Gitanjali

This is the Collection of Poems by Rabindranath Tagore. One of the greatest spiritual poets during the last century in India. He is well nown leader and freedom fighter who stirred the minds of Indians with his thoughts He is often remembered for his collection named gitanjali. !lthough language is in old "nglish and meaning deep we can identify the real feelings of a #piritual #ee er. I recommend this to e$erybody concerned about his spiritual de$elopment and want to judge his own e%periences. These poems are written in &engali and translated in "nglish here. 'ets #tart the (ream )ourney in #piritual *orld of Tagore+

,- TH" 'ITT'" .'/T" Thou hast made me endless0 such is thy pleasure. This frail $essel thou emptiest again and again0 and fillest it e$er with fresh life. This little flute of a reed thou hast carried o$er hills and dales0 and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new. !t the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gi$es birth to utterance ineffable. Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these $ery small hands of mine. !ges pass0 and still thou pourest0 and still there is room to fill. 1- #O2G .OR 34 'OR( *hen thou commandest me to sing it seems that my heart would brea with pride5 and I loo to thy face0 and tears come to my eyes. !ll that is harsh and dissonant in my life melts into one sweet harmony 6 and my adoration spreads wings li e a glad bird on

its flight across the sea. I now thou ta est pleasure in my singing. I now that only as a singer I come before thy presence. I touch by the edge of the far6spreading wing of my song thy feet which I could ne$er aspire to reach. (run with the joy of singing I forget myself and call thee friend who art my lord. 7- 3/#IC O. 'I." I now not how thou singest0 my master+ I e$er listen in silent ama8ement. The light of thy music illumines the world. The life breath of thy music runs from s y to s y. The holy stream of thy music brea s through all stony obstacles and rushes on. 3y heart longs to join in thy song0 but $ainly struggles for a $oice. I would spea 0 but speech brea s not into song0 and I cry out baffled. !h0 thou hast made my heart capti$e in the endless meshes of thy music0 my master+

9- P/RIT4 'ife of my life0 I shall e$er try to eep my body pure0 nowing that thy li$ing touch is upon all my limbs. I shall e$er try to eep all untruths out from my thoughts0 nowing that thou art that truth which has indled the light of reason in my mind. I shall e$er try to dri$e all e$ils away from my heart and eep my lo$e in flower0 nowing that thou hast thy seat in the inmost shrine of my heart. !nd it shall be my endea$our to re$eal thee in my actions0 nowing it is thy power gi$es me strength to act. :- 3O3"2T;# I2(/'G"2C"

I as for a moment;s indulgence to sit by thy side. The wor s that I ha$e in hand I will finish afterwards. !way from the sight of thy face my heart nows no rest nor respite0 and my wor becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil. Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs5 and the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering gro$e. 2ow it is time to sit <uite0 face to face with thee0 and to sing dedication of li$e in this silent and o$erflowing leisure. =- TH" .'O*"R Pluc this little flower and ta e it0 delay not+ I fear lest it droop and drop into the dust. I may not find a place in thy garland0 but honour it with a touch of pain from thy hand and pluc it. I fear lest the day end before I am aware0 and the time of offering go by. Though its colour be not deep and its smell be faint0 use this flower in thy ser$ice and pluc it while there is time. >- #O2G /2(R"##"( 3y song has put off her adornments. #he has no pride of dress and decoration. Ornaments would mar our union5 they would come between thee and me5 their jingling would drown thy whispers. 3y poet;s $anity dies in shame before thy sight. O master poet0 I ha$e sat down at thy feet. Only let me ma e my life simple and straight0 li e a flute of reed for thee to fill with music.

?- TH" &O2(!G" O. .I2"R4 The child who is dec ed with prince;s robes and who has jewelled chains round his nec loses all pleasure in his play5 his dress hampers him at e$ery step.

In fear that it may be frayed0 or stained with dust he eeps himself from the world0 and is afraid e$en to mo$e. 3other0 it is no gain0 thy bondage of finery0 if it eeps one shut off from the healthful dust of the earth0 if it rob one of the right of entrance to the great fair of common human life. @- TH" .OO' !2( TH" &"GG!R O .ool0 try to carry thyself upon thy own shoulders+ O beggar0 to come beg at thy own door+ 'ea$e all thy burdens on his hands who can bear all0 and ne$er loo behind in regret. Thy desire at once puts out the light from the lamp it touches with its breath. It is unholy 6 ta e not thy gifts through its unclean hands. !ccept only what is offered by sacred lo$e. ,A- TH" POOR"#T0 TH" 'O*'I"#T !2( TH" 'O#T Here is thy footstool and there rest thy feet where li$e the poorest0 and lowliest0 and lost. *hen I try to bow to thee0 my obeisance cannot reach down to the depth where thy feet rest among the poorest0 and lowliest0 and lost. Pride can ne$er approach to where thou wal est in the clothes of the humble among the poorest0 and lowliest0 and lost. 3y heart can ne$er find its way to where thou eepest company with the companionless among the poorest0 the lowliest0 and the lost. ,,- OP"2 THI2" "4"# 'ea$e this chanting and singing and telling of beads+ *hom dost thou worship in this lonely dar corner of a temple with doors all shutB Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee+ He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and where the pathma er is brea ing stones. He is with them in

sun and in shower0 and his garment is co$ered with dust. Put of thy holy mantle and e$en li e him come down on the dusty soil+ (eli$eranceB *here is this deli$erance to be foundB Our master himself has joyfully ta en upon him the bonds of creation5 he is bound with us all for e$er. Come out of thy meditations and lea$e aside thy flowers and incense+ *hat harm is there if thy clothes become tattered and stainedB 3eet him and stand by him in toil and in sweat of thy brow.

,1- (I#T!2T )O/R2"4 The time that my journey ta es is long and the way of it long. I came out on the chariot of the first gleam of light0 and pursued my $oyage through the wildernesses of worlds lea$ing my trac on many a star and planet. It is the most distant course that comes nearest to thyself0 and that training is the most intricate which leads to the utter simplicity of a tune. The tra$eller has to noc at e$ery alien door to come to his own0 and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end. 3y eyes strayed far and wide before I shut them and said CHere art thou+; The <uestion and the cry COh0 whereB; melt into tears of a thousand streams and deluge the world with the flood of the assurance CI am+; ,7- #O2G /2#/2G The song that I came to sing remains unsung to this day. I ha$e spent my days in stringing and in unstringing my instrument. The time has not come true0 the words ha$e not been rightly

set5 only there is the agony of wishing in my heart. The blossom has not opened5 only the wind is sighing by. I ha$e not seen his face0 nor ha$e I listened to his $oice5 only I ha$e heard his gentle footsteps from the road before my house. The li$elong day has passed in spreading his seat on the floor5 but the lamp has not been lit and I cannot as him into my house. I li$e in the hope of meeting with him5 but this meeting is not yet. ,9- #TRO2G 3"RC4 3y desires are many and my cry is pitiful0 but e$er didst thou sa$e me by hard refusals5 and this strong mercy has been wrought into my life through and through. (ay by day thou art ma ing me worthy of the simple0 great gifts that thou ga$est to me unas ed 6 this s y and the light0 this body and the life and the mind 6 sa$ing me from perils of o$ermuch desire. There are times when I languidly linger and times when I awa en and hurry in search of my goal5 but cruelly thou hidest thyself from before me. (ay by day thou art ma ing me worthy of thy full acceptance by refusing me e$er and anon0 sa$ing me from perils of wea 0 uncertain desire. ,:- HO2O/R 3" TO #I2G I am here to sing thee songs. In this hall of thine I ha$e a corner seat. In thy world I ha$e no wor to do5 my useless life can only brea out in tunes without a purpose. *hen the hour stri es for thy silent worship at the dar temple of midnight0 command me0 my master0 to stand before thee to sing.

