The Birth of the War-God* canto Two But now in spheres above whose motions fixed Confirm our cyclic steps, a cry arose Anarchic. Strange disorders threatened Space. There was a tumult in the calm abodes, A clash of arms, a thunder of defeat. Hearing that sound our smaller physical home Trembled in its pale circuits. Fearing soon The ethereal revolt might touch its stars. Then were these knots of our toy orbits torn And like a falling leaf this world might sink From the high tree mysterious where it hangs Between that voiceful and this silent flood. For long a mute indifference had seized Th

II The Debated Sacrifice .... But when Yudhishthere had heard The sages’ 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

A Beauty Infinite* A Beauty infinite, an unborn Power On Time's vast forehead drew her mystic line; An unseen Radiance filled the primal hour, — First script, creation's early rapture-wine. Lightning in Night the eternal moment wrote. Her lone eyes bathed in hue of loveliness Saw on a flaming stream a single boat Follow through dawn some great Sun's orbit-trace. The Dawn-world flashed — torn was the heart of Night. Why came then Dawn here with her cloud and surge? Darkness erased the hint of new-born Light, — Till suddenly quivered above the pilgrim Urge, Its flower-car washed blood

ON WEALTH The Prayer to Mammon Cast birth into the nether Hell; let all The useless tribe of talents farther fall; Throw virtue headlong from a rock and turn High nobleness into the fire to burn; The heroic heart let some swift thunder rive, Our enemy that hinders us to live; Wealth let us only keep; this one thing less, All those become as weeds and emptiness. A Miracle Behold a wonder mid the sons of men! The man is undiminished he we knew, Unmaimed his organs and his senses keen Even as of old, his actions nowise new, Voice, tone and words the same we heard before, The brain’s resistless march too as of yore;

The Birth of the War-God canto one : third rendering A God concealed in mountain majesty, Embodied to our cloudy physical sight In dizzy summits and green-gloried slopes, Measuring the earth in an enormous ease, Immense Himaloy dwells and in the moan Of western waters and in eastern floods Plunges his hidden spurs. Such is his strength1 High-piled or thousand-crested is his look That with the scaling greatness of his peaks He seems to uplift to heaven our prostrate soil. He mounts from the green luxury of his vales, Ambitious of the skies; nak

Bhavani Father nor mother, daughter nor son are mine, I obey no master, served am I by none, Learning or means I have not, wife nor kin; My refuge thou, Bhavani, thou alone! Charity I have not learned. Yoga nor trance, Mantra nor hymn nor Tantra have I known, Worship nor dedication’s covenants: My refuge thou, Bhavani, thou alone! Virtue is not mine nor holy pilgrimage, Salvation or world’s joy I have never won, Devotion I have not. Mother, no vows I pledge: My refuge thou, Bhavani, thou alone! From a Sanskrit hymn of Shankaracharya From a Sanskrit hymn of Shankaracharya Page– 212

The Wife* But Sita all the while, unhappy child, Worshipped propitious gods. Her mind in dreams August and splendid coronations dwelt And knew not of that woe. Royal she worshipped, A princess in her mind and mood, and sat With expectation thrilled. To whom there came Rama, downcast and sad, his forehead moist From inner anguish. Dark with thought and shaken He entered his august and jubilant halls. She started from her seat, transfixed, and trembled, For all the beauty of his face was marred, Who when he saw his young beloved wife Endured no longer; all his inner passion Of tortured pride was opened in

Lakshmi* At the mobile passion of thy tread the cold snows faint and fail, Hued by the magic touches — shimmering glow the horizons pale. The heavens thrill with thy appeal, earth's grey moods break and die, In nectarous sound thou lav'st men's hearts with thy voice of eternity. All that was bowed and rapt lifting clasped hands out of pain and night, How hast thou filled with murmuring ecstasy make proud and bright! Thou hast chosen the grateful earth for thy own in her hour of anguish and strife, Surprised by thy rapid feet of joy, 0 Beloved of the Master of Life! * Dilip Kumar Roy Page – 385

MISCELLANEOUS VERSES Definitions What is clear profit? Meeting with good men. A malady ? Of incompetent minds the spell. What is a loss ? Occasion given in vain. True skill of life ? With heavenward thoughts to dwell. A hero ? The heart that is o’er passion lord. A mistress ? She to loving service sworn. Best wealth? Wisdom. True happiness? The sward Of one’s own country, life where it was born. A kingdom ? Swift obedience fruitful found At the low word from hearts of all around. A Rarity Rich in sweet loving words, in harshness poor, From blame of others’ lives averse, content          With one d