{"id":1487,"date":"2013-07-13T01:35:08","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=1487"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:35:08","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:35:08","slug":"73-chitrangada-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\/73-chitrangada-vol-05-collected-poems-volume-05","title":{"rendered":"-73_Chitrangada.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n
\nChitrangada<\/font><\/span><\/span>\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n
 <\/td>\n\n
\n

I<\/span><\/font>n Manipur upon her orient hills
\nChitrangada<\/span> beheld intending dawn
\nGaze coldly in. She understood the call.
\nThe silence and in perfect pallor passed
\nInto her heart and in herself she grew
\nPrescient of grey realities. Rising,
\nShe gazed afraid into the opening world.
\nThen Urjoon<\/span>, felt his mighty clasp a void
\nEmpty of her he loved and, through the grey
\nUnwilling darkness that disclosed her face,
\nSought out Chitrangada<\/span>. "Why dost thou stand
\nIn the grey light, like one from joy cast down?
\nO thou whose bliss is sure. Leave that grey space,
\nCome hither." So she came and leaning down,
\nWith that strange sorrow in her eyes, replied:
\n\u201cGreat, doubtless, is thy love, thy very sleep
\nImpatient of this brief divorce. And yet
\nHow easily that void will soon be filled!
\nFor thou wilt run thy splendid fiery race
\nThrough cities and through regions like a star.
\nMen’s worship, women’s hearts inevitably
\nWill turn to follow, as the planets move
\nUnbidden round the sun. Thou wilt accept them,
\nCareless in thy heroic strength and beauty,
\nAnd smile securely kind, even as a god
\nMight draw an earthly maiden to his arms
\nAnd marry his immortal mouth to hers.
\nThen will thy destiny seize thee, thou wilt pass
\nLike a great light in heaven and leave behind
\nOnly a memory of force and fire.
\nNo lesser occupation can forever
\nKeep thee, 0 hero, whose terrestrial birth
\nHeaven fostered with her seed, – for what but this
\nTo fill thy soul with battle, and august
\nMisfortunes and majestic harms embrace
\nAnd joys to their own natures mated. Last,
\nEmpire shall meet thee on some mighty field
\nDisputing thee with death. Thou art not ours<\/font> <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 315<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 More
\nthan the wind that lingers for a while
\nTo touch our hair, then passes to its home."
\nAnd Urjoon<\/span> silently caressing her,
\n"Muse not again, beloved Chitrfngada<\/span>,
\nAlone beside the window looking out
\nOn the half-formed aspect and shape of things
\nBefore sunlight was made. For God still keeps
\nNear to a paler world the hour ere dawn
\nAnd one who looks out from the happy, warm
\nAnd mortal limit of mankind that live
\nEnhoused<\/span>, defended by companionship
\nWith walls and limitations, is outdrawn
\nTo dateless memories he cannot grasp
\nAnd infinite yearnings without form, until
\nThe sense of an original vastness grows,
\nEmpty of joyous detail, desolate,
\nIn labour of a wide unfinished world.
\nLook not into that solemn silence! Rather
\nProtect thyself with joy, take in my arms
\nRefuge from the grey summons and defend
\nThy soul until God rises with the sun.
\nFriendly to mortals is the living sun’s
\nGreat brilliant light, friendly the cheerful noise
\nOf earth arising to her various tasks
\nAnd myriad hopes. But this grey hour was born
\nFor the ascetic in his silent cave
\nAnd for the dying man whose heart released
\nLoosens its vibrant strings." She answered him,
\n"Near to the quiet truth of things we stand
\nIn this grey moment. Neither happy light
\nNor joyful sound deceives the listening heart,
\nNor Night inarms<\/span>, the Mother brooding vast,
\nTo comfort us with sleep. It helps me not
\nTo bind thee for a moment to my joy.
\nThe impulse of thy mighty life will come
\nUpon thee like a wind and drive thee forth
\nTo toil and battle and disastrous deeds
\nAnd all the giant anguish that preserves
\nOur world. Thou as resistlessly<\/span> wast<\/span>
\nborn<\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 316<\/font><\/span>
\n<\/font> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nTo
\nthese things as the leopard’s leap to strength
\nAnd beauty and fierceness, as resistlessly<\/span>
\nAs women are to love, – even though they know
\nPain for the end, yet, knowing, still must love.
