The Legend of Gargi
J ANAK , bold and bounteous monarch,
Erst in broad Videha reigned,
Held his rites in regal splendour
And an ample feast ordained.
Brahmans from the Kuru kingdom
And from fair Panchala came,
For they knew of Janak's bounty
And they heard of Janak's fame.
2
Who of these assembled Brahmans,
To the sacrifice who came,
Was the deepest versed in Vedas,
Worthiest of a Brahman's name?
Thus a question stirred the bosom
Of the monarch proud and bold,
And he penned a thousand milch kine,
On each horn was hung some gold.
3
" Saintly teachers, learned Brahmans,
Welcome to my royal feast,
Let him win a thousand milch kine
Who is wisest and the best,
Who is deepest in his learning,
Let him stand and win the gold? "
Thus to teachers of the Vedas
Spake the monarch calm and bold.
4
Brahmans heard the royal mandate,
Durst not stand and win the prize, —
Where so many wise men gathered
Who could claim to be most wise?
Up stood learned Yajna-valkya, —
Janak's proud preceptor he, —
And the priest spake to his pupil,
" Drive the cattle home for me! "
5
Wrathful were the other Brahmans, —
Asvala, invoking priest,
Arta-bhaga, versed in Vedas,
Lahya-yani, lord of feast,
Chakra-yana, Kaushi-taki,
Udda-laka stood before,
And with questions deep contested
Yajna-valkya's Vedic lore!
6
Yajna-valkya, proud and peerless,
Answered them with priestly pride,
As a towering moveless mountain
Beateth back the ocean's tide.
Then stood sage and saintly Gargi,
Dark locks graced her woman's head,
Wise was she as wisest Brahman,
Learned as the deepest-read!
7
" As a chief of Kasi's kingdom,
Or Videha's warlike land,
Lifts his bow to face the battle,
Takes his arrows in his hand,
Even so, great Yajna-valkya,
I will rise to challange thee,
Ask thee, priest, to face my questions,
List to them and answer me!
8
" On the broad earth far extending,
In the firmament and sky,
In the present, past, and future,
Ever living, ever nigh,
In the wide space interwoven
Like the warp and like the woof,
What pervades, unseen, unfathomed,
Earth below and heaven's high roof? "
9
" Subtle question, saintly Gargi,
Deep enquiry hast thou made, —
But 'tis ether, viewless, shapeless,
Which doth earth and sky pervade. "
" Subtle answer, Yajna-valkya,
In thy wisdom thou hast given, —
But what is this viewless ether,
Wherein is it interwoven? "
10
" Deeper, Gargi, is this question, —
Wherein is the ether woven,
Wherein dwell the past and future
Wherein is the earth and heaven?
'Tis the uncreated Immortal ,
Viewless — fills the world so broad,
Flameless, — burns not like the red fire,
Moveless, — sweeps not like the flood!
11
" Without shadow, without darkness,
He is neither air nor sky,
Void of taste and touch and feeling
He subsists sublime and high!
Without hearing — hears all nature,
Views creation — void of sight,
Void of limbs — but ever acting,
Void of form — but Infinite!
12
" Gargi, wouldst thou further fathom?
He ordains the night and day,
Earth and sky confess His mandate,
Sun and moon his hests obey!
He hath shaped the seas and mountains,
Life to creatures he hath given,
Darkly-acting, dimly present,
In all Nature interwoven! "
Erst in broad Videha reigned,
Held his rites in regal splendour
And an ample feast ordained.
Brahmans from the Kuru kingdom
And from fair Panchala came,
For they knew of Janak's bounty
And they heard of Janak's fame.
2
Who of these assembled Brahmans,
To the sacrifice who came,
Was the deepest versed in Vedas,
Worthiest of a Brahman's name?
Thus a question stirred the bosom
Of the monarch proud and bold,
And he penned a thousand milch kine,
On each horn was hung some gold.
3
" Saintly teachers, learned Brahmans,
Welcome to my royal feast,
Let him win a thousand milch kine
Who is wisest and the best,
Who is deepest in his learning,
Let him stand and win the gold? "
Thus to teachers of the Vedas
Spake the monarch calm and bold.
4
Brahmans heard the royal mandate,
Durst not stand and win the prize, —
Where so many wise men gathered
Who could claim to be most wise?
Up stood learned Yajna-valkya, —
Janak's proud preceptor he, —
And the priest spake to his pupil,
" Drive the cattle home for me! "
5
Wrathful were the other Brahmans, —
Asvala, invoking priest,
Arta-bhaga, versed in Vedas,
Lahya-yani, lord of feast,
Chakra-yana, Kaushi-taki,
Udda-laka stood before,
And with questions deep contested
Yajna-valkya's Vedic lore!
6
Yajna-valkya, proud and peerless,
Answered them with priestly pride,
As a towering moveless mountain
Beateth back the ocean's tide.
Then stood sage and saintly Gargi,
Dark locks graced her woman's head,
Wise was she as wisest Brahman,
Learned as the deepest-read!
7
" As a chief of Kasi's kingdom,
Or Videha's warlike land,
Lifts his bow to face the battle,
Takes his arrows in his hand,
Even so, great Yajna-valkya,
I will rise to challange thee,
Ask thee, priest, to face my questions,
List to them and answer me!
8
" On the broad earth far extending,
In the firmament and sky,
In the present, past, and future,
Ever living, ever nigh,
In the wide space interwoven
Like the warp and like the woof,
What pervades, unseen, unfathomed,
Earth below and heaven's high roof? "
9
" Subtle question, saintly Gargi,
Deep enquiry hast thou made, —
But 'tis ether, viewless, shapeless,
Which doth earth and sky pervade. "
" Subtle answer, Yajna-valkya,
In thy wisdom thou hast given, —
But what is this viewless ether,
Wherein is it interwoven? "
10
" Deeper, Gargi, is this question, —
Wherein is the ether woven,
Wherein dwell the past and future
Wherein is the earth and heaven?
'Tis the uncreated Immortal ,
Viewless — fills the world so broad,
Flameless, — burns not like the red fire,
Moveless, — sweeps not like the flood!
11
" Without shadow, without darkness,
He is neither air nor sky,
Void of taste and touch and feeling
He subsists sublime and high!
Without hearing — hears all nature,
Views creation — void of sight,
Void of limbs — but ever acting,
Void of form — but Infinite!
12
" Gargi, wouldst thou further fathom?
He ordains the night and day,
Earth and sky confess His mandate,
Sun and moon his hests obey!
He hath shaped the seas and mountains,
Life to creatures he hath given,
Darkly-acting, dimly present,
In all Nature interwoven! "
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