from the land was pestilence thrust,

And mad calamity of fire unknown

Became while this just monarch had his own.

Robbers and cheats and royal favourites

Were now not heard of to infringe men's rights

Nor the king's harm nor mutual injury

Intrigue. To yield into his treasury

Their taxes traders came and princes high

On the sixfold pretexts of policy,

Or at Yudishthere's court good grace to win.

Even greedy, passionate, luxurious men

His just rule to the common welfare turned.

He in the glory of all virtues burned,

An all-pervading man, by all adored, —

An emperor and universal lord

Bearing upon his shoulders the whole State.

And from the neatherd to the twice-born great

All in his wide domains that lived and moved,

Him more than father, more than mother loved.

He now his brothers and his ministers

Summoning severally their mind infers

And often with repeated subtle speech

Solicitous questions and re-questions each.

All with one cry unanimous advise

 

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To institute Imperial Sacrifice.

"O king," they said, "the man by God designed

Who has acquired the Oceanic mind

Of kingship, not with this bounds his pretence,

But hungers for imperial excellence.

In thee it dwells, high Cow-rove; we thy friends

See clear that Fate this sacrifice intends.

To complete heroes it is subject. Men

Who centre chivalry within them, gain

Its sanction when with ancient chants the fires

Are heaped by sages, lords of their desires

Through self-control intense. The serpentine

And all rites other in this one rite twine.

And he who at its end is safely crowned

Is as World Conqueror, is as King renowned.

Puissance is thine, great-armed, and we are thine.

O King, soon then shall Empire crown thy line:

O King, debate no longer; aim thy will

At Sacrifice Imperial." So they still

Advised their King together and apart,

And deep their accents sunk into his heart.

Bold was their speech, rang pleasant to his ear,

Seemed excellent and just, yet Yudishthere

Still pondered though he knew his puissance well.

Again he bade his hardy brothers tell

Their mind and priests high-souled and ministers:

With Dhaumya and Dwypaian too confers,

Wise and deliberate he. "Speak justly, friends,

What happy way my hard desire attends.

Hard is the sacrifice imperial meant

For an imperial mind's accomplishment."

All answered with a seasonable voice:

"Just King, thine is that mind and thou the choice

Of Fate for this high ceremony renowned."

Sweet did the voice of friends and flamens sound:

Yet still he curbed himself and still he thought.

His yearning for the people's welfare wrought

 

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A noble hesitation. Wise the man

Who often will his power and vantage scan,

Who measures means with the expenditure,

Season with place, then acts; his deeds endure.

"Not with my mere resolve the enterprise

Begins and ends of this great sacrifice."

While thus in a strong grasp his thought he held

His mind to Krishna who all beings excelled

Of mortal breed, for surest surety ran,

Krishna, the strong unmeasurable man

Whom Self-born upon earth conjectured he

Because his deeds measured with deity.

"To Krishna's mind all things are penetrable:

His genius knows not the impossible"

Pondered the son of Hades "nor is there

A weight his mighty mind cannot upbear."

On Krishna as on sage and guide his mind

(Who is indeed the guide of all mankind)

He fixed and sent his messenger afar

To Yadove land in a swift-rolling car.

Then sped the rushing wheels with small delay

And reached the gated city Dwaraca,

The gated city where Junnardun dwelt.

Krishna to Yudishthere's desire felt

Answering desire and went with Indrosane

Passing through many lands to Indra-Plain,

Fierily passing with impetuous hooves

To Indraprustha and the men he loves.

With filial soul his brothers Yudishthere

And Bheme received the man without compeer:

But Krishna to his father's sister went

And greeted her with joyous love; then bent

His heart to pleasure with his heart's own friend,

All reverently the courteous twins attend.

But after rest in those bright halls renowned

Yudishthere sought the immortal man and found

At leisure sitting and revealed his need.

 

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"King's Sacrifice I covet, but indeed

Thou knowest not practicable by will alone

Like other rites is this imperial one,

But he in whom all kingly things combine,

He whom all men, all lands to honour join,

A king above all kings, he finds alone

Empire. And now though all my friends are one

To bid me forward, yet do I attend

From thy voice only certainty, O friend.

Some from affection lovingly suppress

Their friend's worst fault and some from selfishness,

Speaking what most will please. Others conceal

Their own good with the name of commonweal.

Such counsel in his need a monarch hath.

