ON THE WICKED Evil Nature A heart unpitying, brawling vain and rude, An eye to others’ wives and wealth inclined, Impatience of true friends and of the good, — These things are self-born in the evil mind. The Human Cobra Avoid the evil man with learning crowned. Lo, the dread cobra, all his hood a gem Of glory, yet he crawls upon the ground. Fear’st thou him less for that bright diadem? Virtue and Slander A spiritless dull block call modesty; Love of long fasts and holy vows must be Mere shows, yon pure heart but a Pharisee, The world-renounci

Speech of Dussaruth to the Assembled States-General of His Empire* Then with a far reverberating sound As of a cloud in heaven or war-drum’s call Deep-voiced to battle and with echoings In the wide roof of his majestic voice That like the resonant surges onward rolled Moving men’s hearts to joy, a King to Kings He spoke and all they heard him. “It is known To you, O princes, how this noblest realm Was by my fathers ruled, the kings of old Who went before me, even as one dearest son Is by his parents cherished; therefore I too Would happier leave than when my youth assumed Their b

THE CENTURY OF LIFE The Nitishataka of Bhartrihari Freely rendered into English verse THE CENTURY OF LIFE I had at first entitled the translation “The Century of Morals”, but the Sanskrit word Niti has a more complex sense. It includes also policy and worldly wisdom, the rule of successful as well as the Jaw of ideal conduct and gives scope for observation of all the turns and forces determining the movement of human character and action.             The Shataka or ‘Century’ should normally comprise a hundred epigrams, but the number that has come down to us is considerably more. The excess is probably due to accretion and the mistaken ascription to Bh

The Slaying of Dhumraksha* Loud in their gladness and their lust of fight Shouted the forest-host when they beheld The dreadful Rakshas coming forth to war, Dhumraksha; loud the noise of mellay clashed, Giants and Apes with tree and spear and mace Smiting their foemen. For the Giants hewed Their dread opponents earthward everywhere, And they too with the trunks of trees bore down Their monstrous foes and levelled with the dust. (Incomplete) *Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 52, 1-4. Page – 24

Mahalakshmi* In lotus-groves Thy spirit roves: where shall I find a seat for Thee ? To Thy feet's tread — feet dawn-rose red — opening my heart Thy throne shall be. All things unholy hurt Thy soul: I would become a stainless whole: 0 world's delight. All-beauty's might! unmoving house Thy grace in me. An arid heart Thou canst not bear: It is Thy will love's bonds to wear: Then by Thy sweetness' magic completeness make me Thy love's eternal sea. * Anilbaran Roy Page – 387

III The Slaying of Jarasandha Krishna pursued: “Now is the call of Fate, Fallen is Dimbhuc, fallen Hansa great, Kansa is slain and all his host; the hour At last draws nigh when Jarasandha’s power Must bow to death; yet not in violent war Is conquerable nor all the gods that are Nor the embattled Titans overwhelm: In deadly duel we must vanquish him. Conduct is mine, strength Bheem’s and in the field Arjoon who is very victory stands to shield. We will consume the Maagadh, King, believe, As three strong fires a sacrifice achieve If we three in a lonely place attain To see him, no doubt is, the King of m

ON VIRTUE Description of the Virtuous Homage to him who keeps his heart a book For stainless matters, prone great talk to prize And nearness of the good; whose faithful look Rejoices in his own dear wife, whose eyes Are humble to the Master good and wise; A passion high for learning, noble fear Of public shame who feels; treasures the still Sweet love of God; to self no minister, But schools that ravener to his lordlier will, Far from the evil herd on virtue’s hill. The Noble Nature Eloquence in the assembly; in the field The puissant arm, the lion’s heart; proud looks Unshaken in defeat; but modest-kind Mercy when v

MALAVICA  And  the  king A Play by Kalidasa in Five Acts (Rough Draft) scene:  the palace IN vidisha PERSONAGES AGNIMITRA :                                    King of Vidisha, son of Pushpamitra, Commander-in-chief and afterwards supplanter of the Maurya Dynasty in Vidisha VAHATAKA :                                     Prime Minister of Vidisha GAUTAMA                                         The Brahmin Buffoon, companion of the King GANADASA , HARADUTTA            Ministers of acting, drama and opera, the one entertained by Queen of Vidisha DHARINIE :                                        Queen of Vidisha IR

King and Devotee* The King of kings has made you a king, Your sceptre gave, your throne of gold, Man and fair maid for retinue, Your swords of sheen, your warriors bold, Your crown, your flag, your victor-pomps, High elephants and steeds of pride, The wise to counsel, the strong to serve, And queens of beauty at your side. To me He gave His alms of grace, His little wallet full of songs, His azure heavens for my robe, His earth, my nest, to me belongs. My sleeping room is His wide world, Planet and star for bulb and lamp, The King of kings who beggared

ON WISDOM Poets and Princes             Unhonoured in a State when poets dwell                         Whose fames range wider than its strong-winged birds,             Whose utterance is for grace adorable                         Of chosen speech and art of noble words,             Whose wisdom hundreds come to hear and tell;             The world that nation’s chief for dullness blames,                         For poets without wealth are rich and kings:                         When values low depreciate costly things,              ‘Tis the appraiser’s shame and not the gem’s. True Wealth             Knowledge is truest wealth,