\nAh, quickly pass! Why shouldst<\/span> thou linger here
\nVainly? How will it serve God’s purpose in thee
\nTo tarry soothing for her transient hour
\nMerely a woman’s heart, meanwhile perhaps
\nLose some great moment of thy life which once
\nNeglected never can return." She paused
\nAnd great Urjoon<\/span> made answer, deeply moved:
\n\u201cHas my clasp slackened or hast thou perceived
\nA waning passion in my kiss? Much more
\nMy soul needs thee than on that fated day
\nWhen through Bengal of the enormous streams
\nWith careless horse-hooves hurrying to the East
\nI came, a wandering prince, companioned only
\nBy courage and my sword; nor knew such flowers
\nWere by the wayside waiting to be plucked
\nAs these dark tresses and sweet body small
\nOf white Chitrangada<\/span>. Dost thou remember?
\nO fair young sovereign ruling with pure eyes
\nAnd little fearless hand fragile and mild
\nThis strong and savage nation! Didst thou know?
\nDidst thou expect me in thy soul? Assuredly
\nThy heart’s first flutterings<\/span> recognised their lord.
\nAnd never with such gladness mountain queen
\nExchanged tremendous seat and austere powers,
\nHer noble ancient right, for only leave
\nTo lay her head upon my feet and wear
\nMy kisses, not the crown. Content with love
\nAll else thou gavest<\/span>. Now thou speakest<\/span>
\nsadly,
\nToo like a mind matured by thought and pain."
\nAnd she with passion cried: "Do I remember?
\nYes, I remember. What other thing can I
\nRemember, till forgetfulness arrives?
\nO endless moments, 0 rain-haunted nights,
\nWhen thou art far! And 0 intolerable,
\nThe grey, austere discomfortable<\/span> dawn<\/font> <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 317<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nTo
\nwhich I shall awake alone! And yet
\nThis year of thee is mine until the end.
\nThe gods demand the rest. With all myself
\nI loved thee, not as other women do,
\nPiecemeal, reluctantly, but my whole heart
\nAnd being like a sudden spring broke forth
\nTo flowers and greenness at my sungod’s<\/span> touch,
\nCeding existence at thy feet. Therefore
\nI praise my father’s wise and prescient love
\nThat kept me from the world for thee, unsought
\nAmid the rugged mountains and fenced in
\nWith barbarous inhospitable laws.
\nAround the dying man the torches flared
\nFrom pillar to weird pillar; and one discerned
\nIn fitful redness on the shadowy walls
\nStone visages of grim un-Aryan gods.
\nThe marble pallor of my father’s face
\nLooked strange to me in that unsteady glare,
\nAs if an alien’s; and dream-fantasies
\nThose figures seemed of Manipurian<\/span> lords
\nStrange-weaponed<\/span>, rude, with faces fierce and
\ngnarled,
\nLike those they worship. Unafraid I stood
\nWith grave and wide-orbed gaze contemplating
\nTheir rugged pomp and the wild majesty
\nOf that last scene around my dying sire.
\nAbout me stood a circle fierce and strong,
\nMen high like rough gnarled trees or firm squat towers;
\nA human fortress in its savage strength
\nEnringed<\/span> my future with bright jealous spears.
\nTo them he entrusted me, calling each name,
\nAnd made their hearts my steps to mount a throne:
\nEach name was made a link in a great chain,
\nA turretted<\/span> gate inwalling<\/span>
\nmy rule,
\nEach heart a house of trust, a seal of fealty.
\nSo were their thoughts conciliated; so
\nTheir stern allegiance was secured. He spoke,
\nAnd, though of outward strength deprived, his voice
\nRang clear yet as when over trumpets heard
\nIt guided battle. ‘Warriors of my East,
\nTake now this small white-bosomed queen of yours,<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 318<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nSurround
\nher with the cincture of your force
\nAnd guard her from the thieves of destiny
\nWho prowl around, the house of human life
\nTo impoverish the meanings of the gods
\nFor I am ended and the shadow falls.
\nShe is the stem from which your kings shall grow
\nPerpetual. Guard her well lest Fate deceived
\nPermit unworthier<\/span> to usurp her days
\nThan the unconquerable seed of gods.
\nOppose, oppose all alien entry here,
\nWhether by force or guile the stranger comes,
\nTo clutch Nature’s forbidden golden fruit.
