{"id":3303,"date":"2013-07-13T01:47:20","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:47:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=3303"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:47:20","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:47:20","slug":"13-book-7-canto-3-the-entry-into-the-inner-countries-vol-02-savitri-1951","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/02-other-editions\/01-savitri\/02-savitri-1951\/13-book-7-canto-3-the-entry-into-the-inner-countries-vol-02-savitri-1951","title":{"rendered":"-13_Book 7 Canto 3 The Entry into The Inner Countries.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\n
\nCANTO THREE<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

THE ENTRY INTO THE
\nINNER COUNTRIES<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\t\t <\/td>\n\n

\nAT first out of the busy hum of
\nmind <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAs if from a loud thronged market
\ninto a cave<\/P><\/p>\n

By an
\ninward moment's magic she had come,<\/p>\n

A stark
\nhushed emptiness became her self: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHer mind unvisited by the voice of
\nthought <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nStared at a void deep's dumb
\ninfinity. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHer heights receded, her depths
\nbehind her closed; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll fled away from her and left her
\nblank.<\/P><\/p>\n

But when
\nshe came back to her self of thought,<\/p>\n

Once
\nmore she was a human thing on earth,<\/p>\n

A lump
\nof Matter, a house of closed sight,<\/p>\n

A mind
\ncompelled to think out ignorance,<\/p>\n

A
\nlife-force pressed into a camp of works<\/p>\n

And the
\nmaterial world her limiting field.<\/p>\n

Amazed
\nlike one unknowing she sought her way<\/p>\n

Out of
\nthe tangle of man's ignorant past<\/p>\n

That
\ntook the surface person for the soul.<\/p>\n

Then a
\nVoice spoke that dwelt on secret heights: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n"For man thou seekst, not for
\nthyself alone,<\/P><\/p>\n

Only if
\nGod assumes the human mind<\/p>\n

And puts
\non mortal ignorance for his cloak<\/p>\n

And
\nmakes himself the Dwarf with triple stride,<\/p>\n

Can he
\nhelp man to grow into the God.<\/p>\n

As man
\ndisguised the cosmic Greatness works<\/p>\n

And
\nfinds the mystic inaccessible gate<\/p>\n

And
\nopens the Immortal's golden door.<\/p>\n

Man
\nhuman follows in God's human steps.<\/p>\n

\nAccepting his darkness thou must bring to him light,<\/p>\n

\nAccepting his sorrow thou must bring to him bliss.<\/p>\n

In
\nMatter's body find thy heaven-born soul." <\/p>\n

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

\n

Page 131<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThen Savitri surged out of her
\nbody's wall <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd stood a little span outside
\nherself <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd looked into her subtle being's
\ndepths <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd in its heart as in a lotus-bud <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDivined her secret and mysterious
\nsoul. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAt the dim portal of the inner life <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThat bars out from our depths the
\nbody's mind <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd all that lives but by the
\nbody's breath, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nShe knocked and pressed against the
\nebony gate. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe living portal groaned with
\nsullen hinge: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHeavily reluctant it complained
\ninert<\/P><\/p>\n

\nAgainst the tyranny of the spirit's touch.<\/p>\n

A
\nformidable voice cried from within: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n"Back, creature of earth, lest
\ntortured and torn thou die."<\/P><\/p>\n

A
\ndreadful murmur rose like a dim sea; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe Serpent of the threshold
\nhissing rose,<\/P><\/p>\n

A fatal
\nguardian hood with monstrous coils,<\/p>\n

The
\nhounds of darkness growled with jaws agape,<\/p>\n

And
\ntrolls and gnomes and goblins scowled and stared<\/p>\n

And wild
\nbeast roarings thrilled the blood with fear<\/p>\n

And
\nmenace muttered in a dangerous tongue.<\/p>\n

\nUnshaken her will pressed on the rigid bars: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe gate swung wide with a
\nprotesting jar, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe opponent Powers withdrew their
\ndreadful guard; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHer being entered into the inner
\nworlds.<\/P><\/p>\n

