{"id":2323,"date":"2013-07-13T01:40:52","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=2323"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:40:52","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:40:52","slug":"13-vikramorvasie-or-hero-and-nymph-act-iv-vol-05-translations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/05-translations\/13-vikramorvasie-or-hero-and-nymph-act-iv-vol-05-translations","title":{"rendered":"-13_Vikramorvasie or Hero and Nymph – Act-IV.html"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n
\n <\/td>\n\n

\nAct
\n IV<\/span><\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nScene I. \u2014 The sky near the doors of the sunrise; clouds everywhere. Chitralekha and Sahajanya. <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nSAHAJANYA <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nDear Chitralekha, like a fading flower<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe beauty of thy face all marred reveals<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSorrow of heart. Tell me thy melancholy;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI would be sad with thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nCHITRALEKHA<\/font> (sorrowfully<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO Sahajanya!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSister, by rule of our vicissitude,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI serving at the feet of the great Sun<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWas troubled at heart for want of Urvasie.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nSAHAJANYA <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nI know your mutual passion of sisterliness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhat after?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nCHITRALEKHA <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nI had heard no news of her<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSo many days. Then I collected vision<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDivine into myself to know of her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO miserable knowledge!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nSAHAJANYA <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nSister, sister!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhat knowledge of sorrow?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nCHITRALEKHA<\/font> (still sorrowfully<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI saw that Urvasie<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

Page \u2013 188<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nTaking with her Pururavas and love \u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor he had on his ministers imposed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis heavy yoke of kingship \u2014 went to sport<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAmorously in Gandhamadan green.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nSAHAJANYA<\/font> (proudly<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO love is joy indeed, when in such spots<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTasted. And there?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nCHITRALEKHA <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nAnd there upon the strands<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf heavenly Ganges, one, a lovely child<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf spirits musical, Udayavatie,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWas playing, making little forts of sand;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOn her with all his soul the monarch gazed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis angered Urvasie.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nSAHAJANYA <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nO natural!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDeep passion always is intolerant.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAfterwards?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nCHITRALEKHA <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nShe pushed aside her pleading husband,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPerplexed by the Preceptor’s curse forgot<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe War-God’s vow and entered in that grove<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAvoidable of women; but no sooner<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHad trod its green, most suddenly she was<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA creeper rooted to that fatal verge.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nSAHAJANYA<\/font> (in a voice of grief <\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNow do I know that Fate’s indeed a thing<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInexorable, spares no one, when such love<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHas such an ending; O all too suddenly!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow must it be then with Pururavas?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 189<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nCHITRALEKHA <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nAll day and night he passions in that grove<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSeeking her. And this cool advent of cloud<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat turns even happy hearts to yearning pain,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWill surely kill him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nSAHAJANYA <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nSister, not long can grief<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHave privilege over such beautiful beings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSome God will surely pity them, some cause<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUnite once more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n(looking towards the east<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCome, sister. Our lord the Sun<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs rising in the east. Quick, to our service.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nThey go.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 190<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nScene II. \u2014 Pururavas enters disordered, his eyes fixed on the sky.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS<\/font> (angrily<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHalt, ruffian, halt! Thou in thy giant arms<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBearest away my Urvasie! He has<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSoared up from a great crag into the sky<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd wars me, hurling downward bitter rain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf arrows. With this thunderbolt I smite thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe lifts up a clod and runs as to hurl it;<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nthen pauses and looks upwards.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n(pathetically<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOh me, I am deceived! This was a cloud<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEquipped for rain, no proud and lustful fiend,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe rainbow, not a weapon drawn to kill,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nQuick-driving showers are these, not sleety rain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf arrows; and that brilliant line like streak<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf gold upon a touchstone, cloud-inarmed,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI saw, was lightning, not my Urvasie.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n(sorrowfully<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhere shall I find her now? Where clasp those thighs<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSwelling and smooth and white? Perhaps she stands<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInvisible to me by heavenly power,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll sullen? But her anger was ever swift<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd ended soon. Perhaps into her heavens<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShe has soared? O no! her heart was soft with love,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd love of me. Nor any fiend adverse<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo Heaven had so much strength as to hale her hence<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhile I looked on. Yet is she gone from me<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInvisible, swiftly invisible, \u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhither? O bitter miracle! and yet \u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe scans each horizon, then pauses and sighs.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\nAlas! when fortune turns against a man,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThen sorrow treads on sorrow. There was already<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis separation from my love, and hard<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEnough to bear; and now the pleasant days,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGuiltless of heat, with advent cool of rain<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 191<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nMust help to slay me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n(laughing<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhy do I so tamely<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAccept addition to my pangs? For even<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe saints confess, “The king controls the seasons”;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIf it be so, I will command the thunder<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBack to his stable.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n(pausing to think<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo, I must permit<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe season unabridged of pomp; the signs<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf storm are now my only majesty;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis sky with lightning gilt and laced becomes<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy canopy of splendour, and the trees<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf rain-time waving wide their lavish bloom<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFan me; the sapphire-throated peacocks, voiced<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSweeter for that divorce from heat, are grown<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy poets; the mountains are my citizens,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey pour out all their streams to swell my greatness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut I waste time in idly boasting vain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGlories and lose my love. To my task, to my task!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis grove, this grove should find her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe moves onward.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd here, O here<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs something to enrage my resolution.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRed-tinged, expanding, wet and full of rain,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThese blossom-cups recall to me her eyes<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBrimming with angry tears. How shall I trace her,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOr what thing tell me “Here and here she wandered”?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIf she had touched with her beloved feet<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe rain-drenched forest-sands, there were a line<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf little gracious footprints seen, with lac<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEnvermeilled, sinking deeper towards the heel<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBecause o’erburdened by her hips’ large glories.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe moves onward.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n(exultantly<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOh joy! I see a hint of her. This way<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThen went her angry beauty! Lo, her bodice<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

