{"id":1436,"date":"2013-07-13T01:34:48","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=1436"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:34:48","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:34:48","slug":"38-the-rakshasas-vol-05-collected-poems-volume-05","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/05-collected-poems-volume-05\/38-the-rakshasas-vol-05-collected-poems-volume-05","title":{"rendered":"-38_The Rakshasas.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n


\nThe
\nRakshasas<\/p>\n

<\/font>
\n<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n
 <\/td>\n\n

(The<\/span>
\nRakshasa <\/span>the
\nviolent kinetic Ego, establishes his claim to mastery of<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

the
\nworld replacing the animal Soul, \u2013<\/font> to be followed by controlled and<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

intellectualised
\nbut unregenerated Ego, the Asura. Each such type and level<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

of
\nconsciousness sees the Divine in its own image and its level in Nature<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

is
\nsustained by a differing form of the World-Mother.)<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGlory
\nand greatness and the joy of life,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Strength,
\npride, victorious force, whatever man<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Desires,
\nwhatever the wild beast enjoys,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Bodies
\nof women and the lives of men \u2013<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I
\nclaim to be my kingdom. I have force<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

My
\ntitle to substantiate, I seek,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

No
\ncrown unearned, no lordship undeserved.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask
\nwhat austerity Thou wilt, Maker of man,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Expense
\nof blood or labour or long years<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Spent
\nin tremendous meditation, lives<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon
\nThy altar spent of brutes or men;<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Or
\nif with gold Thy favour purchasable,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I
\nmay command rich offerings to glut<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Thy
\ntriumphs and Thy priests.  I have a heart,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A
\nhand for any mighty sacrifice,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A
\nfiery patience in my vehement mood;<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I
\nwill submit. But ask not this of me,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Meek
\nsilence and a pale imprisoned soul<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Made
\ncolourless of its humanity,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask
\nnot the heart that quakes, the hand that spares,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

What
\nstrength can give, not weakness, that demand.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

O
\nRudra! O eternal Mahadev!<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Thou
\ntoo art fierce and mighty, wrathful, bold,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Snuffing
\nThy winds for blood of sacrifice<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nangrily Thou rul\u2019st a prostrate world.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

O
\nRakshasa Almighty, look on me,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Ravan,
\nthe lord, of all Thy Rakshasas,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Give
\nme Thy high command to smite Thy foes;<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But
\nmost I would afflict, chase and destroy<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Thy
\ndevotees who traduce Thee, making Thee<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A
\nGod of Love, a God too sweet to rule.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I
\nhave the knowledge, what Thou art I know
\n 
\n<\/span><\/p>\n


\nPage-77<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

And
\nknow myself, for Thou and I are one.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

So
\nprayed the Lord of Lanka, and in heaven<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Sri
\nKrishna smiled, the Friend of all mankind,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nasked, \u201cO masters of the knowledge, Seers<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Who
\nhelp me by your thoughts to help mankind,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Hearken
\nwhat Ravan cries against the stars<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Demanding
\nearth for heritage. Advise,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Shall
\nhe then have it?\u201d And a cry arose,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe
\nwould root out the Brahmin from the earth,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Impose
\nhis dreadful Yoga on mankind<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nmake the violent heart, the iron hand<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Sovereign
\nof all.\u201d Sri Krishna made reply,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom
\nout Myself he went to do My will.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

He
\nhas not lied, he has the knowledge. He<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nI are one.  How then shall I refuse?<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Does
\nit not say, the Veda that you know,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018When
\none knows That, then whatso he desires,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

It
\nshall be his\u2019?\u201d And Atri sage replied,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet
\nhim then rule a season and be slain.\u201d<\/p>\n

And
\nHe who reigns, \u201cSomething you know, O Seers,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Not
\nall my purpose. It is long decreed,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nRakshasa shall rule the peopled earth.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

He
\ntakes the brute into himself for man<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Yielding
\nit offerings, while with grandiose thoughts<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\nviolent aspirations he controls;<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

He
\npurifies the demon in the race
\nSlaying in wrath, not cruelty.  Awhile
\nHe puts the Vanara out of the world,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Accustoming
\nto grandeur all mankind;<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nIfrit1<\/sup>
\nhe rejects. Were he denied<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

His
\nperiod, man could not progress. But since
\nHe sees himself as Me, not Me in him,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\ntakes the life and body for the whole,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

He
\ncannot last. Therefore is Atri\u2019s word<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Accepted.\u201d
\nAnd before the Rakshasa,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Out
\nof the terror of the sacrifice,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Naked
\nand dark, with a blood-dripping sword<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

And
\ndreadful eyes that seemed to burn the world,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Kali
\nthe Rakshasi in flames arose.
\n 
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n1 <\/sup>The
\nIfrit, the Djinn, is the demoniac element in Nature.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nPage-78<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDemand
\n<\/span>a boon,\u201d she cried, and all
\nthe gods<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Trembled.<\/span>
\n\u201cGive me the earth for my delight,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Her
\ngods<\/span> to be my slaves\u201d, the<\/span>
\nRakshasa<\/span>
\n<\/span>cried,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf<\/span>
\nstrength<\/span> and
\npride.\u201d  \u201cSo let it be,\u201d
\n<\/span>She answered.  \u201cShall it be
\neternal then?\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Ravan<\/span>
\ndemanded and she thundered,<\/span> \u201cNo,
\nFor<\/span> neither thou nor I are best
\nnor last.
\nThe<\/span> Asuri<\/span> shall
\narise to fill my place,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The
\nAsura thy children shall dethrone.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

An
\naeon thou hast taken to evolve,
\nAn aeon thou shalt rule.  But since thy wish<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I<\/span>
\nhave denied, ask yet another boon.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet
\nthis be mine then, when at last I sink,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Nor<\/span>
\nbrute nor demon, man nor Titan\u2019s
\nhand,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Nor
\nany<\/span> lesser creature shall
\no\u2019erthrow,
\n<\/span>But only<\/span> God
\nhimself compel my fall.\u201d
\n<\/span>And Kali answered, smiling
\nterribly,<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt
\nis decreed,\u201d and laughing loud she passed.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Then<\/span>
\nRavan from his sacrifice arose.<\/p>\n

                                               <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\nPage-79<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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