In a
\nnarrow passage, the subconscient's gate; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe breathed with difficulty and
\npain and strove <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo find the inner self concealed in
\nsense. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nInto a dense of subtle Matter
\npacked, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA cavity filled with a blind mass
\nof power, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAn opposition of misleading gleams, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA heavy barrier of unseeing sight, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nShe forced her way through body to
\nthe soul. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAcross a perilous border line she
\npassed <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhere life dips into the
\nsubconscient dusk <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr struggles from Matter into chaos
\nof mind, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAswarm with elemental entities <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd fluttering shapes of vague
\nhalf-bodied thought <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd crude beginnings of incontinent
\nforce. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAt first a difficult narrowness was
\nthere, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nPage  132<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nA press of uncertain powers and
\ndrifting wills; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFor all was there but nothing in
\nits place.<\/P><\/p>\n

At times
\nan opening came, a door was forced; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe crossed through spaces of a
\nsecret self<\/P><\/p>\n

And trod
\nin passages of inner Time.<\/p>\n

At last
\nshe broke into a form of things,<\/p>\n

A start
\nof finiteness, a world of sense: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nBut all was still confused, nothing
\nself-found.<\/P><\/p>\n

Soul was
\nnot there but only cries of life.<\/p>\n

A
\nthronged and clamorous air environed her.<\/p>\n

A horde
\nof sounds defied significance,<\/p>\n

A
\ndissonant clash of cries and contrary calls; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nA mob of visions broke across the
\nsight,<\/P><\/p>\n

A
\njostled sequence lacking sense and suite,<\/p>\n

\nFeelings pushed through a packed and burdened heart,<\/p>\n

Each
\nforced its separate inconsequent way<\/p>\n

But
\ncared for nothing but its ego's drive.<\/p>\n

A rally
\nwithout key of common will,<\/p>\n

\nThought stared at thought and pulled at the taut brain<\/p>\n

As if to
\npluck the reason from its seat<\/p>\n

And cast
\nits corpse into life's wayside drain; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nSo might forgotten lie in Nature's
\nmud <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAbandoned the slain sentinel of the
\nsoul. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSo could life's power shake from it
\nmind's rule, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNature renounce the spirit's
\ngovernment <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd the bare elemental energies <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMake of the sense a glory of
\nboundless joy, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA splendour of ecstatic anarchy, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA revel mighty and mad of utter
\nbliss. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThis was the sense's instinct void
\nof soul <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr when the soul sleeps hidden void
\nof power, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut now the vital godhead wakes
\nwithin <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd lifts the life with the
\nsupernal's touch. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut how shall come the glory and
\nthe flame <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIf mind is cast away into the
\nabyss? <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFor body without mind has not the
\nlight, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe rapture of spirit sense, the
\njoy of life; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll then becomes subconscient,
\ntenebrous,<\/P><\/p>\n

\nInconscience puts its seal on Nature's page<\/p>\n

<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nOr else a mad disorder whirls the
\nbrain <\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage  133<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nPosting along a ravaged nature's
\nroads, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA chaos of disordered impulses <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn which no light can come, no joy,
\nno peace. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThis state now threatened, this she
\npushed from her. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAs if in a long endless tossing
\nstreet <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOne driven mid a trampling hurrying
\ncrowd <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHour after hour she trod without
\nrelease, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHolding by her will the senseless
\nmeute at bay; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOut of the dreadful press she
\ndragged her will<\/P><\/p>\n

And
\nfixed her thought upon the saviour Name; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThen all grew still and empty; she
\nwas free. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA large deliverance came, a vast
\ncalm space. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAwhile she moved through a blank
\ntranquillity <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOf naked Light from an invisible
\nsun, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA void that was a bodiless
\nhappiness, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA blissful vacuum of nameless
\npeace. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut now a mightier danger's front
\ndrew near: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe press of bodily mind, the
\nInconscient's brood <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOf aimless thought and will had
\nfallen from her. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nApproaching loomed a giant head of
\nLife <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nUngoverned by mind or soul,
\nsubconscient, vast. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt tossed all power into a single
\ndrive, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt made its power a might of
\ndangerous seas. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nInto the stillness of her silent
\nself, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nInto the whiteness of its muse of
\nSpace <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA spate, a torrent of the speed of
\nLife <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBroke like a wind-lashed driven mob
\nof waves <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nRacing on a pale floor of summer
\nsand; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt drowned its banks, a mountain of
\nclimbing waves. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nEnormous was its vast and
\npassionate voice. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt cried to her listening spirit as
\nit ran, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDemanding God's submission to
\nchainless Force. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA deaf force calling to a status
\ndumb, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA thousand voices in a muted Vast, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt claimed the heart's support for
\nits clutch at joy, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFor its need to act the witness
\nsoul's consent, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFor its lust of power her neutral
\nbeing's seal. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nInto the wideness of her watching
\nself <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt brought a grandiose gust of the
\nBreath of Life; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts torrent carried the world's
\nhopes and fears,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nPage  134<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nAll life's, all Nature's
\ndissatisfied hungry cry,<\/P><\/p>\n