Page \u2013 192<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nBright green as is a parrot’s belly, smitten<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith crimson drops. It once veiled in her bosom<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd paused to show her navel deep as love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThese are her tears that from those angry eyes<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWent trickling, stealing scarlet from her lips<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo spangle all this green. Doubtless her heaving<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTumult of breasts broke its dear hold and, she<\/span><\/p>\n

\nStumbling in anger, from my heaven it drifted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI’ll gather it to my kisses.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe stoops to it, then sorrowfully,<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\nO my heart!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOnly green grass with dragon-wings enamelled!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrom whom shall I in all the desolate forest<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHave tidings of her, or what creature help me?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLo, in yon waste of crags the peacock! he<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUpon a cool moist rock that breathes of rain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nExults, aspires, his gorgeous mass of plumes<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSeized, blown and scattered by the roaring gusts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPregnant of shrillness is his outstretched throat,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis look is with the clouds. Him I will question:<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHave the bright corners of thine eyes beheld,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO sapphire-throated bird, her, my delight,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy wife, my passion, my sweet grief? Yielding<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo answer, he begins his gorgeous dance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhy should he be so glad of my heart’s woe?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI know thee, peacock. Since my cruel loss<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy plumes that stream in splendour on the wind,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHave not one rival left. For when her heavy<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDark wave of tresses over all the bed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn softness wide magnificently collapsed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOn her smooth shoulders massing purple glory<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd bright with flowers, she passioning in my arms,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho then was ravished with thy brilliant plumes,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVain bird? I question thee not, heartless thing,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat joyest in others’ pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n(turning away<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLo, where, new-fired<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 193<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nWith sweet bird-passion by the season cool,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA cuckoo on the plum-tree sits. This race<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs wisest of the families of birds<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd learned in love. I’ll greet him like himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO cuckoo, thou art called the bird of love,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis sweet ambassador, O cuckoo. Thou<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCriest and thy delightful voice within<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe hearts of lovers like an arrow comes,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSeeks out the anger there and softly kills.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMe also, cuckoo, to my darling bring<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOr her to me. What saidst thou? “How could she<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDesert thee loving?” Cuckoo, I will tell thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYes, she was angry. Yet I know I never<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGave her least cause. But, cuckoo, dost thou know not<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat women love to feel their sovereignty<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOver their lovers, nor transgression need<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo be angry? How! Dost thou break off, O bird,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOur converse thus abruptly and turn away<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo thine own tasks? Alas, ’twas wisely said<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat men bear easily the bitter griefs<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhich others feel. For all my misery<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis bird, my orison disregarding, turns<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo attack the plum-tree’s ripening fruit as one<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDrunken with love his darling’s mouth. And yet<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI cannot be angry with him. Has he not<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe voice of Urvasie? Abide, O bird,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn bliss, though I unhappy hence depart.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe walks on, then stops short and listens.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\nO Heaven? what do I hear? the anklets’ cry<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat tell the musical footing of my love?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo right of this long grove ’twas heard. Oh, I<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWill run to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n(hurrying forward<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMe miserable! This was<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNo anklets’ cry embraceable with hands,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut moan of swans who seeing the grey wet sky<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGrow passionate for Himaloy’s distant tarns.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