But thou art pure of selfish purpose; wrath

And passion know thee not; and thou wilt tell

What shall be solely and supremely well."

Krishna made answer: "All thy virtues, all

Thy gifts make thee the man imperial.

Thou dost deserve this Sacrifice. Yet well

Though thou mayst know it, one thing will I tell.

When Raama, Jemadugny's son, had slain

The chivalry of earth, those who were fain

To flee, left later issue to inherit

The name of Kshettriya and the regal spirit.

Of these the rule by compact of the clan

Approved thou knowest, and each highborn man

Whate'er and all the kingly multitude

Name themselves subjects of great Ila's brood

And the Ixvaacuu house. Now by increase

The Ixvaacuu Kings and Ilian count no less

Than are a hundred clans. Of all most huge

Yayaaty of the Bhojas, a deluge

Upon the earth in multitude and gift.

To these all chivalry their eyes uplift,

These and their mighty fortunes serve. But now

King Jerasundha lifts his diademed brow

 

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And Ila and Ixvaacuu pale their fires,

O'erwhelmed. He over kings and nations towers;

This way and that way with impetuous hands

Assailing overbears; the middle lands

Inhabits and by division rules the world

Since he in whose sole hand the earth is furled,

Who is first monarch and supreme, may claim,

He and he only, the imperial name.

And him the mighty hero Shishupaal

Owns singly nor disdains his lord to call

But leads his warfare, and, of captains best,

The puissant man and subtle strategist,

Vuccar, the Koruush king, and those two famed

Grew to his side, Hunsa and Dimbhuc named,

Brave men and high of heart; and Corrusus,

Duntvuccar, Meghovaahon, Corobhus,

Great kings; and the wide-ruler of the west,

The Yovun lord upon whose gleaming crest

Burns the strange jewel wonderful, whose might

Is like the boundless Ocean's infinite,

Whose rule Norac obeys and Muruland.

King Bhogadutt owns Jerasundh's command,

Thy father's ancient friend, and more with hand

Serves him than word. He only of the west

And southern end of earth who is possessed,

The hero Kuuntiewurdhun Puurujit

Feels for thee as a tender father might.

Chained by affection to thee is his heart

And by affection in thy weal has part.

To Jerasundh he whom I did not slay

Is gathered, he who must forsooth display

My signs, gives himself out god humanized

And man ideal, and for such is prized

Now in the world, a madman soiled of soul,

 

The tyrant of the Chedies, whose control

Poundra and Keerat own, a mighty lord,

King of Bengal and by the name adored

 

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Of Poundrian Vaasudave. The Bhoja strong

To whom wide lands, one fourth of all, belong,

Called friend of Indra — he made tameable

Pandya and Cruth and Koyshic by his skill

And science, and his brother Aacritie

Is very Purshuraam in prowess — he,

Even Bheeshmuc, even this high, far-conquering king

To Jerasundh is vowed. We worshipping,

We who implore his favour, we his kin

Are utterly rejected, all our pain

Of benefaction met with sharp contempt,

Benefit with harm returned or evil attempt.

He has forgot his birth, his pride, his name;

Blinded by Jerasundha's burning fame

To him is gone. To him high fortune yields;

Great nations leave their old ancestral fields.

The Bhojas of the North to western plain

Their eighteen clans transplanted, Surasegn,

Shalwa, Petucchur, Kuuntie, Bhudrocar,

Suisthull, Kulind, Sucuitta. All that are

Of the Shalwaian Kings brother or friend,

Are with their leaders gone, nor yet an end:

The Southern Punchaals and in Kuuntie-land

The Eastern Coshalas. Their native north

Abandoning the Mutsyas have gone forth

And from their fear take southern sanctuary:

With them the clan Sunnyustopaad. Lastly

The warrior great Punchaalas terrified

Have left their kingdoms and to every side

Are scattering before Jerasundha's name.

On us the universal tempest came,

When Kunsa furiously crushed of old

The Yadoves: for to Kunsa bad and bold

The son of Brihodruth his daughters gave

Born younger feminine to male Sahadave,

Ustie and Praapthie. In this tie made strong

His royal kin he overpowered; nor long,

 

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Being supreme, ruled prudently, but grew

A tyrant and a fool. Whereupon drew

The Bhoja lords together, those whom tired

His cruelties, and these with me conspired

Seeking a national deliverer.