*hen in the morning air the golden harp is tuned0 honour me0 commanding my presence. ,=- TH" I2DIT!TIO2 I ha$e had my in$itation to this world;s festi$al0 and thus my life has been blessed. 3y eyes ha$e seen and my ears ha$e heard. It was my part at this feast to play upon my instrument0 and I ha$e done all I could. 2ow0 I as 0 has the time come at last when I may go in and see thy face and offer thee my silent salutationB ,>- *!ITI2G .OR 'OD" I am only waiting for lo$e to gi$e myself up at last into his hands. That is why it is so late and why I ha$e been guilty of such omissions. They come with their laws and their codes to bind me fast5 but I e$ade them e$er0 for I am only waiting for lo$e to gi$e myself up at last into his hands. People blame me and call me heedless5 I doubt not they are right in their blame. The mar et day is o$er and wor is all done for the busy. Those who came to call me in $ain ha$e gone bac in anger. I am only waiting for lo$e to gi$e myself up at last into his hands. ,?- (!RE"2I2G #EI"# Clouds heap upon clouds and it dar ens. !h0 lo$e0 why dost thou let me wait outside at the door all aloneB In the busy moments of the noontide wor I am with the crowd0 but on this dar lonely day it is only for thee that I hope. If thou showest me not thy face0 if thou lea$est me wholly aside0 I now not how I am to pass these long0 rainy hours.

I eep ga8ing on the far6away gloom of the s y0 and my heart wanders wailing with the restless wind. ,@- P!TI"2C" If thou spea est not I will fill my heart with thy silence and endure it. I will eep still and wait li e the night with starry $igil and its head bent low with patience. The morning will surely come0 the dar ness will $anish0 and thy $oice pour down in golden streams brea ing through the s y. Then thy words will ta e wing in songs from e$ery one of my birds; nests0 and thy melodies will brea forth in flowers in all my forest gro$es. 1A- TH" 'OT/# .'O*"R On the day when the lotus bloomed0 alas0 my mind was straying0 and I new it not. 3y bas et was empty and the flower remained unheeded. Only now and again a sadness fell upon me0 and I started up from my dream and felt a sweet trace of a strange fragrance in the south wind. That $ague sweetness made my heart ache with longing and it seemed to me that is was the eager breath of the summer see ing for its completion. I new not then that it was so near0 that it was mine0 and that this perfect sweetness had blossomed in the depth of my own heart. 1,- !/T/32;# &O!T I must launch out my boat. The languid hours pass by on the shore 6 !las for me+ The spring has done its flowering and ta en lea$e. !nd now with the burden of faded futile flowers I wait and linger.

The wa$es ha$e become clamorous0 and upon the ban in the shady lane the yellow lea$es flutter and fall. *hat emptiness do you ga8e upon+ (o you not feel a thrill passing through the air with the notes of the far6away song floating from the other shoreB 11- )/'4 In the deep shadows of the rainy )uly0 with secret steps0 thou wal est0 silent as night0 eluding all watchers. Today the morning has closed its eyes0 heedless of the insistent calls of the loud east wind0 and a thic $eil has been drawn o$er the e$er6wa eful blue s y. The woodlands ha$e hushed their songs0 and doors are all shut at e$ery house. Thou art the solitary wayfarer in this deserted street. Oh my only friend0 my best belo$ed0 the gates are open in my house 6 do not pass by li e a dream.

17- 34 .RI"2( !rt thou abroad on this stormy night on thy journey of lo$e0 my friendB The s y groans li e one in despair. I ha$e no sleep tonight. "$er and again I open my door and loo out on the dar ness0 my friend+ I can see nothing before me. I wonder where lies thy path+ &y what dim shore of the in 6blac ri$er0 by what far edge of the frowning forest0 through what ma8y depth of gloom art thou threading thy course to come to me0 my friendB 19- *H"2 (!4 I# (O2" If the day is done0 if birds sing no more0 if the wind has flagged tired0 then draw the $eil of dar ness thic upon me0 e$en as thou hast wrapt the earth with the co$erlet of sleep and

tenderly closed the petals of the drooping lotus at dus . .rom the tra$eller0 whose sac of pro$isions is empty before the $oyage is ended0 whose garment is torn and dustladen0 whose strength is e%hausted0 remo$e shame and po$erty0 and renew his life li e a flower under the co$er of thy indly night. 1:- &'"##"( #'""P In the night of weariness let me gi$e myself up to sleep without struggle0 resting my trust upon thee. 'et me not force my flagging spirit into a poor preparation for thy worship. It is thou who drawest the $eil of night upon the tired eyes of the day to renew its sight in a fresher gladness of awa ening. 1=- C/R#"( #'""P He came and sat by my side but I wo e not. *hat a cursed sleep it was0 O miserable me+ He came when the night was still5 he had his harp in his hands0 and my dreams became resonant with its melodies. !las0 why are my nights all thus lostB !h0 why do I e$er miss his sight whose breath touches my sleepB

1>- '!3P O. 'OD" 'ight0 oh where is the lightB Eindle it with the burning fire of desire+ There is the lamp but ne$er a flic er of a flame 6 is such thy fate0 my heartB !h0 death were better by far for thee+ 3isery noc s at thy door0 and her message is that thy lord is

wa eful0 and he calls thee to the lo$e6tryst through the dar ness of night. The s y is o$ercast with clouds and the rain is ceaseless. I now not what this is that stirs in me 6 I now not its meaning. ! moment;s flash of lightning drags down a deeper gloom on my sight0 and my heart gropes for the path to where the music of the night calls me. 'ight0 oh where is the light+ Eindle it with the burning fire of desire+ It thunders and the wind rushes screaming through the $oid. The night is blac as a blac stone. 'et not the hours pass by in the dar . Eindle the lamp of lo$e with thy life. 1?- .R""(O3 Obstinate are the trammels0 but my heart aches when I try to brea them. .reedom is all I want0 but to hope for it I feel ashamed. I am certain that priceless wealth is in thee0 and that thou art my best friend0 but I ha$e not the heart to sweep away the tinsel that fills my room The shroud that co$ers me is a shroud of dust and death5 I hate it0 yet hug it in lo$e. 3y debts are large0 my failures great0 my shame secret and hea$y5 yet when I come to as for my good0 I <ua e in fear lest my prayer be granted. 1@- 34 (/2G"O2 He whom I enclose with my name is weeping in this dungeon. I am e$er busy building this wall all around5 and as this wall goes up into the s y day by day I lose sight of my true being in its dar shadow. I ta e pride in this great wall0 and I plaster it with dust and sand lest a least hole should be left in this name5 and for all the care I ta e I lose sight of my true being.