Page \u2013 194<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nWell, be it so. But ere in far desire<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey leap up from this pool, I well might learn<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTidings from them of Urvasie.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n(approaching<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nListen,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO king of all white fowl that waters breed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAfterwards to Himaloy wing thy way,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut now the lotus fibres in thy beak<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGathered by thee for provender resign;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEre long thou shalt resume them. Me, ah, first<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrom anguish rescue, O majestic swan,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith tidings of my sweet; always high souls<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPrefer another’s good to selfish aims.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou lookest upward to the heavens and sayest,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“I was absorbed with thoughts of Himaloy;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer have I not observed.” O swan, thou liest,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor if she never trod upon thy lake’s <\/span><\/p>\n

\nEmbankment, nor thou sawest her arched brows,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow couldst thou copy then so perfectly<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer footing full of amorous delight,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOr whence didst steal it? Give me back my love,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou robber! Thou hast got her gait and this<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs law that he with whom a part is found<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMust to the claimant realise the whole.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n(laughing<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO yes, thou flyest up, clanging alarm,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“This is the king whose duty is to punish<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll thieves like me!” Go then, but I will plunge<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInto new hopeful places, seeking love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLo, wild-drake with his mate, famed chocrobacque,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHim let me question. O thou wondrous creature,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll saffron and vermilion! Wilt thou then<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNot tell me of my love? Oh, sawest thou not<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy Goddess laughing like a lovely child<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn the bright house of spring? For, wild-drake, thou<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho gettest from the chariot’s orb thy name,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI who deprived am of her orbed hips,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 195<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nThe chariot-warrior great Pururavas,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEncompassed with a thousand armed desires,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nQuestion thee. How! “Who? Who?” thou sayest to me!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis is too much. It is not possible<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe should not know me! Bird, I am a king<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf kings, and grandson to the Sun and Moon,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd earth has chosen me for her master. This<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWere little. I am the loved of Urvasie!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nStill art thou silent? I will taunt him, then<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPerhaps he’ll speak. Thou, wild-drake, when thy love,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer body hidden by a lotus-leaf,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLurks near thee in the pool, deemest her far<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd wailest musically to the flowers<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA wild deep dirge. Such is thy conjugal<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYearning, thy terror such of even a little<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDivision from her nearness. Me afflicted,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMe so forlorn thou art averse to bless<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith just a little tidings of my love!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAlas, my miserable lot has made<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll creatures adverse to me. Let me plunge<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInto the deeper wood. Oh no, not yet!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis lotus with the honey-bees inside<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMaking melodious murmur, keeps me. I<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRemember her soft mouth when I have kissed it<\/span><\/p>\n

