Classic Poem

Even north of the mountains that tower eternally frozen in the north,
even south of the river Kumari, river of terror, in the south, even east
of the ocean dug out of the earth at the eastern shore, even west
of the ancient ocean long set into place in the west, even below the earth
rising out of the body of the waters, the earth that is the lowest
level of the three-tiered universe, up
to the holy realm of the cows, the highest sphere,
may the glory and the fear of you travel, undiminishing! May you
be as free of bias in your judgments as the pointer of a balance
that measures huge quantities! May all that are yours flourish!
In the country of your enemies, when they showed resistance to your campaigns,
rapidly you advanced, your armies flooding like the sea, and you ordered
your elephants with their small eyes and densely spotted faces to charge ahead,
and you captured many strongholds that rose in green fields
near their cities and from those fortresses you took fine ornaments,
beautifully fashioned, which you apportioned, by rank, to those who asked them of you.
May your umbrella of victory bow down and circumambulate, in the auspicious direction,
the temple of the god with three eyes whom the Brahmins worship!
Greatness! Lower your head with respect before the hands raised in blessing
by those Brahmins who chant the Four Vedas! My king!
May your chaplet wither, assaulted by the sweet-smelling smoke
of flames rising from the lands of your enemies! And may
your anger vanish as you see your women wearing their pearl necklaces,
their faces glowing with the passing anger of lovers' quarrels!
Ah Kutumi! Worthy of your glory! Unfailing in your generosity!
You who once you have won them never boast of your victories!
Like the moon with its cooling rays and like the glowing sun
with the rays of its burning light,
O great ruler, may you long live here upon this earth!