7A- 34 #TR!2G"R #"'. I came out alone on my way to my tryst. &ut who is this that follows me in the silent dar B I mo$e aside to a$oid his presence but I escape him not. He ma es the dust rise from the earth with his swagger5 he adds his loud $oice to e$ery word that I utter. He is my own little self0 my lord0 he nows no shame5 but I am ashamed to come to thy door in his company. 7,- TH" PRI#O2"R CPrisoner0 tell me0 who was it that bound youB; CIt was my master0; said the prisoner. CI thought I could outdo e$erybody in the world in wealth and power0 and I amassed in my own treasure6house the money due to my ing. *hen sleep o$ercame me I lay upon the bad that was for my lord0 and on wa ing up I found I was a prisoner in my own treasure6house.; CPrisoner0 tell me0 who was it that wrought this unbrea able chainB; CIt was I0; said the prisoner0 Cwho forged this chain $ery carefully. I thought my in$incible power would hold the world capti$e lea$ing me in a freedom undisturbed. Thus night and day I wor ed at the chain with huge fires and cruel hard stro es. *hen at last the wor was done and the lin s were complete and unbrea able0 I found that it held me in its grip.; 71- .R"" 'OD" &y all means they try to hold me secure who lo$e me in this

world. &ut it is otherwise with thy lo$e which is greater than theirs0 and thou eepest me free. 'est I forget them they ne$er $enture to lea$e me alone. &ut day passes by after day and thou art not seen. If I call not thee in my prayers0 if I eep not thee in my heart0 thy lo$e for me still waits for my lo$e. 77- GR""( *hen it was day they came into my house and said0 C*e shall only ta e the smallest room here.; They said0 C*e shall help you in the worship of your God and humbly accept only our own share in his grace;5 and then they too their seat in a corner and they sat <uiet and mee . &ut in the dar ness of night I find they brea into my sacred shrine0 strong and turbulent0 and snatch with unholy greed the offerings from God;s altar.

79- 'ITT'" O. 3" 'et only that little be left of me whereby I may name thee my all. 'et only that little be left of my will whereby I may feel thee on e$ery side0 and come to thee in e$erything0 and offer to thee my lo$e e$ery moment. 'et only that little be left of me whereby I may ne$er hide thee. 'et only that little of my fetters be left whereby I am bound with thy will0 and thy purpose is carried out in my life 6 and that is the fetter of thy lo$e. 7:- 3I2( *ITHO/T ."!R *here the mind is without fear and the head is held high5 *here nowledge is free5 *here the world has not been bro en up into fragments by

narrow domestic walls5 *here words come out from the depth of truth5 *here tireless stri$ing stretches its arms towards perfection5 *here the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit5 *here the mind is led forward by thee into e$er6widening thought and action 6 Into that hea$en of freedom0 my .ather0 let my country awa e.

7=- GID" 3" #TR"2GTH This is my prayer to thee0 my lord 6 stri e0 stri e at the root of penury in my heart. Gi$e me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows. Gi$e me the strength to ma e my lo$e fruitful in ser$ice. Gi$e me the strength ne$er to disown the poor or bend my nees before insolent might. Gi$e me the strength to raise my mind high abo$e daily trifles. !nd gi$e me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will with lo$e.

7>- I2.I2IT" DO4!G" I thought that my $oyage had come to its end at the last limit of my power0 6 that the path before me was closed0 that pro$isions were e%hausted and the time come to ta e shelter in a silent obscurity. &ut I find that thy will nows no end in me. !nd when old

words die out on the tongue0 new melodies brea forth from the heart5 and where the old trac s are lost0 new country is re$ealed with its wonders. 7?- O2'4 TH"" I *!2T That I want thee0 only thee 6 let my heart repeat without end. !ll desires that distract me0 day and night0 are false and empty to the core. !s the night eeps hidden in its gloom the petition for light0 e$en thus in the depth of my unconsciousness rings the cry 6 CI want thee0 only thee;. !s the storm still see s its end in peace when it stri es against peace with all its might0 e$en thus my rebellion stri es against thy lo$e and still its cry is 6 CI want thee0 only thee;. 7@- #"T 3" .R"" *hen the heart is hard and parched up0 come upon me with a shower of mercy. *hen grace is lost from life0 come with a burst of song. *hen tumultuous wor raises its din on all sides shutting me out from beyond0 come to me0 my lord of silence0 with thy peace and rest. *hen my beggarly heart sits crouched0 shut up in a corner0 brea open the door0 my ing0 and come with the ceremony of a ing. *hen desire blinds the mind with delusion and dust0 O thou holy one0 thou wa eful0 come with thy light and thy thunder. 9A- #TOR3# The rain has held bac for days and days0 my God0 in my arid heart. The hori8on is fiercely na ed 6 not the thinnest co$er of a soft cloud0 not the $aguest hint of a distant cool shower. #end thy angry storm0 dar with death0 if it is thy wish0 and with lashes of lightning startle the s y from end to end.

&ut call bac 0 my lord0 call bac this per$ading silent heat0 still and een and cruel0 burning the heart with dire despair. 'et the cloud of grace bend low from abo$e li e the tearful loo of the mother on the day of the father;s wrath. 9,- TH" CO3I2G *here dost thou stand behind them all0 my lo$er0 hiding thyself in the shadowsB They push thee and pass thee by on the dusty road0 ta ing thee for naught. I wait here weary hours spreading my offerings for thee0 while passers6by come and ta e my flowers0 one by one0 and my bas et is nearly empty. The morning time is past0 and the noon. In the shade of e$ening my eyes are drowsy with sleep. 3en going home glance at me and smile and fill me with shame. I sit li e a beggar maid0 drawing my s irt o$er my face0 and when they as me0 what it is I want0 I drop my eyes and answer them not. Oh0 how0 indeed0 could I tell them that for thee I wait0 and that thou hast promised to come. How could I utter for shame that I eep for my dowry this po$erty. !h0 I hug this pride in the secret of my heart. I sit on the grass and ga8e upon the s y and dream of the sudden splendour of thy coming 6 all the lights abla8e0 golden pennons flying o$er thy car0 and they at the roadside standing agape0 when they see thee come down from thy seat to raise me from the dust0 and set at thy side this ragged beggar girl a6 tremble with shame and pride0 li e a creeper in a summer bree8e. &ut time glides on and still no sound of the wheels of thy chariot. 3any a procession passes by with noise and shouts and glamour of glory. Is it only thou who wouldst stand in the shadow silent and behind them allB !nd only I who would wait and weep and wear out my heart in $ain longingB 91- #!I' !*!4 "arly in the day it was whispered that we should sail in a boat0 only thou and I0 and ne$er a soul in the world would now of this our pilgrimage to no country and to no end.

In that shoreless ocean0 at thy silently listening smile my songs would swell in melodies0 free as wa$es0 free from all bondage of words. Is the time not come yetB !re there wor s still to doB 'o0 the e$ening has come down upon the shore and in the fading light the seabirds come flying to their nests. *ho nows when the chains will be off0 and the boat0 li e the last glimmer of sunset0 $anish into the nightB 97- #IG2"T O. "T"R2IT4 The day was when I did not eep myself in readiness for thee5 and entering my heart unbidden e$en as one of the common crowd0 un nown to me0 my ing0 thou didst press the signet of eternity upon many a fleeting moment of my life. !nd today when by chance I light upon them and see thy signature0 I find they ha$e lain scattered in the dust mi%ed with the memory of joys and sorrows of my tri$ial days forgotten. Thou didst not turn in contempt from my childish play among dust0 and the steps that I heard in my playroom are the same that are echoing from star to star. 99- *H"R" #H!(O* CH!#"# 'IGHT This is my delight0 thus to wait and watch at the wayside where shadow chases light and the rain comes in the wa e of the summer. 3essengers0 with tidings from un nown s ies0 greet me and speed along the road. 3y heart is glad within0 and the breath of the passing bree8e is sweet. .rom dawn till dus I sit here before my door0 and I now that of a sudden the happy moment will arri$e when I shall see. In the meanwhile I smile and I sing all alone. In the meanwhile the air is filling with the perfume of promise. 9:- #I'"2T #T"P#