\nToo cruelly, sobbing exquisite complaint.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThese too I will implore. Alas, what use?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThey will despise me like the others. Yet,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLest I repent hereafter of my silence,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI’ll speak to him. O lotus-wooing bee,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTell me some rumour of those eyes like wine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut no, thou hast not seen that wonder. Else<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWouldst thou, O bee, affect the lotus’ bloom,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIf thou hadst caught the sweetness from her lips<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBreathing, whose scent intoxicates the breeze?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI’ll leave him. Lo! with his mate an elephant.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis trunk surrounds a nym-tree to uproot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo him will I, he may some rumour have<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

Page \u2013 196<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nOr whisper of my love. But softly! Haste<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWill ruin me. Oh, this is not the time!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNow his beloved mate has in her trunk<\/span><\/p>\n

\nJust found him broken branches odorous<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd sweet as wine with the fresh leaves not long<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn bud, new-honied. These let him enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis meal is over now. I may approach<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd ask him. O rut-dripping elephant,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSole monarch of the herd, has not that moon<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith jasmines all a glory in her hair<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd limbs of fadeless beauty, carrying<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYouth like a banner, whom to see is bliss,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs madness, fallen in thy far ken, O king?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOh joy! he trumpets loud and soft as who<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWould tell me he has seen indeed my love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOh, I am gladdened! More to thee I stand<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAttracted, elephant, as like with like.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSovereign of sovereigns is my title, thou<\/span><\/p>\n

\nArt monarch of the kingly elephants,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd this wide freedom of thy fragrant rut<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInterminable imitates my own<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVast liberality to suppliant men,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRegally; thou hast in all the herd this mate,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI among loveliest women Urvasie.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn all things art thou like me; only I pray,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO friend, that thou mayst never know the pang,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe loss. Be fortunate, king, farewell! Oh see,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe mountain of the Fragrant Glens appears,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFair as a dream, with his great plateaus trod<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBy heavenly feet of women. May it not be,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo this wide vale she too has with her sisters<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBrought here her beautiful body full of spring?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDarkness! I cannot see her. Yet by these gleams<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf lightning I may study, I may find.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAh God! the fruit of guilt is bounded not<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith the doer’s anguish; this stupendous cloud<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs widowed of the lightning through my sin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 197<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nYet I will leave thee not, O thou huge pile<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf scaling crags, unquestioned. Hear me, answer me!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO mountain, has she entered then the woods,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove’s green estate, \u2014 ah, she too utter love!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHer breasts were large like thine, with small sweet space<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBetween them, and like thine her glorious hips<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd smooth fair joints a rapture. Dumb? No answer?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI am too far away, he has not heard me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLet me draw nearer. Mountain, seen was she,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA woman all bereaved, her every limb<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA loveliness, in these delightful woods?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nECHO<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nNearer, O nearer! Mountain-seen was she,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA woman all bereaved, her every limb<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA loveliness, in these delightful woods.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nHe has answered, answered! O my heart, I draw<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNearer to her! In my own words the hill<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnswers thee, O my heart. As joyous tidings<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMayst thou too hear, mountain. She then was seen,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy Urvasie in thy delightful woods?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nECHO<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nMountain! mountain! mountain! She then was seen,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy Urvasie in thy delightful woods,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn thy delightful woods, delightful woods.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nAlas! ’tis Echo mocks me with my voice<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRolling amid the crags and mountain glens.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOut on thee, Echo! Thou hast killed my heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO Urvasie! Urvasie! Urvasie!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe falls down and swoons.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n(recovering<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI am all weary and sad. Oh, let me rest
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 198<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nBeside this mountain river for a moment<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd woo the breeze that dances on the waves.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll turbid is this stream with violent rain,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd yet I thrill to see it. For, O, it seems<\/span><\/p>\n