Therefore I rose and Ahuik's daughter, her

The sweet and slender, gave to Ocroor, — then

Made free from tyranny my countrymen.

With me was Raam, the plougher of the foe;

Our swords laid Kunsa and Sunaaman low.

Scarce was this inbred peril crossed and we

Safe, Jerasundh arose. Then laid their plans

By vast majority the eighteen clans,

That though we fought for ever, though we slew

With mighty blows infallible, o'erthrew

Foe upon foe, three centuries might take wing

Nor yet be slain the armies of the King.

For him and his two men like gods made strong,

Unslayable where the weapons thickest throng;

Hunsa and Dimbhuc styled. These two uniting,

Heroes, and Jerasundh heroic fighting

Might battle with assembled worlds and win;

Such was my thought, nor mine alone has been,

But all the kings this counsel entertain,

O wisest Yudishthere. Now there was slain

By Raam in eight days' battle duelling

One Hunsa truly named, a mighty King.

Hunsa is slain!' said one to Dimbhuc. Him

Hearing the Jumna's waters overwhelm

Devoted. Without Hunsa here alone

He had not heart to linger, so is gone

His way to death. Of Dimbhuc's death when knew

Hunsa, sacker of cities, he too drew

To the same waves that closed above his friend.

There were they joined in one o'erwhelming end.

This hearing Jerasundha discontent

With empty heart to his own city went.

 

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The King being gone we in all joy again

In Mothura dwelt and our ancestral plain.

But she, the royal princess lotus-eyed,

Went to her father mourning; she, the pride

Of Jerasundh and Kunsa's wife, and cried,

Spurring the mighty Maagudh, weeping: Kill

My husband's murderer, O my father,' and still:

Kill him!' But we minding the old thought planned

With heavy hearts out from our native land,

Son, friend and kinsman, all in fear must flee.

Our endless riches' loose prolixity

Unportable by division we compressed

And with it fared sadly into the west.

The lovely city, fair Cuishusthaly,

With mountains beautiful, our colony

We made, the Ryevut mountains; and up-piled

Ramparts which even the gods in battle wild

Could hardly scale, ramparts which women weak

Might hold — of Vrishny's swords what call to speak?

Five are the leagues our dwelling place extends,

Three are the mountain-shoulders and each ends

An equal space: hundred-gated the town.

Each gate with heroism and renown

Is bolted and has eighteen keys close-bound,

Eighteen strong bows in whom the trumpet's sound

Wakes headlong lust of war. Thousands as many

Our race. Ahuik has hundred sons nor any

Less than a god. And Charudeshna, he

With his dear brother, hero Saatyakie,

Chucrodave, I, the son of Rohinnie,

And Samba and Prodyoumna, seven are we,

Seven strong men; nor other seven more weak,

Cunca and Shuncou, Kuuntie and Someque,

Anadhrishty, Somitinjoy, Critovurm;

Undhuc's two sons besides and the old King: firm

As adamant they, heroes energical.

These are the Vrishny men who lead there, all

 

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Remembering the sweet middle lands we lost.

There we behold that flood of danger crossed

The Maagudh, Jerasundh, the mountain jaws

Impassable behold. There free from cause

Of fear, eastern or northern, Modhou's sons

Dwell glad of safety. Lo, we the mighty ones,

Because King Kunsa married, to the west,

By Jerasundha utterly distressed,

Are fled, and there on Ryevut, hill of kine,

Find sanctuary from danger Magadhine.

Therefore though all imperial gifts and high

Vindicate thee, though o'er earth's chivalry

Thou shouldst be Emperor indeed, nowise

Shalt thou accomplish, King, the Sacrifice

Great Jerasundha living; for he brings

The princes of the earth and all her kings

And Girivraj with mighty prisoners fills

As in a cavern of the lordly hills,

A lion's homestead, slaughtered elephants lie —

So they a hecatomb of royalty

Wait their dire ending; for Magadha's King

A sacrifice of princes purposing,

With fierce asceticism of will adored

Mahadave mighty-minded, Uma's lord.

Conquering he moves towards his purpose, brings

Army on army, kings on battling kings,

Victorious brings and binds and makes of men

His mountain-city a huge cattle-pen.

Us too his puissance drove in strange dismay

To the fair-gated city, Dwaraca.

Therefore if of imperial sacrifice

Thou art ambitious, first, O prince, devise

To rescue all those murdered Kings and slay

King Jerasundha, since thus only may

The instituted sacrifice attain

Its great proportion and immenser plan.