Ha$e you not heard his silent stepsB He comes0 comes0 e$er comes. "$ery moment and e$ery age0 e$ery day and e$ery night he comes0 comes0 e$er comes. 3any a song ha$e I sung in many a mood of mind0 but all their notes ha$e always proclaimed0 CHe comes0 comes0 e$er comes.; In the fragrant days of sunny !pril through the forest path he comes0 comes0 e$er comes. In the rainy gloom of )uly nights on the thundering chariot of clouds he comes0 comes0 e$er comes. In sorrow after sorrow it is his steps that press upon my heart0 and it is the golden touch of his feet that ma es my joy to shine. 9=- (I#T!2T TI3" I now not from what distant time thou art e$er coming nearer to meet me. Thy sun and stars can ne$er eep thee hidden from me for aye. In many a morning and e$e thy footsteps ha$e been heard and thy messenger has come within my heart and called me in secret. I now not only why today my life is all astir0 and a feeling of tremulous joy is passing through my heart. It is as if the time were come to wind up my wor 0 and I feel in the air a faint smell of thy sweet presence.

9>- PR"CIO/# #'""P The night is nearly spent waiting for him in $ain. I fear lest in the morning he suddenly come to my door when I ha$e fallen

asleep wearied out. Oh friends0 lea$e the way open to him 6 forbid him not. If the sounds of his steps does not wa e me0 do not try to rouse me0 I pray. I wish not to be called from my sleep by the clamorous choir of birds0 by the riot of wind at the festi$al of morning light. 'et me sleep undisturbed e$en if my lord comes of a sudden to my door. !h0 my sleep0 precious sleep0 which only waits for his touch to $anish. !h0 my closed eyes that would open their lids only to the light of his smile when he stands before me li e a dream emerging from dar ness of sleep. 'et him appear before my sight as the first of all lights and all forms. The first thrill of joy to my awa ened soul let it come from his glance. !nd let my return to myself be immediate return to him. 9?- TH" )O/R2"4 The morning sea of silence bro e into ripples of bird songs5 and the flowers were all merry by the roadside5 and the wealth of gold was scattered through the rift of the clouds while we busily went on our way and paid no heed. *e sang no glad songs nor played5 we went not to the $illage for barter5 we spo e not a word nor smiled5 we lingered not on the way. *e <uic ened our pace more and more as the time sped by. The sun rose to the mid s y and do$es cooed in the shade. *ithered lea$es danced and whirled in the hot air of noon. The shepherd boy drowsed and dreamed in the shadow of the banyan tree0 and I laid myself down by the water and stretched my tired limbs on the grass. 3y companions laughed at me in scorn5 they held their heads high and hurried on5 they ne$er loo ed bac nor rested5 they $anished in the distant blue ha8e. They crossed many meadows and hills0 and passed through strange0 far6away countries. !ll honour to you0 heroic host of the interminable path+ 3oc ery and reproach pric ed me to rise0 but found no response in me. I ga$e myself up for lost in the depth of a glad humiliation 6 in the shadow of a dim delight.

The repose of the sun6embroidered green gloom slowly spread o$er my heart. I forgot for what I had tra$elled0 and I surrendered my mind without struggle to the ma8e of shadows and songs. !t last0 when I wo e from my slumber and opened my eyes0 I saw thee standing by me0 flooding my sleep with thy smile. How I had feared that the path was long and wearisome0 and the struggle to reach thee was hard+

9@- 34 COTT!G" (OOR 4ou came down from your throne and stood at my cottage door. I was singing all alone in a corner0 and the melody caught your ear. 4ou came down and stood at my cottage door. 3asters are many in your hall0 and songs are sung there at all hours. &ut the simple carol of this no$ice struc at your lo$e. One plainti$e little strain mingled with the great music of the world0 and with a flower for a pri8e you came down and stopped at my cottage door. :A- TH" P!R!&'" O. GIDI2G I had gone a6begging from door to door in the $illage path0 when thy golden chariot appeared in the distance li e a gorgeous dream and I wondered who was this Eing of all ings+ 3y hopes rose high and methought my e$il days were at an end0 and I stood waiting for alms to be gi$en unas ed and for wealth scattered on all sides in the dust. The chariot stopped where I stood. Thy glance fell on me and thou camest down with a smile. I felt that the luc of my life had come at last. Then of a sudden thou didst hold out thy right hand and say C*hat hast thou to gi$e to meB;

!h0 what a ingly jest was it to open thy palm to a beggar to beg+ I was confused and stood undecided0 and then from my wallet I slowly too out the least little grain of corn and ga$e it to thee. &ut how great my surprise when at the day;s end I emptied my bag on the floor to find a least little gram of gold among the poor heap. I bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to gi$e thee my all. :,- TH" CO3I2G O. TH" EI2G The night dar ened. Our day;s wor s had been done. *e thought that the last guest had arri$ed for the night and the doors in the $illage were all shut. Only some said the ing was to come. *e laughed and said C2o0 it cannot be+; It seemed there were noc s at the door and we said it was nothing but the wind. *e put out the lamps and lay down to sleep. Only some said0 CIt is the messenger+; *e laughed and said C2o0 it must be the wind+; There came a sound in the dead of the night. *e sleepily thought it was the distant thunder. The earth shoo 0 the walls roc ed0 and it troubled us in our sleep. Only some said it was the sound of wheels. *e said in a drowsy murmur0 C2o0 it must be the rumbling of clouds+; The night was still dar when the drum sounded. The $oice came C*a e up+ delay not+; *e pressed our hands on our hearts and shuddered with fear. #ome said0 C'o0 there is the ing;s flag+; *e stood up on our feet and cried CThere is no time for delay+; The ing has come 6 but where are lights0 where are wreathsB *here is the throne to seat himB Oh0 shame+ Oh utter shame+ *here is the hall0 the decorationsB #omeone has said0 CDain is this cry+ Greet him with empty hands0 lead him into thy rooms all bare+; Open the doors0 let the conch6shells be sounded+ in the depth of the night has come the ing of our dar 0 dreary house. The thunder roars in the s y. The dar ness shudders with lightning. &ring out thy tattered piece of mat and spread it in the courtyard. *ith the storm has come of a sudden our ing

of the fearful night. :1- TH" #*OR( I thought I should as of thee 6 but I dared not 6 the rose wreath thou hadst on thy nec . Thus I waited for the morning0 when thou didst depart0 to find a few fragments on the bed. !nd li e a beggar I searched in the dawn only for a stray petal or two. !h me0 what is it I findB *hat to en left of thy lo$eB It is no flower0 no spices0 no $ase of perfumed water. It is thy mighty sword0 flashing as a flame0 hea$y as a bolt of thunder. The young light of morning comes through the window and spread itself upon thy bed. The morning bird twitters and as s0 C*oman0 what hast thou gotB; 2o0 it is no flower0 nor spices0 nor $ase of perfumed water 6 it is thy dreadful sword. I sit and muse in wonder0 what gift is this of thine. I can find no place to hide it. I am ashamed to wear it0 frail as I am0 and it hurts me when press it to my bosom. 4et shall I bear in my heart this honour of the burden of pain0 this gift of thine. .rom now there shall be no fear left for me in this world0 and thou shalt be $ictorious in all my strife. Thou hast left death for my companion and I shall crown him with my life. Thy sword is with me to cut asunder my bonds0 and there shall be no fear left for me in the world. .rom now I lea$e off all petty decorations. 'ord of my heart0 no more shall there be for me waiting and weeping in corners0 no more coyness and sweetness of demeanour. Thou hast gi$en me thy sword for adornment. 2o more doll;s decorations for me+ :7- DI#H2/ &eautiful is thy wristlet0 dec ed with stars and cunningly wrought in myriad6coloured jewels. &ut more beautiful to me thy sword with its cur$e of lightning li e the outspread wings of the di$ine bird of Dishnu0 perfectly poised in the angry red light of the sunset. It <ui$ers li e the one last response of life in ecstasy of pain at the final stro e of death5 it shines li e the pure flame of being burning up earthly sense with one fierce flash.