\nJust like my angry darling when she went<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrowning \u2014 as this does with its little waves, \u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA wrathful music in her girdle,
\n\u2014 and see!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis string of birds with frightened clangour rise;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShe trailed her raiment as the river its foam,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor it loosened with her passion as she moved<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith devious feet, all angry, blind with tears,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd often stopped to brood upon her wrongs:<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut soon indignantly her stormy speed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nResumed, so tripping, winding goes the stream,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs she did. O most certainly ’tis she,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy sweet quick-tempered darling, suddenly changed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInto a river’s form. I will beseech her<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd soothe her wounded spirit. Urvasie?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDid I not love thee perfectly? Did not<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy speech grow sweetness when I spoke to thee?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd when did my heart anything but hate<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo false our love? O what was the slight fault<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou foundest in thy servant that thou couldst<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDesert him, Urvasie, O Urvasie!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShe answers not! It is not she, merely<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA river. Urvasie would not have left<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPururavas to tryst with Ocean. And now<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSince only by refusal to despair<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCan bliss at last be won, I will return<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhere first she fled from my pursuing eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis couching stag shall give me tidings of her,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho looks as if he were a splendid glance<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSome dark-eyed Dryad had let fall to admire<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis budding foliage and this young green beauty<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf grass. But why averts he then his head<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs though in loathing? I perceive his reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLo, his fair hind is hasting towards him, stayed<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 199<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nBy their young deerling plucking at her teats.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith her his eyes are solely, her with bent<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLithe neck he watches. Ho, thou lord of hind!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSawst thou not her I love? O stag, I’ll tell thee<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow thou shouldst know her. Like thine own dear hind<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShe had large eyes and loving, and like hers<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat gaze was beauty. Why does he neglect<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy words and only gaze towards his love?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll prosperous creatures slight the unfortunate!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n‘Tis natural. Then elsewhere let me seek.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI have found her, I have found her! O a hint<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd token of her way! This one red drop<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf summer’s blood the very codome was,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThough rough with faulty stamens, yet thought worthy<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo crown her hair. And thou, asoka red,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDidst watch my slender-waisted when she gave<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSo cruelly a loving heart to pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhy dost thou lie and shake thy windy head?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow couldst thou by her soft foot being untouched<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBreak out into such bloom of petals stung<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd torn by jostling crowds of bees, who swarm<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll wild to have thy honey? Ever be blest,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou noble trunk. What should this be, bright red,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat blazes in a crevice of the rocks?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor if it were a piece of antelope’s flesh<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTorn by a lion, ‘twould not have this blaze,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis lustre haloing it; nor can it be<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA spark pregnant of fire; for all the wood<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs drowned in rain. No, ’tis a gem, a miracle<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf crimson, like the red felicitous flower,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd with one radiant finger of the sun<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLaid on it like a claim. Yet I will take it,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor it compels my soul with scarlet longing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWherefore? She on whose head it should have burned,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhose hair all fragrant with the coral-bloom<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI loved like Heaven, is lost to me, beyond<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRecovery lost to me. Why should I take it<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 200<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nTo mar it with my tears?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nA VOICE<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\nReject it not,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy son; this is the jewel Union born<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrom the red lac that on the marvellous feet<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWas brilliant of Himaloy’s child, and, soon,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho bears it is united with his love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nWho speaks to me? It is a saint who dwells<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn forest like the deer. He first of creatures<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHas pitied me. O my lord anchoret,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI thank thee. Thou, O Union, if thou end<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy separation, if with that small-waisted<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou shouldst indeed be proved my Union,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nJewel, I’ll use thee for my crown, as Shiva<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUpon his forehead wears the crescent moon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis flowerless creeper! Wherefore do mine eyes<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDwell with its barren grace and my heart yearn<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTowards it? And yet, O, not without a cause<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHas she enchanted me. There standst thou, creeper,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll slender, thy poor sad leaves are moist with rain,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou silent, with no voice of honey-bees<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUpon thy drooping boughs; as from thy lord<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe season separated, leaving off<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy habit of bloom. Why, I might think I saw<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy passionate darling sitting penitent<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith tear-stained face and body unadorned,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThinking in silence how she spurned my love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI will embrace thee, creeper, for thou art<\/span><\/p>\n

