Classic Poem

He won his victories in war, never sparing strong fortresses!
Together with his friends, he threw down whole pots of liquor!
He offered his shelter to the large families of bards!
Surrounded by his faultless women extolled for their purity,
for their immaculate nature, he performed the Vedic sacrifices
in the court of Righteousness where justice is well practiced
after those conversant with proper custom stand up and show
their knowledge, within the circling many-layered wall where
the towering post of sacrifice rises next to the kite to be fed!
He who had all that knowledge, how wise a man he was
who has died now and how this world is to be pitied!
Like venkai trees that cowherds strip of their branches,
cutting them with sharp swords to feed their precious
herds who are hungry in the fearful drought of summer
when the waterfalls dry up and as the branches of flowers fall,
the vigor of the trees is shattered,
so the sweet and tender women shed their ornaments!