King, I have said; yet as thy deeper mind

 

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Adviseth thee. Only when all's designed,

All reasons weighed, then give me word." "O thou

Art only wise," Yudishthere cried. "Lo now

A word no other heart might soar so high

As utter; yet thy brave sagacity

Plainly hath phrased it; nor like thee on earth

Another sword of counsel shall take birth.

Behold, the earth is full of kings; they still

Each in his house do absolutely their will;

Yet who attains to empire? Nay, the word

Itself is danger. He who has preferred

His enemy's greatness by sad study known,

How shall he late forget and praise his own?

Only who in his foemen's shock not thrown

Wins by ordeal praise, deserves the crown.

This vast and plenteous earth, this mine of gems,

Is from a distance judged, how vast its realms,

Not from the dells. Nor otherwise, O pride

Of Vrishny's seed, man's greatness is espied.

In calm and sweet content is highest bliss,

Mine be the good that springs from chastened peace.

I even with attempt hope not the crown

Of high supremacy to wear. Renown

Girds these and highborn mind; and so they deem

"Lo I or I am warrior and supreme",

Yet if by chance one better prove mid men,

It is but chance who wins the crown and when.

But we by Jerasundha's force alarmed

And all his mighty tyrannies iron-armed

Shun the emprise. O hero, O high-starred

In whose great prowess we have done and dared,

On whose heroic arm our safeties dwell

Yet lo thou fear'st him, deem'st invincible

And where thou fearest, my conceit of strength

Becomes a weakling's dream until at length

I hardly dare to hope by strongest men

This mighty Jerasundha can be slain,

 

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Urjuun or Bheme or Raama or combined. 

Thou, Keshove, in all things to me art Mind."

Out Bhema spoke, the strong man eloquent.

"The unstrenuous king, unhardy, unvigilant

Sinks like an anthill; nor the weak-kneed less

Who on a stronger leans his helplessness.

But the unsleeping and resourceful man

With wide and adequate attempt oft can

His mightier enemy vanquish: him though feeble

His wished-for good attends invariable.

Krishna has policy and I have strength

And with our mother's son, Dhonunjoy, length

Assured of victory dwells; we shall assail

Victoriously the Magadhan and quell

As triple fire a victim." Krishna then:

"Often we see that rash unthinking men

Imprudent undertake, nor consequence

Envisage: yet will not his foe dispense

Therefore the one-ideaed and headstrong man.

Now since the virtuous ages first began

Five emperors have been to history known,

Maroutta, Bharut, Yuvanuswa's son,

Great Bhogiruth and Cartoverya old.

By wealth Maroutta conquered, Bharut bold

By armed strength; Mandhata's victories

Enthroned him and his subtle soul and wise.

By strenuous greatness Cartoverya bent

The world; but Bhogiruth beneficent

Gathered the willing nations to his sway.

Thou purposing like greatness, to one way

Not limited, restor'st the imperial five.

Their various masteries reunited live —

Virtue, high policy, wealth without dearth

And conquest and the rapid grasp at Earth —

And yet avail not to make solely great.

Strong Jerasundha bars thee from thy fate,

Whom not the hundred nations can deter

 

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But with great might he grows an emperor;

The jewel-sceptred Kings to serve him start.

Yet he in his unripe and violent heart

Unsatisfied, assumes the tyrant's part.

He, the first man of men, lays his rude hand

On the anointed monarchs of the land

And pillages. Not one we see exempt.

How then shall feebler king his fall attempt?

Well-nigh a hundred in his sway are whelmed.

With these like cattle cleansed, like cattle hemmed

In Sheva's house, the dreadful Lord of beasts,

Purified as for sacrificial feasts,

Surely life's joy is turned to bitterness,

Not dying like heroes in the battle's press.

Honour is his who in swift battle falls

And best mid swords high death to princes calls.

In battle let us 'gainst the Maagudh thrust,

By battle ignominy repel. To just

Eighty and six the royal victims mount,

Fourteen remain to fill the dire account;

Who being won his horrid violence

No farther pause will brook. Glory immense

He wins, glory most glorious who frustrates

Interposing the tyrant and amates.

Kings shall acclaim him lord inevitably."