&eautiful is thy wristlet0 dec ed with starry gems5 but thy sword0 O lord of thunder0 is wrought with uttermost beauty0 terrible to behold or thin of. :9- *!T"R I as ed nothing from thee5 I uttered not my name to thine ear. *hen thou too ;st thy lea$e I stood silent. I was alone by the well where the shadow of the tree fell aslant0 and the women had gone home with their brown earthen pitchers full to the brim. They called me and shouted0 CCome with us0 the morning is wearing on to noon.; &ut I languidly lingered awhile lost in the midst of $ague musings. I heard not thy steps as thou camest. Thine eyes were sad when they fell on me5 thy $oice was tired as thou spo est low 6 C!h0 I am a thirsty tra$eller.; I started up from my day6dreams and poured water from my jar on thy joined palms. The lea$es rustled o$erhead5 the cuc oo sang from the unseen dar 0 and perfume of babla flowers came from the bend of the road. I stood speechless with shame when my name thou didst as . Indeed0 what had I done for thee to eep me in remembranceB &ut the memory that I could gi$e water to thee to allay thy thirst will cling to my heart and enfold it in sweetness. The morning hour is late0 the bird sings in weary notes0 neem lea$es rustle o$erhead and I sit and thin and thin . ::- *!E"0 OH !*!E"2+ 'anguor is upon your heart and the slumber is still on your eyes. Has not the word come to you that the flower is reigning in splendour among thornsB *a e0 oh awa en+ let not the time pass in $ain+ !t the end of the stony path0 in the country of $irgin solitude0 my friend is sitting all alone. (ecei$e him not. *a e0 oh awa en+ *hat if the s y pants and trembles with the heat of the midday sun 6 what if the burning sand spreads its mantle of thirst 6

Is there no joy in the deep of your heartB !t e$ery footfall of yours0 will not the harp of the road brea out in sweet music of painB :=- 34 P!RT2"R TH" 'OR( Thus it is that thy joy in me is so full. Thus it is that thou hast come down to me. O thou lord of all hea$ens0 where would be thy lo$e if I were notB Thou hast ta en me as thy partner of all this wealth. In my heart is the endless play of thy delight. In my life thy will is e$er ta ing shape. !nd for this0 thou who art the Eing of ings hast dec ed thyself in beauty to capti$ate my heart. !nd for this thy lo$e loses itself in the lo$e of thy lo$er0 and there art thou seen in the perfect union of two. :>- 'IGHT 'ight0 my light0 the world6filling light0 the eye6 issing light0 heart6sweetening light+ !h0 the light dances0 my darling0 at the centre of my life5 the light stri es0 my darling0 the chords of my lo$e5 the s y opens0 the wind runs wild0 laughter passes o$er the earth. The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. 'ilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the wa$es of light. The light is shattered into gold on e$ery cloud0 my darling0 and it scatters gems in profusion. 3irth spreads from leaf to leaf0 my darling0 and gladness without measure. The hea$en;s ri$er has drowned its ban s and the flood of joy is abroad. :?- )O4 'et all the strains of joy mingle in my last song 6 the joy that ma es the earth flow o$er in the riotous e%cess of the grass0 the joy that sets the twin brothers0 life and death0 dancing o$er the wide world0 the joy that sweeps in with the tempest0 sha ing

and wa ing all life with laughter0 the joy that sits still with its tears on the open red lotus of pain0 and the joy that throws e$erything it has upon the dust0 and nows not a word. :@- P!##I2G &R""F" 4es0 I now0 this is nothing but thy lo$e0 O belo$ed of my heart 6 this golden light that dances upon the lea$es0 these idle clouds sailing across the s y0 this passing bree8e lea$ing its coolness upon my forehead. The morning light has flooded my eyes 6 this is thy message to my heart. Thy face is bent from abo$e0 thy eyes loo down on my eyes0 and my heart has touched thy feet. =A- #"!#HOR" On the seashore of endless worlds children meet. The infinite s y is motionless o$erhead and the restless water is boisterous. On the seashore of endless worlds the children meet with shouts and dances. They build their houses with sand and they play with empty shells. *ith withered lea$es they wea$e their boats and smilingly float them on the $ast deep. Children ha$e their play on the seashore of worlds. They now not how to swim0 they now not how to cast nets. Pearl fishers di$e for pearls0 merchants sail in their ships0 while children gather pebbles and scatter them again. they see not for hidden treasures0 they now not how to cast nets. The sea surges up with laughter and pale gleams the smile of the sea beach. (eath6dealing wa$es sing meaningless ballads to the children0 e$en li e a mother while roc ing her baby;s cradle. The sea plays with children0 and pale gleams the smile of the sea beach. On the seashore of endless worlds children meet. Tempest roams in the pathless s y0 ships get wrec ed in the trac less water0 death is abroad and children play. On the seashore of endless worlds is the great meeting of children. =,- ! &!&4 #'""P#

The sleep that flits on baby;s eyes 6 does anybody now from where it comesB 4es0 there is a rumour that it has its dwelling where0 in the fairy $illage among shadows of the forest dimly lit with glow6worms0 there hang two timid buds of enchantment. .rom there it comes to iss baby;s eyes. The smile that flic ers on baby;s lips when he sleeps 6 does anybody now where it was bornB 4es0 there is a rumour that a young pale beam of a crescent moon touched the edge of a $anishing autumn cloud0 and there the smile was first born in the dream of a dew6washed morning 6 the smile that flic ers on baby;s lips when he sleeps. The sweet0 soft freshness that blooms on baby;s limbs 6 does anybody now where it was hidden so longB 4es0 when the mother was a young girl it lay per$ading her heart in tender and silent mystery of lo$e 6 the sweet0 soft freshness that has bloomed on baby;s limbs. =1- I GID" TO 4O/ *hen I bring to you coloured toys0 my child0 I understand why there is such a play of colours on clouds0 on water0 and why flowers are painted in tints 6 when I gi$e coloured toys to you0 my child. *hen I sing to ma e you dance I truly now why there is music in lea$es0 and why wa$es send their chorus of $oices to the heart of the listening earth 6 when I sing to ma e you dance. *hen I bring sweet things to your greedy hands I now why there is honey in the cup of the flowers and why fruits are secretly filled with sweet juice 6 when I bring sweet things to your greedy hands. *hen I iss your face to ma e you smile0 my darling0 I surely understand what pleasure streams from the s y in morning light0 and what delight that is which the summer bree8e brings to my body 6 when I iss you to ma e you smile. =7- O'( !2( 2"* Thou hast made me nown to friends whom I new not. Thou

