National Epics Part 6

"Ah, awful G.o.d! who hold'st the world in leash,"

The Princess said, "restraining evil men, And leading good men--even unconscious--there, Where they attain, hear yet those famous words:--

_"The constant virtues of the good are tenderness and love To all that lives--in earth, air, sea--great, small--below, above; Compa.s.sionate of heart, they keep a gentle thought for each, Kind in their actions, mild in will, and pitiful of speech; Who pitieth not, he hath not faith; full many an one so lives, But when an enemy seeks help, a good man gladly gives."_

"As water to the thirsty," Yama said, "Princess, thy words melodious are to me.

Except the life of Satyavan, thy lord, Ask one boon yet again, for I will grant."

Answer made SAvitri: "The King, my sire, Hath no male child. Let him see many sons Begotten of his body, who may keep The royal line long regnant. This I ask."

"So shall it be," the Lord of Death replied; "A hundred fair preservers of his race Thy sire shall boast. But this wish being won, Return, dear Princess; thou hast come too far."

"It is not far for me," quoth SAvitri, "Since I am near my husband; nay, my heart Is set to go as far as to the end; But hear these other verses, if thou wilt:--

_"By that sunlit name thou bearest, Thou, Vaivaswata! art dearest; Those that as their Lord proclaim thee, King of Righteousness do name thee: Better than themselves the wise Trust the righteous. Each relies Most upon the good, and makes Friends.h.i.+p with them. Friends.h.i.+p takes Fear from hearts; yet friends betray, In good men we may trust alway."_

"Sweet lady," Yama said, "never were words Spoke better; never truer heard by ear; Lo! I am pleased with thee. Except this soul, Ask one gift yet again, and get thee home."

"I ask thee then," quickly the Princess cried, "Sons, many sons, born of my body; boys; Satyavan's children; lovely, valiant, strong; Continuers of their line. Grant this, kind G.o.d."

"I grant it," Yama answered; "thou shalt bear These sons thy heart desireth, valiant, strong.

Therefore go back, that years be given thee.

Too long a path thou treadest, dark and rough."

But sweeter than before, the Princess sang:--

_"In paths of peace and virtue Always the good remain; And sorrow shall not stay with them, Nor long access of pain; At meeting or at parting Joys to their bosom strike; For good to good is friendly, And virtue loves her like.

The great sun goes his journey By their strong truth impelled; By their pure lives and penances Is earth itself upheld; Of all which live and shall live Upon its hills and fields, Pure hearts are the protectors, For virtue saves and s.h.i.+elds.

"Never are n.o.ble spirits Poor while their like survive; True love has gems to render, And virtue wealth to give.

Never is lost or wasted The goodness of the good; Never against a mercy, Against a right, it stood; And seeing this, that virtue Is always friend to all, The virtuous and true-hearted, Men their protectors call."_

"Line for line, Princess, as thou sangest so,"

Quoth Yama, "all that lovely praise of good, Grateful to hallowed minds, lofty in sound, And couched in dulcet numbers--word by word-- Dearer thou grew'st to me. O thou great heart, Perfect and firm! ask any boon from me,-- Ask an incomparable boon!"

She cried Swiftly, no longer stayed: "Not Heaven I crave, Nor heavenly joys, nor bliss incomparable, Hard to be granted, even by thee; but him, My sweet lord's life, without which I am dead; Give me that gift of gifts! I will not take Aught less without him,--not one boon--no praise, No splendors, no rewards,--not even those sons Whom thou didst promise. Ah, thou wilt not now Bear hence the father of them and my hope!

Make thy free word good; give me Satyavan Alive once more."

And thereupon the G.o.d-- The Lord of Justice, high Vaivaswata-- Loosened the noose and freed the Prince's soul, And gave it to the lady, saying this, With eyes grown tender: "See, thou sweetest queen Of women, brightest jewel of thy kind!

Here is thy husband. He shall live and reign Side by side with thee, saved by thee,--in peace And fame and wealth, and health, many long years, For pious sacrifices world-renowned.

Boys shalt thou bear to him, as I did grant,-- Kshatriya kings, fathers of kings to be, Sustainers of thy line. Also thy sire Shall see his name upheld by sons of sons, Like the immortals, valiant, MAlavas."

ARNOLD: _Indian Idylls._

FROM "THE GREAT JOURNEY."

The shadow of the Great War hung over King Yudhi-sthira, whose reign was one long succession of gloomy events, culminating in the death of the blind Raja and his wife in a jungle fire, and the destruction of the capital city of Krishna because of the dissipation of its inhabitants.

On tidings of the wreck of Vrishni's race, King Yudhi-sthira of the Pandavas Was minded to be done with earthly things, And to Arjuna spake: "O n.o.ble prince, Time endeth all; we linger, noose on neck, Till the last day tightens the line, and kills.

Let us go forth to die, being yet alive."

And Kunti's son, the great Arjuna, said: "Let us go forth! Time slayeth all.