\nToo like my love. Urvasie! all my body<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIs thrilled and satisfied of Urvasie!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI feel, I feel her living limbs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n(despairingly<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut how<\/span><\/p>\n

\nShould I believe it? Everything I deem<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 201<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nA somewhat of my love, next moment turns<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo other. Therefore since by touch at least<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI find my dear one, I will not separate<\/span><\/p>\n

\nToo suddenly mine eyes from sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n(opening his eyes slowly<\/i>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO love,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n‘Tis thou!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nHe swoons.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\nURVASIE <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nUpraise thy heart, my King, my liege!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nDearest, at last I live! O thou hadst plunged me<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInto a dark abyss of separation,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd fortunately art thou returned to me,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLike consciousness given back to one long dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nURVASIE <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nWith inward senses I have watched and felt<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy whole long agony.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nWith inward senses?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI understand thee not.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nURVASIE <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nI will tell all.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut let my lord excuse my grievous fault,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho, wretch enslaved by anger, brought to this<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy sovereign! Smile on me and pardon me!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nNever speak of it. Thy clasp is thy forgiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor all my outward senses and my soul<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLeap laughing towards thy bosom. Only convince me<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow thou couldst live without me such an age.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 202<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nURVASIE <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nHearken. The War-God Skanda, from of old<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVirginity eternal vowing, came<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo Gandhamadan’s bank men call the pure,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd made a law.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nWhat law, beloved?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nURVASIE <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

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

\nThat any woman entering these precincts<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBecomes at once a creeper. And for limit<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf the great curse, “Without the jewel born<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFrom crimson of my mother’s feet can she<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNever be woman more.” Now I, my lord,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy heart perplexed by the Preceptor’s curse,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nForgot the War-God’s oath and entered here,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nRejecting thy entreaties, to the wood<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAvoidable of women: at the first step,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll suddenly my form was changed. I was<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA creeper growing at the wood’s wild end.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nOh, now intelligible! When from thy breasts<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLoosening the whole embrace, the long delight,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI sank back languid, thou wouldst moan for me<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLike one divided far. How is it then<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPossible that thou shouldst bear patiently<\/span><\/p>\n

\nReal distance between us? Lo, this jewel,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs in thy story, gave thee to my arms.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAdmonished by a hermit sage I kept it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nURVASIE <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nThe jewel Union! Therefore at thy embrace<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI was restored.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nShe places the jewel gratefully upon her head.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 203<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nThus stand a while. O fairest,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy face, suffused with crimson from this gem<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAbove thee pouring wide its fire and splendour,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHas all the beauty of a lotus reddening<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn early sunlight.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nURVASIE <\/font> <\/p>\n

\nO sweet of speech! remember<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat thy high capital awaits thee long.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIt may be that the people blame me. Let us,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy own dear lord, return.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nLet us return.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nURVASIE <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nWhat wafture will my sovereign choose?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nPURURAVAS <\/font>
\n<\/span> <\/p>\n

\nO waft me<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNearer the sun and make a cloud our chariot,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhile lightning like a streaming banner floats<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNow seen, now lost to vision, and the rainbow<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith freshness of its glory iridescent<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEdges us. In thine arms uplift and waft me,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBeloved, through the wide and liquid air.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nThey go.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 204<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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

  Act IV   Scene I. \u2014 The sky near the doors of the sunrise; clouds everywhere. Chitralekha and Sahajanya.   SAHAJANYA Dear Chitralekha, like…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-05-translations","wpcat-48-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323","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=2323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2323\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}