hast gi$en me seats in homes not my own. Thou hast brought the distant near and made a brother of the stranger. I am uneasy at heart when I ha$e to lea$e my accustomed shelter5 I forget that there abides the old in the new0 and that there also thou abidest. Through birth and death0 in this world or in others0 where$er thou leadest me it is thou0 the same0 the one companion of my endless life who e$er lin est my heart with bonds of joy to the unfamiliar. *hen one nows thee0 then alien there is none0 then no door is shut. Oh0 grant me my prayer that I may ne$er lose the bliss of the touch of the one in the play of many. =9- TH" 3!I("2;# '!3P On the slope of the desolate ri$er among tall grasses I as ed her0 C3aiden0 where do you go shading your lamp with your mantleB 3y house is all dar and lonesome 6 lend me your light+; she raised her dar eyes for a moment and loo ed at my face through the dus . CI ha$e come to the ri$er0; she said0 Cto float my lamp on the stream when the daylight wanes in the west.; I stood alone among tall grasses and watched the timid flame of her lamp uselessly drifting in the tide. In the silence of gathering night I as ed her0 C3aiden0 your lights are all lit 6 then where do you go with your lampB 3y house is all dar and lonesome 6 lend me your light.; #he raised her dar eyes on my face and stood for a moment doubtful. CI ha$e come0; she said at last0 Cto dedicate my lamp to the s y.; I stood and watched her light uselessly burning in the $oid. In the moonless gloom of midnight I as her0 C3aiden0 what is your <uest0 holding the lamp near your heartB 3y house is all dar and lonesome 6 lend me your light.; #he stopped for a minute and thought and ga8ed at my face in the dar . CI ha$e brought my light0; she said0 Cto join the carni$al of lamps.; I stood and watched her little lamp uselessly lost among lights. =:- TH" C/P O. 'I." *hat di$ine drin wouldst thou ha$e0 my God0 from this o$erflowing cup of my lifeB

3y poet0 is it thy delight to see thy creation through my eyes and to stand at the portals of my ears silently to listen to thine own eternal harmonyB Thy world is wea$ing words in my mind and thy joy is adding music to them. Thou gi$est thyself to me in lo$e and then feelest thine own entire sweetness in me. ==- TH" *O3!2 I2 34 #O/' #he who e$er had remained in the depth of my being0 in the twilight of gleams and of glimpses5 she who ne$er opened her $eils in the morning light0 will be my last gift to thee0 my God0 folded in my final song. *ords ha$e wooed yet failed to win her5 persuasion has stretched to her its eager arms in $ain. I ha$e roamed from country to country eeping her in the core of my heart0 and around her ha$e risen and fallen the growth and decay of my life. O$er my thoughts and actions0 my slumbers and dreams0 she reigned yet dwelled alone and apart. 3any a man noc ed at my door and as ed for her and turned away in despair. There was none in the world who e$er saw her face to face0 and she remained in her loneliness waiting for thy recognition. =>- 2"D"R ! *OR( Thou art the s y and thou art the nest as well. O thou beautiful0 there in the nest is thy lo$e that encloses the soul with colours and sounds and odours. There comes the morning with the golden bas et in her right hand bearing the wreath of beauty0 silently to crown the earth. !nd there comes the e$ening o$er the lonely meadows deserted by herds0 through trac less paths0 carrying cool draughts of

peace in her golden pitcher from the western ocean of rest. &ut there0 where spreads the infinite s y for the soul to ta e her flight in0 reigns the stainless white radiance. There is no day nor night0 nor form nor colour0 and ne$er0 ne$er a word. =?- TH" #/2&"!3 Thy sunbeam comes upon this earth of mine with arms outstretched and stands at my door the li$elong day to carry bac to thy feet clouds made of my tears and sighs and songs. *ith fond delight thou wrappest about thy starry breast that mantle of misty cloud0 turning it into numberless shapes and folds and colouring it with hues e$erchanging. It is so light and so fleeting0 tender and tearful and dar 0 that is why thou lo$est it0 O thou spotless and serene. !nd that is why it may co$er thy awful white light with its pathetic shadows. =@- #TR"!3 O. 'I." The same stream of life that runs through my $eins night and day runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth in numberless blades of grass and brea s into tumultuous wa$es of lea$es and flowers. It is the same life that is roc ed in the ocean6cradle of birth and of death0 in ebb and in flow. I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life. !nd my pride is from the life6throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment. >A- PROGR"##IO2 Is it beyond thee to be glad with the gladness of this rhythmB To be tossed and lost and bro en in the whirl of this fearful joyB

!ll things rush on0 they stop not0 they loo not behind0 no power can hold them bac 0 they rush on. Eeeping steps with that restless0 rapid music0 seasons come dancing and pass away 6 colours0 tunes0 and perfumes pour in endless cascades in the abounding joy that scatters and gi$es up and dies e$ery moment. >,- 3!4! That I should ma e much of myself and turn it on all sides0 thus casting coloured shadows on thy radiance 6 such is thy maya. Thou settest a barrier in thine own being and then callest thy se$ered self in myriad notes. This thy self6separation has ta en body in me. The poignant song is echoed through all the s y in many6 coloured tears and smiles0 alarms and hopes5 wa$es rise up and sin again0 dreams brea and form. In me is thy own defeat of self. This screen that thou hast raised is painted with innumerable figures with the brush of the night and the day. &ehind it thy seat is wo$en in wondrous mysteries of cur$es0 casting away all barren lines of straightness. The great pageant of thee and me has o$erspread the s y. *ith the tune of thee and me all the air is $ibrant0 and all ages pass with the hiding and see ing of thee and me. >1- TH" I22"R3O#T O2" He it is0 the innermost one0 who awa ens my being with his deep hidden touches. He it is who puts his enchantment upon these eyes and joyfully plays on the chords of my heart in $aried cadence of pleasure and pain. He it is who wea$es the web of this maya in e$anescent hues of gold and sil$er0 blue and green0 and lets peep out through the folds his feet0 at whose touch I forget myself.

(ays come and ages pass0 and it is e$er he who mo$es my heart in many a name0 in many a guise0 in many a rapture of joy and of sorrow. >7- #"2#"# (eli$erance is not for me in renunciation. I feel the embrace of freedom in a thousand bonds of delight. Thou e$er pourest for me the fresh draught of thy wine of $arious colours and fragrance0 filling this earthen $essel to the brim. 3y world will light its hundred different lamps with thy flame and place them before the altar of thy temple. 2o0 I will ne$er shut the doors of my senses. The delights of sight and hearing and touch will bear thy delight. 4es0 all my illusions will burn into illumination of joy0 and all my desires ripen into fruits of lo$e. >9- "D"2TI(" The day is no more0 the shadow is upon the earth. It is time that I go to the stream to fill my pitcher. The e$ening air is eager with the sad music of the water. !h0 it calls me out into the dus . In the lonely lane there is no passer6 by0 the wind is up0 the ripples are rampant in the ri$er. I now not if I shall come bac home. I now not whom I shall chance to meet. There at the fording in the little boat the un nown man plays upon his lute. >:- 3"!2I2G# Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our needs and yet run bac to thee undiminished. The ri$er has its e$eryday wor to do and hastens through fields and hamlets5 yet its incessant stream winds towards the washing of thy feet.