\nSerry<\/span> your bucklers close to overwhelm
\nThe invader, seal your deaf and pitiless ears
\nTo the guest’s appeal, the suppliant call. He sole,
\nDarling of Fate and Heaven, shall break through all
\nDespising danger’s threat and spurning death,
\nTo grasp this prize, whether Ixvacou’s<\/span> clan
\nYield a new Rama or the Bhoja<\/span> hear
\nAnd raven for her beauty, – Vrishny<\/span>-born,
\nOr else some lion’s whelp of those who lair
\nIn Hustina<\/span> the proud, coveting two worlds,
\nLeaping from conquered earth to climb to Heaven.
\nLife’s pride doubling with the soul’s ethereal crown’.
\nHe closed his eyes against the earthly air,
\nThe last silence fell on him: he spoke no more
\nSave the great name until his spirit passed.
\nThen the grim lords forgot their savage calm.
\nA cry arose, ‘Our, queen!’ and I was caught
\nFrom breast to breast of wild affection; all
\nCrowded upon me kissing feet and hands,
\nRecording silent oaths of love. Secure,
\nAlone in this wild, faithful barbarous world,
\nI ruled by weakness over rugged hearts,
\nA little queen adored, – until at length
\nThou earnest. Rumour<\/span> and wide-mouthed alarm
\nRunning before thy chariot-wheels thou cam’st<\/span>,
\nDefeat and death, thy envoys and a cry:
\nO Manipurians<\/span>, Manipurians<\/span>,
\narm!
\nSome god incensed invades you, – surely a god<\/font> <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 319<\/font><\/span> <\/font> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nIncensed
\nand fatal, for his bowstring huge
\nSounds like the crack of breaking worlds and thick
\nHis arrows as the sleet descends of doom
\nWhen the great Serpent wakes in wrath. Behind
\nThat cry the crash of hostile advent came,
\nThy chariot caked with mire and blood, its roof
\nBristling and shattered from the fight, thy steeds
\nWhite with the spume of leagues, though yet they neighed
\nLusting for speed and battle, and in the car
\nThy grandiose form o’ertowering<\/span> common mould,
\nWhile victory shone from eyes where thunder couched
\nAbove his parent lightning. Swift to arms
\nMy warriors sprang, dismayed but faithful, swift
\nAround me grew a hedge of steel. Enraged,
\nThy coursers shod with wind rushed foaming on
\nAnd in with crash and rumour<\/span> stormed the car
\nTo that wide stone-paved hall; there loudly paused,
\nWhile thunderous challenge of the stamping hooves
\nClaimed all the place. Clanging thou leapedst<\/span> down,
\nUrijoon<\/span>, Gandiva in thy threatening grasp.
\nThen I beheld thy face, then rose, then stretched
\nMy arms out, pausing not to think what god
\nCompelled me from my throne. But war came in
\nBetween me and those sudden eyes. One bold
\nBeyond his savage peers stood questioning forth:
\n‘Who art thou that with challenge insolent
\nIntruding, from what land of deathless gods
\nStormest<\/span> with disallowed exulting wheels
\nIn white Chitrangada’s<\/span> domain? To death
\nMen hasten not so quickly, Aryan lord.’
\nHero: thy look was calm, yet formidable,
\nReplying, by thy anger undisturbed:
\n‘To death I haste indeed, but not to mine.
\nNor think that Doom has claimed me for her own
\nBecause I sole confront you. For my name
\nAsk the pale thousands whose swift-footed fear
\nHardly escaped my single onset; ask
\nYour famous chieftains cold on hill or moor
\nUpon my fatal route. Yet not for war
\nI sought this region nor by death equipped,<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage – 320<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n<\/div>\n

\n <\/font><\/span>Inhospitable
\npeople who denyThe<\/span> human bond, but as a man to men
\nAlone I came and without need of fear,
\nIf fear indeed were mine to feel. Nor trumpets blared
\nMy coming nor battalions steel enforced,
\nWho claimed but what the common bond allows."<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage \u2013 321<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

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

Chitrangada     In Manipur upon her orient hills Chitrangada beheld intending dawn Gaze coldly in. She understood the call. The silence and in perfect…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-05-collected-poems-volume-05","wpcat-32-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1487"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1487\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}