But Yudishthere made answer passionately:

"Shall I, ambitious of imperial place,

Krishna, expose in my mad selfishness,

Upbuoyed by naked daring, men to death

Whom most I love? O Krishna, what is breath

To one that's mad and of his eyes bereft?

What joy has he that life to him is left?

These are my eyes, thou Krishna art my mind:

Lo I have come as one who stumbles blind

Upon the trackless Ocean's spuming shore,

Then wakes, so I all confident before

Upon this dreadful man whom even death

 

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Dare not in battle cross. What use is breath

Of hopeless effort? Mischief only can

Result to the too blindly daring man.

Better not undertaken, is my mind

On riper thought, than fruitlessly designed.

Nay, let us leave this purpose; wiser so

Than with eyes open to our death to go.

For all my heart within is broken and slain

Viewing the vast impracticable pain

Of Sacrifice Imperial." Then replied

To Yudishthere great Partha in the pride

Of wonders self-attained, banner and car,

And palace Titan-built and in the war

Quiver made inexhaustible and great

Unequalled bow. "O King" he said "since Fate

Has given me bow and shafts, a sword like flame,

Great lands and strength, courage, allies and fame,

Yea, such has given as men might covet long

And never win; O King, what more? For strong

Is birth and conquers, cries the theorist

Conversant in deep books; but to my taste

Courage is strongest strength. How helps it then

The uncourageous that heroic men

His fathers were? From uncourageous sires

Who springs a hero, he to glory towers.

That man the name of Kshettriya merits best

Whose soul is ever to the battle drest.

Courage, all gifts denied, ploughs through amain

A sea of foes: courage without in vain

All other gifts conspire; rather all gifts

Courage into a double stature lifts.

But conquest is in three great strengths complete —

Action, capacity, fate: where these three meet,

There conquest comes; nor strengths alone suffice;

Men by neglect forfeit their Paradise.

And this the cause the strong much-hated man

Before his enemies sinks. Hard 'tis to scan

 

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Whether of these flaws strength most fatally,

A spirit poor or an o'erweening eye.

Both are destruction. Kings who highly aim

And court success, must either quite disclaim.

And if by Jerasundha's overthrow,

Rescuing Kings, to Sacrifice we go,

What fairer, what more glorious? Mighty prince,

Deeds unattempted virtue maimed evince.

In us when virtue dwells, why deem'st thou, brother,

A nothingness the children of thy mother?

Easy it is the ochre gown to take

Afterwards, if for holy calmness' sake

We must the hermit virtues imitate.

But here is Empire! here, a royal fate!

Let others quietism's sweets embrace;

We the loud battle seek, the foeman's face."

"In Kuuntie's son and born of Bharut's race

What spirit should dwell, Urjuun's great words express,"

Said Krishna. "And of death we have no light

Whether it comes by day or comes by night;

Nor this of mortal man was ever known

That one by going not to fight has grown

Immortal. Let him then who's man indeed

Clash forth against his foes, yet rule decreed

Of policy forget not: so his mind

Shall live at poise. For when in battle combined

Conduct meets long felicity, then high

Success must come nor two met equally

Equal can issue thence: from clash and strife

Of equals inequality takes life.

But rash impolicy with helplessness

Having joined issue in their mutual stress

Breed ruin huge; equality inglorious

Then doubt engenders, nor are both victorious.

Therefore in skilful conduct putting trust

If with our foe we grapple, fell him we must

As a wild torrent wrestling with a tree

 

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Uproots and hurls it downward to the sea.

Trying the weak points in thine enemy's mail,

Subtly thine own conceal, then prompt assail;'

So runs the politic maxim of the wise

And to my mind rings just. If we devise

Secret, yet with no spot of treacherous blame,

To penetrate our foeman's house and limb

Grapple with limb, oh, won infallibly then

Our object is. Often one man of men

Pervades the nations like a soul, whose brow

Glory eternal-seeming wears; so now

This lion lord of men; but yet I deem

Shall that eternal vanish like a dream.

In battle slaying him if at the last

By many swords we perish, so 'tis best.

We shall by death the happy skies attain

Saving from tyranny our countrymen."

 

CANTO III

The Slaying of Jerasundh

 

Krishna pursued. "Now is the call of Fate:

Fallen is Dimbhuc, fallen Hunsa great;

Kunsa is slain and all his host; the hour

Is sighted when King Jerasundha's power

Must bow to death; yet not in violent war

'Tis conquerable nor all the gods that are,

Nor the embattled Titans overwhelm:

In deadly duel we must vanquish him.