The flower sweetens the air with its perfume5 yet its last ser$ice is to offer itself to thee. Thy worship does not impo$erish the world. .rom the words of the poet men ta e what meanings please them5 yet their last meaning points to thee. >=- .!C" TO .!C" (ay after day0 O lord of my life0 shall I stand before thee face to face. *ith folded hands0 O lord of all worlds0 shall I stand before thee face to face. /nder thy great s y in solitude and silence0 with humble heart shall I stand before thee face to face. In this laborious world of thine0 tumultuous with toil and with struggle0 among hurrying crowds shall I stand before thee face to face. !nd when my wor shall be done in this world0 O Eing of ings0 alone and speechless shall I stand before thee face to face. >>- &ROTH"R O. 34 &ROTH"R# I now thee as my God and stand apart 6 I do not now thee as my own and come closer. I now thee as my father and bow before thy feet 6 I do not grasp thy hand as my friend;s. I stand not where thou comest down and ownest thyself as mine0 there to clasp thee to my heart and ta e thee as my comrade. Thou art the &rother amongst my brothers0 but I heed them not0 I di$ide not my earnings with them0 thus sharing my all with thee. In pleasure and in pain I stand not by the side of men0 and thus stand by thee. I shrin to gi$e up my life0 and thus do not plunge into the great waters of life. >?- TH" 'O#T #T!R

*hen the creation was new and all the stars shone in their first splendour0 the gods held their assembly in the s y and sang COh0 the picture of perfection+ the joy unalloyed+; &ut one cried of a sudden 6 CIt seems that somewhere there is a brea in the chain of light and one of the stars has been lost.; The golden string of their harp snapped0 their song stopped0 and they cried in dismay 6 C4es0 that lost star was the best0 she was the glory of all hea$ens+; .rom that day the search is unceasing for her0 and the cry goes on from one to the other that in her the world has lost its one joy+ Only in the deepest silence of night the stars smile and whisper among themsel$es 6 CDain is this see ing+ unbro en perfection is o$er all+; >@- '"T 3" 2OT .ORG"T If it is not my portion to meet thee in this life then let me e$er feel that I ha$e missed thy sight 6 let me not forget for a moment0 let me carry the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in my wa eful hours. !s my days pass in the crowded mar et of this world and my hands grow full with the daily profits0 let me e$er feel that I ha$e gained nothing 6 let me not forget for a moment0 let me carry the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in my wa eful hours. *hen I sit by the roadside0 tired and panting0 when I spread my bed low in the dust0 let me e$er feel that the long journey is still before me 6 let me not forget a moment0 let me carry the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in my wa eful hours. *hen my rooms ha$e been dec ed out and the flutes sound and the laughter there is loud0 let me e$er feel that I ha$e not in$ited thee to my house 6 let me not forget for a moment0 let me carry the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in my wa eful hours. ?A- RO!3I2G C'O/(

I am li e a remnant of a cloud of autumn uselessly roaming in the s y0 O my sun e$er6glorious+ Thy touch has not yet melted my $apour0 ma ing me one with thy light0 and thus I count months and years separated from thee. If this be thy wish and if this be thy play0 then ta e this fleeting emptiness of mine0 paint it with colours0 gild it with gold0 float it on the wanton wind and spread it in $aried wonders. !nd again when it shall be thy wish to end this play at night0 I shall melt and $anish away in the dar 0 or it may be in a smile of the white morning0 in a coolness of purity transparent. ?,- 'O#T TI3" On many an idle day ha$e I grie$ed o$er lost time. &ut it is ne$er lost0 my lord. Thou hast ta en e$ery moment of my life in thine own hands. Hidden in the heart of things thou art nourishing seeds into sprouts0 buds into blossoms0 and ripening flowers into fruitfulness. I was tired and sleeping on my idle bed and imagined all wor had ceased. In the morning I wo e up and found my garden full with wonders of flowers. ?1- "2('"## TI3" Time is endless in thy hands0 my lord. There is none to count thy minutes. (ays and nights pass and ages bloom and fade li e flowers. Thou nowest how to wait. Thy centuries follow each other perfecting a small wild flower. *e ha$e no time to lose0 and ha$ing no time we must scramble for a chances. *e are too poor to be late. !nd thus it is that time goes by while I gi$e it to e$ery <uerulous man who claims it0 and thine altar is empty of all offerings to the last. !t the end of the day I hasten in fear lest thy gate to be shut5

but I find that yet there is time. ?7- T"!R# O. P"!R'# 3other0 I shall wea$e a chain of pearls for thy nec with my tears of sorrow. The stars ha$e wrought their an lets of light to dec thy feet0 but mine will hang upon thy breast. *ealth and fame come from thee and it is for thee to gi$e or to withhold them. &ut this my sorrow is absolutely mine own0 and when I bring it to thee as my offering thou rewardest me with thy grace. ?9- TH" PO"T;# H"!RT It is the pang of separation that spreads throughout the world and gi$es birth to shapes innumerable in the infinite s y. It is this sorrow of separation that ga8es in silence all nights from star to star and becomes lyric among rustling lea$es in rainy dar ness of )uly. It is this o$erspreading pain that deepens into lo$es and desires0 into sufferings and joy in human homes5 and this it is that e$er melts and flows in songs through my poet;s heart. ?:- H"'P'"## *!RRIOR# *hen the warriors came out first from their master;s hall0 where had they hid their powerB *here were their armour and their armsB They loo ed poor and helpless0 and the arrows were showered upon them on the day they came out from their master;s hall. *hen the warriors marched bac again to their master;s hall where did they hide their powerB They had dropped the sword and dropped the bow and the arrow5 peace was on their foreheads0 and they had left the fruits of their life behind them on the day they marched bac again to their master;s hall.

?=- ("!TH (eath0 thy ser$ant0 is at my door. He has crossed the un nown sea and brought thy call to my home. The night is dar and my heart is fearful 6 yet I will ta e up the lamp0 open my gates and bow to him my welcome. It is thy messenger who stands at my door. I will worship him placing at his feet the treasure of my heart. He will go bac with his errand done0 lea$ing a dar shadow on my morning5 and in my desolate home only my forlorn self will remain as my last offering to thee. ?>- TH" &RI2E O. "T"R2IT4 In desperate hope I go and search for her in all the corners of my room5 I find her not. 3y house is small and what once has gone from it can ne$er be regained. &ut infinite is thy mansion0 my lord0 and see ing her I ha$e to come to thy door. I stand under the golden canopy of thine e$ening s y and I lift my eager eyes to thy face. I ha$e come to the brin of eternity from which nothing can $anish 6 no hope0 no happiness0 no $ision of a face seen through tears. Oh0 dip my emptied life into that ocean0 plunge it into the deepest fullness. 'et me for once feel that lost sweet touch in the allness of the uni$erse. ??- ("IT4 O. TH" R/I2"( T"3P'" (eity of the ruined temple+ The bro en strings of Dina sing no more your praise. The bells in the e$ening proclaim not your time of worship. The air is still and silent about you. In your desolate dwelling comes the $agrant spring bree8e. It

brings the tidings of flowers 6 the flowers that for your worship are offered no more. 4our worshipper of old wanders e$er longing for fa$our still refused. In the e$entide0 when fires and shadows mingle with the gloom of dust0 he wearily comes bac to the ruined temple with hunger in his heart. 3any a festi$al day comes to you in silence0 deity of the ruined temple. 3any a night of worship goes away with lamp unlit. 3any new images are built by masters of cunning art and carried to the holy stream of obli$ion when their time is come. Only the deity of the ruined temple remains unworshipped in deathless neglect.