And the
\nlonging all eternity cannot fill: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nIt called to the mountain secrecies
\nof the soul<\/P><\/p>\n

And the
\nmiracle of the never-dying fire,<\/p>\n

It spoke
\nto some first inexpressible ecstasy<\/p>\n

Hidden
\nin the creative beat of Life; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nOut of the nether unseen deeps it
\ntore <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts lure and magic of disordered
\nbliss, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nInto earth-light poured its maze of
\ntangled charm <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd heady draught of Nature's
\nprimitive joy <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd the fire and mystery of
\nforbidden delight <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDrunk from the world-libido's
\nbottomless well, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd the honey-sweet poison-wine of
\nlust and death, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut dreamed a vintage of glory of
\nlife's gods, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd felt as celestial rapture's
\ngolden sting. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe cycles of the infinity of
\ndesire <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd the mystique that made an
\nunrealised world <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWider than the known and closer
\nthan the unknown <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn which hunt for ever the hounds
\nof mind and life, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTempted a deep dissatisfied urge
\nwithin <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo long for the unfulfilled and
\never far <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd make this life upon a limiting
\nearth <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA climb towards summits vanishing
\nin the void, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA search for the glory of the
\nimpossible. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt dreamed of that which never has
\nbeen known, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt grasped at that which never has
\nbeen won, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt chased into an Elysian memory <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe charms that flee from the
\nheart's soon lost delight; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt dared the force that slays, the
\njoys that hurt, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe imaged shape of unaccomplished
\nthings <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd the summons to a Circean
\ntransmuting dance <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd passion's tenancy of the courts
\nof love <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd the wild Beast's ramp and romp
\nwith Beauty and Life. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt brought its cry and surge of
\nopposite powers, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts moments of the touch of
\nluminous planes, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts flame-ascensions and
\nsky-pitched vast attempts, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts fiery towers of dream built on
\nthe winds, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts sinkings towards the darkness
\nand the abyss, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts honey of tenderness, its sharp
\nwine of hate, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts changes of sun and cloud, of
\nlaughter and tears, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n

Page  135<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nIts bottomless danger pits and
\nswallowing gulfs, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts fear and joy and ecstasy and
\ndespair, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts occult wizardries, its simple
\nlines <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd great communions and uplifting
\nmoves, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts faith in heaven, its
\nintercourse with hell. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThese powers were not blunt with
\nthe dead weight of earth, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThey gave ambrosia's taste and
\npoison's sting. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThere was an ardour in the gaze of
\nLife <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThat saw heaven blue in the grey
\nair of Night: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe impulses godward soared on
\npassion's wings.<\/P><\/p>\n

Mind's
\nquick-paced thoughts floated from their high necks<\/p>\n

A
\nglowing splendour as of an irised mane,<\/p>\n

A parure
\nof pure intuition's light; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nIts flame-foot gallop they could
\nimitate: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMind's voices mimicked
\ninspiration's stress,<\/P><\/p>\n

Its
\nictus of infallibility, <\/font><\/p>\n

\nIts speed and lightning heaven-leap
\nof the Gods.<\/P><\/p>\n

A
\ntrenchant blade that shore the nets of doubt,<\/p>\n

Its
\nsword of discernment seemed almost divine.<\/p>\n

Yet all
\nthat knowledge was a borrowed sun's; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe forms that came were not
\nheaven's native births: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts puissance dangerous and
\nabsolute <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCould mingle poison with the wine
\nof God. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOn these high shining backs
\nfalsehood could ride; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTruth lay with delight in error's
\npassionate arms<\/P><\/p>\n

\nGliding downstream in a blithe gilded barge: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe edged her ray with a
\nmagnificent lie.<\/P><\/p>\n

Here in
\nLife's nether realms all contraries meet; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nTruth stares and does her works
\nwith bandaged eyes,<\/P><\/p>\n