Conduct is mine, strength Bheme's, and in the field

Who is very victory stands here to shield.

We will consume the Maagudh, King, believe,

As three strong fires a sacrifice achieve.

If we three in a lonely place attain

 

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To see him, no doubt is, the King of men

Duel with one of three will undertake,

In pride and strength and greed of glory's sake

Grandiose of heart, duel with Bhema claim

But Bheme great-armed, Bheme strenuous for him

Suffices, even as death that closes all

Sufficient is for the immense world's fall.

King, if my heart thou knowest and if trust

Thou hast in me at all, then as a just

And dear deposit in my hands implied

Bheme and Urjuuna give." And the King cried,

"Achyuta, O Achyuta, never so,

O hero, speak, O slayer of the foe.

Thou art the Pandoves' lord, their refuge thou.

Govinda, all thou speakest I avow

Truth merely; whom thou guidest are not men

Fortune abandons. Nay, already slain

King Jerasundha is, rescued already

Those Kings of earth, and won and greatly ready

Imperial Sacrifice, now that I stand,

O first of men, in thy controlling hand.

Quickly this work to accomplish, be it planned

But prudently; for without you no zest,

No courage I have to live, as one distressed,

One overcome with sickness, who lives on

When life no meaning has but pain alone.

Without the child of Pandu Krishna is none,

Nor possible without Krishna Pritha's son.

By Krishna led unvanquishable are these.

Splendid in strength, strongest of strong men is,

Vricoder: joined and made a third with you,

Famous and noble, nought is he may not do.

Well led the armed multitudes effect

Great deeds, but led must be by men elect.

Blind and inert mere strength is, all its force

Impetuous but a block. As by that course

Where dips the soil, there water's led and whence

 

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A gap most opens river-men lead thence

Water, even such is guiding policy.

Therefore, Govinda, in thy hand are we,

Whom the world names its hero famousest

For conduct and in that great science best.

Krishna whose strength is wisdom, counsel, who

Is girded with resource, Krishna must you

Put in your van with action's every need:

So only action's purpose may succeed.

Urjuun by Krishna led, Bheme by Urjuun;

Then conduct, victory, strength, these three triune

Shall grow and conquer, making valour good."

He said, and those three huge in hardihood,

The Vrishny hero and the Pandoves twain,

Went forth to Magadha of happy men.

To Girivraj, the city of the hills,

A nation of the fourfold orders fills,

A prosperous race and glad, they travelled are,

Flushed with high festival and void of care,

A virgin city inviolable in war.

So came they to the city gates where soared

The height by Brihodrutha's sons adored

And all the people, one of peaks that stand,

Delightful hills, Chytyuc, in Magadh land; —

Thither they storming came. There Rishabha,

The eater of forbidden flesh, to slay

Came Brihodruth the King and slew and bound

Three war-drums with its hide whose threatening sound

Far borne through a whole month went echoing.

These in his city placed the Maagudh King.

Covered with dust of glorious blossoms there

The drums hurled oft their thunders through the air.

But now came storming to the Chytyuc wall

The heroes and the war-drums broke and all

Upon the rampart fell as if to smite

The very head of Jerasundha's might:

Chytyuc, the ancient peak enorm, deep-based,

 

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Ever with flowers and fragrance worshipped, vast

And famous, with Titanic force of arm

Assailed and overthrew with loud alarm;

So leaped exulting through no usual gate.

To war with Jerasundh they came, and yet

Weapons of war had none, with their arms merely

Sworded and shielded with the vow austerely

Assumed wherein men enter worldly life,

Snaatucs. A town they saw with riches rife,

Food-mart and flower-mart and populous street,

In all desirable wealth grandly complete.

So went they mid the shops and highroad wide

And from the garland-makers in the pride

Of hostile strength fresh garlands violently

They mastered. Then in bright variety

Of garments many-hued the mighty three

With wreaths and burnished earrings bright aflame

To Jerasundha's lordly dwelling came.

As lions of the Himalaya eye

A cattle-pen, so they the palace high.

But on the Maagudh men amazement fell

Seeing those shapes of heroes formidable,

Like elephants in strength, broad-breasted, wide

And great of shoulder and like boles their arms

Of shoal-trees mighty, fit for warlike harms;

Now sandal-smeared and rubbed with aloe-scent.

