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The Line of Raghu*
For mastery of word and sense I bow to the Pair close-wedded as word and sense, the parents of the world, the Mountain’s child and the Mighty Lord. Wide is the gulf between the race born of the Sun and a mind thus scantily stored! I am one that in his infatuation would cross in a raft the difficult ocean. Dull of wit, yet aspiring to poetic glory I shall expose myself to mockery like a dwarf who in his greed lifts up his arms to a fruit meant only for the giant’s grasp. Yet into the story of this race a door of speech has been made by the inspired minds of old and through which I can enter as a thread can pass through a gem which the diamond’s point has bored. Therefore this tale of the Raghus, the kings pure from their birth, they who left not work till work’s fruit appeared, they who were masters of earth to the ocean’s bound and their chariot journeyed even to the heavens. Ever according to the ordinance they offered to the sacrificial flames and honoured ever the suppliant with his whole desire, they meted the punishment of the guilty by his offence, they were wakeful to the hour. They gathered riches only to give and spoke little that they might speak nought but truth and conquered only for glory and were householders only to prolong the race. In childhood students of knowledge, in youth seekers after enjoyment, in old age pursuers of the sage’s path and in their end left by Yoga their bodies,— The tale of their line I will tell though meagre my wealth of speech, for 1 am impelled to this rashness by their virtues that have touched my ear. The wise should lend ear to it who are cause that good is discerned from bad, for it is by fire that the purity of gold is marked or else the darkness of its alloy.¹ (Incomplete)
* A translation of the first ten verses from the Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa. ¹dullness of hue. Page – 155 |