And
\nIgnorance is Wisdom's patron here.<\/p>\n

Those
\ngalloping hooves in their enthusiast speed<\/p>\n

Could
\nbear to a dangerous intermediate zone<\/p>\n

Where
\nDeath walks wearing a robe of deathless Life.<\/p>\n

Or they
\nenter the valley of the wandering Gleam<\/p>\n

\nWhence, captives or victims of the specious Ray,<\/p>\n

Souls
\ntrapped in that region never can escape.<\/p>\n

\nAgents, not masters, they serve Life's desires<\/p>\n

\nToiling for ever in the snare of Time.<\/p>\n

Their
\nbodies born out of some Nihil's womb<\/p>\n

\nEnsnare the spirit in the moment's dreams,<\/p>\n

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

\n

Page   136<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThen perish vomiting the immortal
\nsoul <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOut of Matter's belly into the sink
\nof Nought. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nYet some uncaught, unslain can
\nwarily pass * <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCarrying Truth's image in their
\nsheltered heart, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nPluck Knowledge out of error's
\nscreening grip, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBreak paths through the blind walls
\nof little self, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThen travel on to reach a greater
\nlife. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll this streamed past her and
\nseemed to her vision's sight <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAs if around a high and voiceless
\nisle <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA clamour of waters from far
\nunknown hills, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSwallowed its narrow banks in
\ncrowding waves <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd made a hungry world of white
\nwild foam: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHastening, a dragon with a million
\nfeet,<\/P><\/p>\n

Its foam
\nand cry, a drunken giant's din,<\/p>\n

\nTossing a mane of Darkness into God's sky,<\/p>\n

<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nIt ebbed receding into a distant
\nroar,<\/p>\n

Then
\nsmiled again a large and tranquil air: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nBlue heaven, green earth, partners
\nof Beauty's reign,<\/P><\/p>\n

Lived as
\nof old, companions in happiness; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nAnd in the world's heart laughed
\nthe joy of life. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll now was still, the soil shone
\ndry and pure. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThrough it all she moved not,
\nplunged not in the vain waves. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOut of the vastness of the silent
\nself <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLife's clamour fled, her spirit was
\nmute and free. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n     Then
\njourneying forward through the self's wide hush<\/P><\/p>\n

She came
\ninto a brilliant ordered Space.<\/p>\n

There
\nLife dwelt parked in an armed tranquillity,<\/p>\n

A chain
\nwas on her strong insurgent heart.<\/p>\n

Tamed to
\nthe modesty of a measured pace; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nShe kept no more her vehement
\nstride and rush; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nShe had lost the careless majesty
\nof her muse<\/P><\/p>\n

And the
\nample grandeur of her regal force; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nCurbed were her mighty pomps, her
\nsplendid waste, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSobered the revels other bacchant
\nplay, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCut down were her squanderings in
\ndesire's bazaar, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCoerced her despot will, her
\nfancy's dance, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA cold stolidity bound the riot of
\nsense. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHer spirit's bounds they cast in
\nrigid lines. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA royalty without freedom was her
\nlot; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n

Page 137<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nThe sovereign throned obeyed her
\nministers: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHer servants mind and sense
\ngoverned her house<\/P><\/p>\n

And
\nguarded with a phalanx of armoured rules<\/p>\n

The
\nreason's balanced reign, kept order and peace.<\/p>\n

Her will
\nlived closed in adamant walls of law,<\/p>\n

\nCoerced was her force by chains that feigned to adorn,<\/p>\n

\nImagination was prisoned in a fort,<\/p>\n

Her
\nwanton and licentious favourite; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nReality's poise and reason's
\nsymmetry<\/P><\/p>\n

Were set
\nin its place sentinelled by marshalled facts,<\/p>\n

They
\ngave to the soul for throne a bench of Law,<\/p>\n

For
\nkingdom a small world of rule and line: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nThe ages' wisdom, shrivelled to
\nscholiast lines,<\/P><\/p>\n

Shrank
\npatterned into a copy-book device.<\/p>\n

The
\nSpirit's almighty freedom was not here: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nA schoolman mind had captured
\nlife's large space, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut chose to live in bare and
\npaltry rooms <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nParked off from the too vast
\ndangerous universe, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFearing to lose its soul in the
\ninfinite. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nEven the Idea's ample sweep was cut <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nInto a system, chained to fixed
\npillars of thought <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr rivetted to Matter's solid
\nground: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr else the soul was lost in its
\nown heights: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nObeying the Ideal's highbrowed law<\/P><\/p>\n

