{"id":548,"date":"2013-07-13T01:28:48","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:28:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=548"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:28:48","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:28:48","slug":"32-on-pride-and-heroism-vol-08-translations-volume-08","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/01-sabcl\/08-translations-volume-08\/32-on-pride-and-heroism-vol-08-translations-volume-08","title":{"rendered":"-32_On Pride and Heroism.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n

 <\/td>\n

\n
\n


\nON PRIDE AND
\nHEROISM <\/font> <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\nLion-Heart<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nThe maned lion, first of kingly names,<\/span><\/p>\n

           Magnanimous and famed, though worn with
\nage,<\/span><\/p>\n

           Wasted with hunger, blunted his keen edge \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n

         And low the splendid spirit in him flames,<\/span><\/p>\n

                   Not therefore will with wretched grass assuage <\/span><\/p>\n

         His famished pangs as graze the deer and bull.<\/span><\/p>\n

            Rather his dying breath collects desire, <\/span><\/p>\n

         Leaping once more from shattered brows to pull<\/span><\/p>\n

            Of the great tusked elephants mad with ire <\/span><\/p>\n

         His sovereign banquet fierce and masterful.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\nThe Way of the Lion<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The dog with a poor bone is satisfied,<\/span><\/p>\n

Meatless, with bits of fat and sinew greased, <\/span><\/p>\n

Nor is his hunger with such remnants eased. <\/span><\/p>\n

Not so the kingly lion in his pride! <\/span><\/p>\n

He lets the jackal go grazed by his claw <\/span><\/p>\n

And slays the tusked kings. Such Nature\u2019s law;<\/span><\/p>\n

Each being pitches his high appetite <\/span><\/p>\n

At even with his courage and his might.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\nA Contrast<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The dog may servile fawn upon the hand<\/span><\/p>\n

That feeds him, with his tail at wag, nor pain <\/span><\/p>\n

In crouching and his abject rollings bland<\/span><\/p>\n

With upward face and belly all in vain:<\/span><\/p>\n

The elephant to countless flatteries <\/span><\/p>\n

Returns a quiet look in steadfast eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\nPage\u2013 174<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n


\nThe Wheel of Life<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The world goes round and, as returns the wheel, <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>All
\nthings that die must yet again be born:<\/span><\/p>\n

\n             His birth is birth
\nindeed by whose return<\/span><\/p>\n

\n                       His race and country
\ngrandeur\u2019s summits scale.<\/span> <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n


\nAut Caesar aut Nullus<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

     Two <\/i>fates alone
\nstrong haughty minds endure,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Of
\nworth convinced; \u2014 on the world\u2019s forehead proud<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Singly
\nto bloom exalted o\u2019er the crowd, <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Or
\nwither in the wilderness obscure.<\/span> <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Magnanimity<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

My brother, exalt thyself though in o\u2019erthrow!
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Five
\nnoble planets through these spaces <\/b>roll,<\/span><\/p>\n

Jupiter is of them; \u2014 not on these he
\nleaps, <\/span><\/p>\n

Rahu,1<\/sup> the immortal demon of
\neclipse, <\/span><\/p>\n

In his high magnanimity of soul.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Smit with God\u2019s thunders only his head he
\nkeeps,<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet seizes in his brief and gloomy hour <\/span><\/p>\n

Of vengeance the great luminous kings of
\nheaven, <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Day\u2019s
\nLord and the light to whom night\u2019s soul is given;<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He
\nscorns to strive with things of lesser power.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00b9 Rahu, the Titan, stole or seized part of the nectar which rose
\nfrom the world-ocean at the churning by the Gods and Titans and was
\nappropriated by the Gods. For this violence he was smitten in two by the discus
\nof Vishnu; but as he had drunk the nectar, he remains immortal and seeks always
\nto revenge himself by swallowing the Sun and Moon who had detected his theft,
\nThe Tortoise mentioned in the next epigram upheld the mountain Mandar, which
\nwas the stick of the churning. The Great Snake, Ananta, was the rope of the
\nchurning, he on whose hood the earth now rests.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage\u2013 175<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n


\nThe Motion of Giants<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On his wide hood as on a painted shield<\/span><\/p>\n

Bears up the ranged worlds. Infinite, the Snake;<\/span><\/p>\n

Him in the giant midmost of his back<\/span><\/p>\n

The eternal Tortoise brooks, whom the great
\nfield <\/span><\/p>\n

Of vague and travelling waters ceaselessly <\/span><\/p>\n

Encompass with the proud unfathomed sea.<\/span><\/p>\n

0 easy mights and marvellous of the great,<\/span><\/p>\n

Whose simplest action is yet vast with
\nfate!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\nMaiank<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

O child of the immortal mountains hoar,<\/span><\/p>\n

Mainak,1<\/sup> far better had this been to bear <\/span><\/p>\n

The bleeding wings that furious Indra. tore, <\/span><\/p>\n

The thunder\u2019s scars that with disastrous roar<\/span><\/p>\n

Vomiting lightnings made the heavens one flare,\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

Not, not this refuge in the cool wide sea <\/span><\/p>\n

While all thy suffering people cried to thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\nNoble Resentment<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The
\ncrystal hath no sense disgrace to know, <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Yet
\nblazes angry when the sun\u2019s feet rouse;<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Shall
\nman the high-spirited, the orgulous,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Brook
\ninsult vile from fellow or from foe ?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00b9 The mountains had formerly wings and could move about, \u2014 to the
\ngreat inconveni\u00adence of everybody: Indra, attacked by them, smote off their
\nwings with the thunderbolt. Mainak, son of Himalay, took refuge in the sea.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage\u2013 176<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n


\nAge and Genius<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nature, not age is the
\nhigh spirit\u2019s cause<\/span><\/p>\n

That burns in mighty
\nhearts and genius high. <\/span><\/p>\n

Lo, on the rutting
\nelephant\u2019s tusked jaws<\/span><\/p>\n

The infant lion leaps invincibly. <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage\u2013 177<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n

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

  ON PRIDE AND HEROISM   Lion-Heart   The maned lion, first of kingly names,            Magnanimous and famed, though worn with age,            Wasted…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-08-translations-volume-08","wpcat-12-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/548","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=548"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/548\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}