They through the courts in courage arrogant

Pass sternly, through three crowded courts attain

The royal presence freed from anxious pain.

And the great king arose, for them he judged

Worthy of high guest-offerings, nowise grudged

The water for the feet, the honied curds

And gifts of kine, but with deserved words

Greeted them crying "Welcome, holy men."

And no word answered him the Pandoves twain.

Then Krishna in their midst, the man of mind,

Said only "King of kings, these two must bind

 

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Silence till midnight hour, envisaging

Their vow. Then will they speak to thee, O King."

So in the chamber sacrificial placed

They sojourned and the King with awe possessed

Returned to his high mansion. But when night

Was deep, went the strong arbiter of fight

To those three twice-born; for his vow preferred

Compelled him, through earth famous, when he heard

Of Snaatucs Brahmins in his city bright

To meet them even in the deep midnight.

And they indeed with strange astonishment

Dismayed him and their garments hue-besprent

Unwonted. As he came the three arose,

The lion men, the victors of their foes.

"Welfare, O King" they cried, and each on each

They looked and scanned the King awaiting speech.

Then to those lords concealed in priestly dress

The King said with his haughty graciousness,

"Sit, holy men." They sat, heroic forms

Blazing with mightier beauty than informs

The fires of sacrifice, when a great king

Sacrifices. And sternly censuring

Disguise and travesty of shape sincere

The conqueror steadfast, "Why come you here,

Not as the Snaatucs, in this transient world

Who takes the household vow, the Brahmin. Curled

Garlands he wears not, smears not sandal paste.

What names are yours who come in flowers dressed,

Upon your mighty arms the bowstring scored

And wearing heroism like a sword,

Yet Brahminhood pretend? Speak truth, whence springs

Your race? Truth is the ornament of kings.

Splitting the Chytyuc peak fiercely you came,

Yet wear a vain disguise to hide a flame

Yourselves reveal. Where no gate was, no path

Allowed, you entered, nor a monarch's wrath

Calamitous feared; and are ye Brahmins? Bright

 

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In speech the Brahmin; speech his only might

And prowess. You whose deeds your caste deny,

What needing come you to my palace high?

And wherefore took you not the offering

To guests observed but scorned Magadha's king?"

Then Krishna in a deep and quiet voice

Replied, adept in words of exquisite choice.

"Brahmins thou deemest us whom duties call

Worldward, but Brahmin, Kshettriya, Vyshya, all

Equal entitled are to Snaatuchood.

Vows personal, vows general, both are good.

But those the Kshettriya's majesty prepare,

To Kshettriyas those belong. Flowers if we wear,

Who decks his aspiration stern with flowers,

The majesty he wins outbraves the hours.

Rightly thou sayest, King, the Kshettriya's might

Speaks from his arm, in words has no delight,

Wild words and many uses not; for God

Set in the arm, its natural abode,

The Kshettriya prowess. Which if thou aspire

To see, surely we will not baulk desire;

Today thou shalt behold it. Nor debate

Of path allowable and door and gate.

No gate is in the house of enemies.

By the plain door a friend's house entered is,

But by no door with ruin impetuous

A foeman's. These are virtue's gates and thus

Enters the self-possessed, right-seeing man.

Nor offering hospitable take we can

In foemen's house with deeds upon our hands.

This is our vow and this eternal stands."

And Jerasundh replied, "Enmity, strife

I can recall not gazing through my life,

Brahmins, with you begun, nor aught that men

Pervert to hatred. Wherefore call you then

A sinless man your enemy? The good

One practice keep, one rule well understood;

 

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And he, the Kshettriya who with causeless blame

Lightly has taxed the innocent, he with maim

Virtue curtails inheriting remorse:

Be he in virtue conversant, in force

A warrior among warriors, if he act

Other than good, has with his own hand hacked

His own felicity here and there his soul

Following the sinner's way shall reach the sinner's goal.

Throughout the triple universe confessed

The Kshettriya virtue, Kshettriya life is best

For nobleness; for goodness. Other rule

They praise not who have learned in virtue's school.

That virtue and that life are mine. Steadfast

Today I stand in them with spirit braced,

Sinless before my people. And ye prate

Madness." Krishna made sterner answer: "Great

Is he who sent us, of a mighty strain

Upbearer, and upon his shoulders lain

The burden of a deed for kindred blood.

