The Legend of Maitreyi
1
Unto her, his well-beloved, —
Maitreyi his pious wife, —
Spake the saintly Yajna-valkya,
When he took to forest life.
" Worldly wealth and every object
Now I leave behind, my fair,
Katyayani takes her portion,
Thou, Maitreyi, take thy share. "
2
" Worldly wealth and precious objects, "
Asked the pious-hearted wife,
" Will they lead to my salvation,
Lead me to immortal life? "
" Nay, they lead not to salvation,
Lead not to a higher state,
But the life the rich man liveth
Shall be, dear-loved wife, thy fate. "
3
" But the life the rich man liveth
Unto me, my lord, were vain,
Teach me that which works salvation,
Life immortal I would gain. "
" Ever dear, my sweet Maitreyi,
Dearer now art thou to me,
And the wealth that works salvation,
I will leave that wealth to thee!
4
" Love of man and faithful woman,
Ties that friends with friends combine,
Love of parents and of children,
Tendance of our flocks and kine,
Love of every outward object
Of our inner love is part, —
Love thy self, and all creation
Claims a portion of thy heart!
5
" Sound the drum, a music issues,
Can you grasp the sound so bold?
Blow the conch at festive season,
Can you that soft utterance hold?
Strike the harp-string deep-resounding,
Can you touch its voice profound?
Stop the drum, the conch, the harp string,
And you stop the uttered sound!
" Thus through self within your bosom
Outer nature you control,
For your self is kin to nature,
Portion of the Mighty Soul.
From the fire a deep cloud issues,
Various-shaped it floats on high,
From the Mighty Soul thus issue
Forms that people earth and sky!
7
" He breathed forth the vast creation,
Vedas, Sastras, all are His,
Sense and sight and self within us,
Worlds and mountains and the seas.
He is like the tintless crystal,
Shapeless, viewless, dark and dim,
Spring from Him all shapes in nature,
All the worlds will merge in Him! "
8
" But my love! " exclaimed Maitreyi,
" Pardon if I somewhat fail, —
Weak is woman's sense and reason,
And obscure the truth you tell. "
" Not so, " Yajna-valkya answered,
" Know a part, you grasp the whole,
Clear as is the sun at midday
Is the Universal Soul!
9
" All the outer worlds pervading,
And the orbs that ceaseless roll,
All the cosmic force directing,
Is — the Universal Soul.
All unseen, but manifested
In the sky and earth so broad,
All-surveying, ever present, —
He is BRAHMA, He is GOD! "
Unto her, his well-beloved, —
Maitreyi his pious wife, —
Spake the saintly Yajna-valkya,
When he took to forest life.
" Worldly wealth and every object
Now I leave behind, my fair,
Katyayani takes her portion,
Thou, Maitreyi, take thy share. "
2
" Worldly wealth and precious objects, "
Asked the pious-hearted wife,
" Will they lead to my salvation,
Lead me to immortal life? "
" Nay, they lead not to salvation,
Lead not to a higher state,
But the life the rich man liveth
Shall be, dear-loved wife, thy fate. "
3
" But the life the rich man liveth
Unto me, my lord, were vain,
Teach me that which works salvation,
Life immortal I would gain. "
" Ever dear, my sweet Maitreyi,
Dearer now art thou to me,
And the wealth that works salvation,
I will leave that wealth to thee!
4
" Love of man and faithful woman,
Ties that friends with friends combine,
Love of parents and of children,
Tendance of our flocks and kine,
Love of every outward object
Of our inner love is part, —
Love thy self, and all creation
Claims a portion of thy heart!
5
" Sound the drum, a music issues,
Can you grasp the sound so bold?
Blow the conch at festive season,
Can you that soft utterance hold?
Strike the harp-string deep-resounding,
Can you touch its voice profound?
Stop the drum, the conch, the harp string,
And you stop the uttered sound!
" Thus through self within your bosom
Outer nature you control,
For your self is kin to nature,
Portion of the Mighty Soul.
From the fire a deep cloud issues,
Various-shaped it floats on high,
From the Mighty Soul thus issue
Forms that people earth and sky!
7
" He breathed forth the vast creation,
Vedas, Sastras, all are His,
Sense and sight and self within us,
Worlds and mountains and the seas.
He is like the tintless crystal,
Shapeless, viewless, dark and dim,
Spring from Him all shapes in nature,
All the worlds will merge in Him! "
8
" But my love! " exclaimed Maitreyi,
" Pardon if I somewhat fail, —
Weak is woman's sense and reason,
And obscure the truth you tell. "
" Not so, " Yajna-valkya answered,
" Know a part, you grasp the whole,
Clear as is the sun at midday
Is the Universal Soul!
9
" All the outer worlds pervading,
And the orbs that ceaseless roll,
All the cosmic force directing,
Is — the Universal Soul.
All unseen, but manifested
In the sky and earth so broad,
All-surveying, ever present, —
He is BRAHMA, He is GOD! "
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