\nThought based a throne on unsubstantial air<\/p>\n

\nDisdaining earth's flat triviality: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nIt barred reality out to live in
\nits dreams.<\/P><\/p>\n

Or all
\nstepped into a systemed universe: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nLife's empire was a managed
\ncontinent, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIts thoughts an army ranked and
\ndisciplined; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nUniformed they kept the logic of
\ntheir fixed place<\/P><\/p>\n

At the
\nbidding of the trained centurion mind.<\/p>\n

Or each
\nstepped into its station like a star<\/p>\n

Or
\nmarched through fixed and constellated heavens<\/p>\n

Or kept
\nits feudal rank among its peers<\/p>\n

In the
\nsky's unchanging cosmic hierarchy.<\/p>\n

Or like
\na highbred maiden with chaste eyes<\/p>\n

\nForbidden to walk unveiled the public ways,<\/p>\n

She must
\nin close secluded chambers move,<\/p>\n

Her
\nfeeling in cloisters live or gardened paths. <\/font><\/p>\n

\n

Page 138<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nLife was consigned to a safe level
\npath, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt dared not tempt the great and
\ndifficult heights <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr climb to be neighbour to a
\nlonely star <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr skirt the danger of the
\nprecipice <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr tempt the foam-curled breakers'
\nperilous laugh, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAdventure's lyrist, danger's
\namateur, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr into her chamber call some
\nflaming god, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr leave the world's bounds and
\nwhere no limits are, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMeet with the heart's passion the
\nAdorable <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr set the world ablaze with the
\ninner Fire. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA chastened epithet in the prose of
\nlife, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nShe must fill with colour just her
\nsanctioned space, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNot break out of the cabin of the
\nidea <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNor trespass into rhythms too high
\nor vast. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nEven when it soared into ideal air, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThought's flight lost not itself in
\nheaven's blue: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIt drew upon the skies a patterned
\nflower<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nOf disciplined beauty and harmonic
\nlight.<\/p>\n

A
\ntemperate vigilant spirit governed life: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nIts acts were tools of the
\nconsidering thought,<\/P><\/p>\n

Too cold
\nto take fire and set the world ablaze,<\/p>\n

Or the
\ncareful reason's diplomatic moves<\/p>\n

\nTesting the means to a prefigured end,<\/p>\n

Or at
\nthe highest pitch some calm Will's plan<\/p>\n

Or a
\nstrategy of some High Command within<\/p>\n

To
\nconquer the secret treasures of the gods<\/p>\n

Or win
\nfor a masked king some glorious world,<\/p>\n

Not a
\nreflex of the spontaneous self,<\/p>\n

An index
\nof the being and its moods,<\/p>\n

A
\nwinging of conscious spirit, a sacrament<\/p>\n

Of
\nlife's communion with the still Supreme<\/p>\n

Or its
\npure movement on the Eternal's road.<\/p>\n

Or else
\nfor the body of some high Idea<\/p>\n

A house
\nwas built with too close-fitting bricks; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nAction and thought cemented made a
\nwall<\/P><\/p>\n

Of small
\nideals limiting the soul.<\/p>\n

Even
\nmeditation mused on a narrow seat,<\/p>\n

And
\nworship turned to an exclusive God,<\/p>\n

To the
\nUniversal in a chapel prayed<\/p>\n

Whose
\ndoors were shut against the universe: <\/p>\n

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

\n

Page 139<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nOr kneeled to the bodiless
\nImpersonal<\/P><\/p>\n

A mind
\nshut to the cry and fire of love: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nA rational religion dried the
\nheart.<\/P><\/p>\n

It
\nplanned a smooth life's acts with ethics' rule<\/p>\n

<\/P><\/font><\/p>\n

\nOr offered a cold and nameless
\nsacrifice.<\/p>\n

The
\nsacred Book lay on its sanctified desk<\/p>\n

\nWrapped in interpretation's silken strings: <\/font><\/p>\n

\nA credo sealed up its spiritual
\nsense. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n       Here was a quiet country of fixed mind,<\/P><\/p>\n

