Ravana Vanquished TITANS, assembled here, the race supreme on this earthly globe! A city supreme bejewelled in this sea-girt isle On a stony crest they shall set up in their own might, Fearless defying the King of the gods, in disregard of the world. But listen! What is this rumour All along the walls surrounding the city of Lanka, What is this tumult unprecedented in this land? Is this the roar of a puny army in laughter and jeer, Dancing over the head of the Mother of rakshasas, reveling in pride and victory? But whom do I fear? Why am I confined, a prisoner in my own city? Mute I look at their mad dance, hear their loud boast?

A Poem FRIEND! you received the mystic touch of love and your gentle heart fell into error! A high desire caught you in the meshes of Sannyasa! A mighty effort is Krishna, the eternal Emanation: Dharma is fallen in the whirl of adharma in this age of Kali! Vainly you find fault with the Path and blame it. You cannot understand my violent purpose: A slave of ignorance, of sattva (Light) mixed with tamas Or else even in this violent act you could recognise your dearest friend, Recognise Krishna. You .understand Radha, Him you did not understand. Whenever he sees the Earth besieged by the Asura, He always comes down shaking the uns

Hymn to Peace and Power (Sam yoh) YAJURVEDA Chapter 36 (1) I SEEK the Grace of Rik, the Word. I seek the Grace of Yajur, the Mind. I seek the Grace of Sam a, the Life-Force. I seek the Grace of the Eye and the Ear; may the energy that is Speech, the Energy that is Power and the Life-Force, both the higher and the lower, there be ever in me. (2) Whatever rift is there in my vision, in my heart, in my mind, or whatever there is torn, may the Master of the Word heal it; may the Master of the Universe be all Peace and Grace to us. (3) Lo, the Earth, the Mid-region, the Heaven! I contemplate upon that Supreme (Sovereign) Light of the Sun

Living Matter I KNOW not Where had I wandered about and then reached afar this dreamland: I found myself standing on the brink of a fluent river. Above, the vast empty pale azure Firm and high up. Here upon our globe Twin comrades Earth and Heaven ever Play their love-game intimate together. Green earth only looks upward Towards her lover's face, shivers in intense delight In the thousand tremblings of the leaves, among the cool grasses. The blue sky holds in embrace The whole body of his Beloved enveloping it with delight, Lifts up his high head, spreads aloft his laughter of love. This is the play here. In our ealm here Exists no

OTHER HYMNS AND PRAYERS Hymn to the Sweet Lord SWEET are his lips, sweet his mouth, his eyes are sweet, sweet his smile, Sweet is his heart, sweet his gait, of the lord of sweetness all is sweet. Sweet are his words, sweet his manners, his robes are sweet, sweet the folds (curves) of his body Sweet as he moves, sweet as he wanders, of the lord of sweetness all is sweet. Sweet is his flute, sweet the dust, his hands are sweet, sweet his feet, Sweet is his dance, sweet his friendship, of the lord of sweetness all is sweet. Sweet as he sings, sweet as he drinks, sweet as he eats, sweet as he sleeps, Sw

A Commentary on the First Six Suktas of Rigveda THE FIRST SUKTA COSMIC creation is a great and sublime sacrifice. Sarvagatam Bramha...¹ (The all-pervading Brahman is established in the sacrifice), says the Gita. Each and every object offers itself into this sacrificial fire. Why? Sacrifice indicates movement, that is to say, an ever-proceeding course towards the greater and still greater fulfilment of evolution. Sacrifice is being per­formed; creation has become dynamic and presses forward with the self-sacrifice of the objects inherent in it. By self ­sacrifice one creates another form and gets in it one's larger self. The pl

Hymn to Forest-Range RIGVEDA Mandala X: Sukta 146 (I) FOREST-Range! Range of Forest! Ever forward you seem to move! Wherefore do you not enquire for a village? Are you not afraid? (2) Here bellows the bull, there in answer chirps a grasshopper –­ A musical chord, as it were, playing the glory of the woodland! (3) These seem to be cattle grazing and those are huts for habitation; and at eve-tide there seem to file out of the forest a caravan of carts. (4) A call, as though, it is for a straying calf or perhaps a tree is being cut down, Page-26 Or even as we are in the wood

Narada - Sanatkumara (Chhandogya Upanishad) RISHI Sanatkumara was once approached by Narada (evi­dently not yet become a Rishi), who said, "Lord, I desire to be taught by you. Please teach me." The Rishi replied, "Very well, but first tell me how much you know; then I shall tell you if you need more." Narada thereupon made out an inventory of his learning; it was a formidable list. "My Lord, this is what I have learnt: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda, the Fifth Veda comprising History and Mythology; next, Grammar, Mathematics, Logic and Politics, the Science of Computing Time, Theology, Fine Arts and the Ritual Lore; Demonology, Astrology, and

O, Wake Up from Vain Slumber I BRING no magic herbs, I bring only the blood of my veins— ­O, wake up from vain slumber! If I am struck blind, If these eyes see no more your face, If the whole earth is locked out utterly, Well, let it be so ­— If you only open wide your fiery eyes. If I turn deaf, let it be so: In the molten fire of your voice If I cannot bake the ribs of my breast, Well, let it be so -. . O, only keep open your sharp ears. If I am silenced forever And struck dumb, If all the gathered words of my life remain Entombed, coursing within the sands of my bosom, Well, let it be so ­— If y