From him we come upon thee like a flood.

Sinless dost thou, O Jerasundha, claim

And thou the world's great princes dost o'erwhelm,

Gathered for cruel slaughter? When before

Did kings on good kings tyranny explore?

But thou, a king, hast conquered and subdued,

And Rudra's altar thou wouldst have imbrued

With blood of Kings for victims. On our head

Their piteous blood shall lie which thy hands shed.

For we are virtue's and in her have force

Virtue to bulwark. Giving tyranny course

We share the sin. Not yet the world has seen

That crowning horror, butchery of men.

O man, how couldst thou to a god devise,

To Shancara a human sacrifice?

It is thy blood, thy kind thou levellest

Comparing human natures with the beast.

Is there a man in all the world whose mind

 

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Like thine is violent, like thine is blind?

But this remember, not with the deed man does

There is an end; he reaps from what he sows

And as he planted such the fruit he sees:

Footprints his action left, Fate treads in these.

Therefore 'gainst thee, destroyer of our caste,

We, champions of the miserable oppressed,

For rescue of our kindred men are here

To slay thee. But thou sayest What should I fear?

There is no man in all the Kshettriya race

And I am he alone.' Great witlessness

Is thine, O King, and error most unjust.

What Kshettriya has a soul and lives but must

Recall with pride his birth from valiant men?

Who would not by the way of battle then

Enter the doors of Paradise eterne,

Felicitous gates? When paradise to earn

Heroes to war as to a sacrifice

Initiate go, resistless then they rise 

Conquering Nature. Veda fathers heaven;

To glory excellent its gates are given;

Austerity masters it. In battle who falls

He most infallibly wins the happy halls.

For what is Indra's heaven, what Paradise?

Heaven in noble deeds and virtue lies.

By these the myriad-sacrificing god

Conquered the Titans and the world bestrode.

And what more excellent way to heaven than strife

With thee? Nor thou by lustiness of life

Deceived and thy huge armies Magadhine

Maddening with strength thy foemen quite disdain.

In many hearts a fire of courage dwells

That equals thine, nay, may be, far excels.

While these are hidden in the hand of fate,

So long thou art supreme, but so long great.

Yes, I will speak it, we, even we, can bear

The brunt of all thy greatness. King, forbear

 

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Pride with thy equals and vain insolence.

O King, why wilt thou with thy son go hence,

With all thy captains and great men below

To Yama's melancholy mansions go?

Were there not kings as great as thou? Who strove

With Brihodruth, Cartoverya, Dumbhodbove,

High Uttara? All they are sunk unmourned,

Great kings and mighty captains; for they scorned

Mightier than they. No Brahmins, learn, are we,

Antagonists of thy supremacy.

Shourian I am and Hrishikesha styled;

These are the Pandove heroes. Brother's child

I to their mother am — Krishna, thy foe.

Take our defiance, King. In battle show

Thy steadfast courage, prince of Magadha,

Or while thou mayst escape. Either this day

Release the captive princes all or die."

Then answered Jerasundha puissantly:

"Not without conquest I collect amain

Princes; who is there penned my walls within

And not in equal battle overthrown?

This is the law and life to Kshettriyas known,

To battle and subdue and work their will

Upon the conquered, Krishna. Owable

Upon God's altar I have gathered these;

And shall I for ignoble fear release,

While yet the Kshettriya blood beats in my veins,

And yet one Kshettriya thought unquenched remains?

Army with battled army, single gage

With single or alone I will engage

With two or three together or one by one."

So spake the King and ordered that his son

Be straight anointed for the kingdom's needs.

Himself must fight with men of dreadful deeds.

And in that hour King Jerasundha sighed

Remembering great captains who had died,

Cowshic and Chitrosane, (but other names

 

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Men gave in converse with worldwide acclaims,

Hunsa and Dimbhuc calling), them that night

Recalled in shadow of the coming fight.

Then spake the Yadove pure and eloquent

Seeing the monarch upon battle bent.

"With which of three will thy heart battle dare,

O King, or which of us shall now prepare

For battle?" Then that famous royal man,

The Maagudh Jerasundh, with Bhemosane

Chose battle. Wreaths, pigment of augury

Bovine and all auspicious gramary,

Medicaments beside that lighten pain

Or call the fugitive senses back again,

The high priest brought for Jerasundh and read

The word of blessing o'er the monarch's head.

 

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