Here
\nlife no more was all nor passion's voice; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nA cry of sense had sunk into a
\nhush. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSoul was not there nor spirit, but
\nmind alone; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMind claimed to be the spirit and
\nthe soul. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe spirit saw itself as form of
\nmind, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLost itself in the glory of the
\nthought, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA light that made invisible the
\nsun. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nInto a firm and settled space she
\ncame <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWhere all was still and all things
\nkept their place. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nEach found what it had sought and
\nknew its aim. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll had a final last stability. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThere one stood forth who bore
\nauthority <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOn an important brow and held a
\nrod; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCommand was incarnate in his
\ngesture and tone; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTradition's petrified wisdom carved
\nhis speech,<\/P><\/p>\n

His
\nsentences savoured the oracle.<\/p>\n

\n"Traveller or pilgrim of the inner world,<\/p>\n

\nFortunate art thou to reach our brilliant air<\/p>\n

\nFlaming with thought's supreme finality.<\/p>\n

0
\naspirant to the perfect way of life,<\/p>\n

Here
\nfind it; rest from search and live at peace.<\/p>\n

Ours is
\nthe home of cosmic certainty.<\/p>\n

Here is
\nthe truth. God's harmony is here. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nAnother version: <\/font>
\n<\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n        This narrowed life's pedestrian
\nthought and will<\/font><\/P><\/p>\n

\n     
\nDebouched into a little continent space<\/font><\/p>\n

\n    Where
\nsoul was not and thinking mind<\/font><\/p>\n

\n    
\nLaboured content with small finalities.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

<\/P>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n     It seemed to it the top of being's
\narc<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\n    And the
\nlast circle of the quest of life.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

<\/P>
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

\n    It was a paradise for thoughts'
\ncrowned ease<\/font><\/p>\n

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

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

\n    Where
\nnothing more was left to find or know,<\/font><\/p>\n

\n    A
\ntabernacle of wise contented life.
\n<\/font><\/p>\n

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

\nPage 140<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nRegister thy name in the book of
\nthe elite, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAdmitted by the sanction of the
\nfew, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAdopt thy station of knowledge, thy
\npost in mind, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThy ticket of order draw in Life's
\nbureau <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd praise thy fate that made thee
\none of ours. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll here; docketed and tied, the
\nmind can know, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll schemed by law that God permits
\nto life. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThis is the end and there is no
\nbeyond. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHere is the safety of the ultimate
\nwall, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHere is the clarity of the sword of
\nLight, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHere is the victory of a single
\nTruth, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHere bums the diamond of flawless
\nbliss. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA favourite of Heaven and Nature
\nlive." <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut to the too satisfied and
\nconfident sage <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSavitri replied casting into his
\nworld <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nSight's deep release, the heart's
\nquestioning inner voice. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFor here the heart spoke not, only
\nclear daylight <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOf intellect reigned here,
\nlimiting, cold, precise. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n"Happy are they who in this chaos
\nof things, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThis coming and going of the feet
\nof Time, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCan find the single Truth, the
\neternal Law: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nUntouched they live by hope and
\ndoubt and fear. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHappy are men anchored on fixed
\nbelief <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn this uncertain and ambiguous
\nworld, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr who have planted in the heart's
\nrich soil <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOne small grain of spiritual
\ncertitude. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHappiest who stand on faith as on a
\nrock. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut I must pass leaving the ended
\nsearch, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTruth's rounded outcome firm,
\nimmutable <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd this harmonic building of
\nworld-fact, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThis ordered knowledge of apparent
\nthings. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nHere I can stay not, for I seek my
\nsoul." <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nNone answered in that bright
\ncontented world, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr only turned on their accustomed
\nway <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAstonished to hear questioning in
\nthat air <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr thoughts that could still turn
\nto the Beyond. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut some murmured, passers-by from
\nkindred spheres: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nEach by his credo judged the
\nthought she spoke.<\/P><\/p>\n

"Who
\nthen is this who knows not that the soul<\/p>\n

Is a
\nleast gland or a secretion's fault <\/p>\n

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

\nPage 141<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nDisquieting the sane government of
\nthe mind, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nDisordering the function of the
\nbrain, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr a yearning lodged in Nature's
\nmortal house <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr dream whispered in man's cave of
\nhollow thought <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWho would prolong his brief unhappy
\nterm <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOr cling to living in a sea of
\ndeath?" <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut others, "Nay, it is her spirit
\nshe seeks. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA splendid shadow of the name of
\nGod, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA formless lustre from the Ideal's
\nrealm, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe Spirit is the Holy Ghost of
\nMind; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut none has touched its limits or
\nseen its face. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nEach soul is the great Father's
\ncrucified Son, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMind is that soul's one parent, its
\nconscious cause, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThe ground on which trembles a
\nbrief passing light, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nMind, sole creator of the apparent
\nworld. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAll that is here is part of our own
\nself, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOur minds have made the world in
\nwhich we live." <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnother with mystic and unsatisfied
\neyes <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWho loved his slain belief and
\nmourned its death: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n"Is there one left who seeks for a
\nBeyond?<\/P><\/p>\n