We will find Death, who seeketh other men."

And Bhimasena, hearing, answered: "Yea, We will find Death!" and Sahadev cried: "Yea!"

And his twin brother Nakalu; whereat The princes set their faces for the Mount.

So ordering ere he went, the righteous King Made offering of white water, heedfully, To Vasudev, to Rama, and the rest,-- All funeral rites performing; next he spread A funeral feast....

And all the people cried, "Stay with us, Lord!"

But Yudhi-sthira knew his time was come, Knew that life pa.s.ses and that virtue lasts, And put aside their love....

So, with farewells Tenderly took of lieges and of lords, Girt he for travel with his princely kin, Great Yudhi-sthira, Dharma's royal son.

Crest-gem and belt and ornaments he stripped From off his body, and for broidered robe A rough dress donned, woven of jungle bark; And what he did--O Lord of men!--so did Arjuna, Bhima, and the twin-born pair, Nakalu with Sahadev, and she,--in grace The peerless,--Draupadi. Lastly those six,-- Thou son of Bharata!--in solemn form Made the high sacrifice of Naishtiki, Quenching their flames in water at the close; And so set forth, midst wailing of all folk And tears of women, weeping most to see The Princess Draupadi--that lovely prize Of the great gaming, Draupadi the Bright-- Journeying afoot; but she and all the five Rejoiced because their way lay heavenward.

Seven were they, setting forth,--Princess and King, The King's four brothers and a faithful dog.

Those left Hastinapur; but many a man, And all the palace household, followed them The first sad stage: and ofttimes prayed to part,

Put parting off for love and pity, still Sighing, "A little farther!" till day waned; Then one by one they turned.

Thus wended they, Pandu's five sons and loveliest Draupadi, Taking no meat and journeying due east, On righteousness their high hearts fed, to heaven Their souls a.s.signed; and steadfast trod their feet-- By faith upborne--past nullah ran, and wood, River and jheel and plain. King Yudhi-sthir Walked foremost, Bhima followed, after him Arjuna, and the twin-born brethren next, Nakalu with Sahadev; in whose still steps-- O Best of Bharat's offspring!--Draupadi, That gem of women paced, with soft dark face,-- Clear-edged like lotus petals; last the dog Following the Pandavas.

While yet those heroes walked, Now to the northward banding, where long coasts Shut in the sea of salt, now to the north, Accomplis.h.i.+ng all quarters, journeyed they; The earth their altar of high sacrifice, Which these most patient feet did pace around Till Meru rose.

At last it rose! These Six, Their senses subjugate, their spirits pure, Wending along, came into sight--far off In the eastern sky--of awful Himavat; And midway in the peaks of Himavat, Meru, the mountain of all mountains, rose, Whose head is heaven; and under Himavat Glared a wide waste of sand, dreadful as death.

Then, as they hastened o'er the deathly waste, Aiming for Meru, having thoughts at soul Infinite, eager,--lo! Draupadi reeled, With faltering heart and feet; and Bhima turned, Gazing upon her; and that hero spake To Yudhi-sthira: "Master, Brother, King!

Why doth she fail? For never all her life Wrought our sweet lady one thing wrong, I think.

Thou knowest; make us know, why hath she failed?"

Then Yudhi-sthira answered: "Yea, one thing.

She loved our brothers better than all else,-- Better than Heaven: that was her tender sin, Fault of a faultless soul: she pays for that."

So spake the monarch, turning not his eyes, Though Draupadi lay dead,--striding straight on For Meru, heart-full of the things of Heaven, Perfect and firm. But yet a little s.p.a.ce And Sahadev fell down; which Bhima seeing, Cried once again: "O King, great Madri's son Stumbles and sinks. Why hath he sunk?--so true, So brave and steadfast, and so free from pride!"

"He was not free," with countenance still fixed, Quoth Yudhi-sthira; "he was true and fast And wise; yet wisdom made him proud; he hid One little hurt of soul, but now it kills."

So saying, he strode on, Kunti's strong son, And Bhima; and Arjuna followed him, And Nakalu and the hound; leaving behind Sahadev in the sands. But Nakalu, Weakened and grieved to see Sahadev fall-- His dear-loved brother--lagged and stayed; and then p.r.o.ne on his face he fell, that n.o.ble face Which had no match for beauty in the land,-- Glorious and G.o.dlike Nakalu! Then sighed Bhima anew: "Brother and Lord! the man Who never erred from virtue, never broke Our fellows.h.i.+p, and never in the world Was matched for goodly perfectness of form Or gracious feature,--Nakalu has fallen!"

But Yudhi-sthira, holding fixed his eyes,-- That changeless, faithful, all-wise king,--replied: "Yea, but he erred! The G.o.d-like form he wore Beguiled him to believe none like to him, And he alone desirable, and things Unlovely, to be slighted. Self-love slays Our n.o.ble brother. Bhima, follow! Each Pays what his debt was."