?@- 34 *HI#P"RI2G H"!RT 2o more noisy0 loud words from me 6 such is my master;s will. Henceforth I deal in whispers. The speech of my heart will be carried on in murmurings of a song. 3en hasten to the Eing;s mar et. !ll the buyers and sellers are there. &ut I ha$e my untimely lea$e in the middle of the day0 in the thic of wor . 'et then the flowers come out in my garden0 though it is not their time5 and let the midday bees stri e up their la8y hum. .ull many an hour ha$e I spent in the strife of the good and the e$il0 but now it is the pleasure of my playmate of the empty days to draw my heart on to him5 and I now not why is this sudden call to what useless inconse<uence+ @A- O.."RI2G# On the day when death will noc at thy door what wilt thou offer to himB Oh0 I will set before my guest the full $essel of my life 6 I will ne$er let him go with empty hands. !ll the sweet $intage of all my autumn days and summer

nights0 all the earnings and gleanings of my busy life will I place before him at the close of my days when death will noc at my door. @,- *!ITI2G .OR ("!TH O thou the last fulfilment of life0 (eath0 my death0 come and whisper to me+ (ay after day I ha$e ept watch for thee5 for thee ha$e I borne the joys and pangs of life. !ll that I am0 that I ha$e0 that I hope and all my lo$e ha$e e$er flowed towards thee in depth of secrecy. One final glance from thine eyes and my life will be e$er thine own. The flowers ha$e been wo$en and the garland is ready for the bridegroom. !fter the wedding the bride shall lea$e her home and meet her lord alone in the solitude of night. @1- TH" C/RT!I2 C'O#"# I now that the day will come when my sight of this earth shall be lost0 and life will ta e its lea$e in silence0 drawing the last curtain o$er my eyes. 4et stars will watch at night0 and morning rise as before0 and hours hea$e li e sea wa$es casting up pleasures and pains. *hen I thin of this end of my moments0 the barrier of the moments brea s and I see by the light of death thy world with its careless treasures. Rare is its lowliest seat0 rare is its meanest of li$es. Things that I longed for in $ain and things that I got 6 let them pass. 'et me but truly possess the things that I e$er spurned and o$erloo ed. @7- .!R"*"'' I ha$e got my lea$e. &id me farewell0 my brothers+ I bow to you all and ta e my departure. Here I gi$e bac the eys of my door 6 and I gi$e up all claims

to my house. I only as for last ind words from you. *e were neighbours for long0 but I recei$ed more than I could gi$e. 2ow the day has dawned and the lamp that lit my dar corner is out. ! summons has come and I am ready for my journey. @9- TH" ("P!RT/R" !t this time of my parting0 wish me good luc 0 my friends+ The s y is flushed with the dawn and my path lies beautiful. !s not what I ha$e with me to ta e there. I start on my journey with empty hands and e%pectant heart. I shall put on my wedding garland. 3ine is not the red6brown dress of the tra$eller0 and though there are dangers on the way I ha$e no fear in mind. The e$ening star will come out when my $oyage is done and the plainti$e notes of the twilight melodies be struc up from the Eing;s gateway. @:- TH" THR"#HO'( O. 'I." I was not aware of the moment when I first crossed the threshold of this life. *hat was the power that made me open out into this $ast mystery li e a bud in the forest at midnight+ *hen in the morning I loo ed upon the light I felt in a moment that I was no stranger in this world0 that the inscrutable without name and form had ta en me in its arms in the form of my own mother. "$en so0 in death the same un nown will appear as e$er nown to me. !nd because I lo$e this life0 I now I shall lo$e death as well. The child cries out when from the right breast the mother ta es it away0 in the $ery ne%t moment to find in the left one its consolation.

@=- P!RTI2G *OR(# *hen I go from hence let this be my parting word0 that what I ha$e seen is unsurpassable. I ha$e tasted of the hidden honey of this lotus that e%pands on the ocean of light0 and thus am I blessed 6 let this be my parting word. In this playhouse of infinite forms I ha$e had my play and here ha$e I caught sight of him that is formless. 3y whole body and my limbs ha$e thrilled with his touch who is beyond touch5 and if the end comes here0 let it come 6 let this be my parting word. @>- #I'"2T #T!R# *hen my play was with thee I ne$er <uestioned who thou wert. I new nor shyness nor fear0 my life was boisterous. In the early morning thou wouldst call me from my sleep li e my own comrade and lead me running from glade to glade. On those days I ne$er cared to now the meaning of songs thou sangest to me. Only my $oice too up the tunes0 and my heart danced in their cadence. 2ow0 when the playtime is o$er0 what is this sudden sight that is come upon meB The world with eyes bent upon thy feet stands in awe with all its silent stars. @?- "#C!P" I will dec thee with trophies0 garlands of my defeat. It is ne$er in my power to escape uncon<uered. I surely now my pride will go to the wall0 my life will burst its bonds in e%ceeding pain0 and my empty heart will sob out in music li e a hollow reed0 and the stone will melt in tears.

I surely now the hundred petals of a lotus will not remain closed for e$er and the secret recess of its honey will be bared. .rom the blue s y an eye shall ga8e upon me and summon me in silence. 2othing will be left for me0 nothing whate$er0 and utter death shall I recei$e at thy feet. @@- #TI'' H"!RT *hen I gi$e up the helm I now that the time has come for thee to ta e it. *hat there is to do will be instantly done. Dain is this struggle. Then ta e away your hands and silently put up with your defeat0 my heart0 and thin it your good fortune to sit perfectly still where you are placed. These my lamps are blown out at e$ery little puff of wind0 and trying to light them I forget all else again and again. &ut I shall be wise this time and wait in the dar 0 spreading my mat on the floor5 and whene$er it is thy pleasure0 my lord0 come silently and ta e thy seat here. ,AA- OC"!2 O. .OR3# I di$e down into the depth of the ocean of forms0 hoping to gain the perfect pearl of the formless. 2o more sailing from harbour to harbour with this my weather6beaten boat. The days are long passed when my sport was to be tossed on wa$es. !nd now I am eager to die into the deathless. Into the audience hall by the fathomless abyss where swells up the music of toneless strings I shall ta e this harp of my life. I shall tune it to the notes of fore$er0 and when it has sobbed out its last utterance0 lay down my silent harp at the feet of the silent. ,A,- R"3"3&"R!2C"#

"$er in my life ha$e I sought thee with my songs. It was they who led me from door to door0 and with them ha$e I felt about me0 searching and touching my world. It was my songs that taught me all the lessons I e$er learnt5 they showed me secret paths0 they brought before my sight many a star on the hori8on of my heart. They guided me all the day long to the mysteries of the country of pleasure and pain0 and0 at last0 to what palace gate ha$e the brought me in the e$ening at the end of my journeyB ,A1- G/"#TIO2# /2!2#*"R"( I boasted among men that I had nown you. They see your pictures in all wor s of mine. They come and as me0 C*ho is heB; I now not how to answer them. I say0 CIndeed0 I cannot tell.; They blame me and they go away in scorn. !nd you sit there smiling. I put my tales of you into lasting songs. The secret gushes out from my heart. They come and as me0 CTell me all your meanings.; I now not how to answer them. I say0 C!h0 who nows what they mean+; They smile and go away in utter scorn. !nd you sit there smiling. ,A7- #!'/T!TIO2 In one salutation to thee0 my God0 let all my senses spread out and touch this world at thy feet. 'i e a rain6cloud of )uly hung low with its burden of unshed showers let all my mind bend down at thy door in one salutation to thee. 'et all my songs gather together their di$erse strains into a single current and flow to a sea of silence in one salutation to thee. 'i e a floc of homesic cranes flying night and day bac to their mountain nests let all my life ta e its $oyage to its eternal home in one salutation to thee.