Can
\nstill the path be found, opened the gate?" <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n      So
\nshe fared on across her silent self.<\/P><\/p>\n

To a
\nroad she came thronged with an ardent crowd<\/p>\n

Who sped
\nbrilliant fire-footed, sun-light eyed,<\/p>\n

\nPressing to reach the world's mysterious wall,<\/p>\n

And pass
\nthrough masked doorways into outer mind<\/p>\n

Where
\nthe Light comes not nor the mystic voice,<\/p>\n

\nMessengers from our subliminal greatnesses,<\/p>\n

Guests
\nfrom the cavern of the secret soul.<\/p>\n

Into dim
\nspiritual somnolence they break<\/p>\n

Or shed
\nwide wonder on our waking self,<\/p>\n

Ideas
\nthat haunt us with their radiant tread,<\/p>\n

Dreams
\nthat are hints of unborn Reality,<\/p>\n

\nStrange goddesses with deep-pooled magical eyes,<\/p>\n

Strong
\nwind-haired gods carrying harps of hope,<\/p>\n

Great
\nmoon-hued visions gliding through gold air,<\/p>\n

\nAspiration's sun-dream head and star-carved limbs,<\/p>\n

\nEmotions making common hearts sublime.<\/p>\n

And
\nSavitri mingling in that glorious crowd, <\/p>\n

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

\n

Page 142<\/font><\/p>\n

\n

\nYearning to the spiritual light
\nthey bore, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nLonged once to hasten like them to
\nsave God's world, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nBut she reined back the high
\npassion in her heart: <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nShe knew that first she must
\ndiscover her soul.<\/P><\/p>\n

Only who
\nsave themselves can others save.<\/p>\n

In
\ncontrary sense she faced life's riddling truth,<\/p>\n

They
\ncarrying the light to suffering men<\/p>\n

\nHurried with eager feet to the outer world; <\/font><\/p>\n

\nHer eyes were turned towards the
\neternal source.<\/P><\/p>\n

\nOutstretching her hands to stay the throng she cried: <\/font><\/p>\n

\n"O happy company of luminous gods, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nReveal, who know, the road that I
\nmust tread,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nFor surely that bright quarter is
\nyour home,<\/font><\/p>\n

\nTo find the birthplace of the
\noccult Fire <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd the deep mansion of my secret
\nsoul." <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOne answered pointing to a silence
\ndim <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOn a remote extremity of sleep <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn some far background of the inner
\nworld. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n"O Savitri, from thy hidden soul we
\ncome. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWe are the messengers, the occult
\ngods <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWho help men's drab and heavy
\nignorant lives <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTo wake to beauty and the wonder of
\nthings <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTouching them with glory and
\ndivinity; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nIn evil we light the deathless
\nflame of good <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd hold the torch of knowledge on
\nignorant roads; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWe are thy will and all men's will
\ntowards Light. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n0 human copy and disguise of God <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nWho seekst the deity thou keepest
\nhid <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd livest by the Truth thou hast
\nnot known, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nFollow the world's winding highway
\nto its source. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThere in the silence few have ever
\nreached, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThou shalt see the Fire burning on
\nthe bare stone <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd the deep cavern of thy secret
\nsoul." <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThen Savitri following the great
\nwinding road <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nCame where it dwindled into a
\nnarrow path <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nTrod only by rare wounded
\npilgrim-feet, <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nA few bright forms emerged from
\nunknown depths <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nAnd looked at her with calm
\nimmortal eyes. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nThere was no sound to break the
\nbrooding hush; <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\nOne felt the silent nearness of the
\nsoul. <\/font>\n<\/p>\n

\n

Page 143<\/font><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n\t\t\t <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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

CANTO THREE   THE ENTRY INTO THE INNER COUNTRIES     AT first out of the busy hum of mind As if from a loud…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-02-savitri-1951","wpcat-73-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3303","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=3303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3303\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}