{"id":604,"date":"2013-07-13T01:29:10","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=604"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:29:10","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:29:10","slug":"47-selected-poems-of-jnandas-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\/47-selected-poems-of-jnandas-vol-08-translations-volume-08","title":{"rendered":"-47_Selected Poems of Jnandas.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n

 <\/td>\n

\n
\n


\n <\/span><\/i>SELECTED POEMS OF JNANADAS<\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\nSelected Poems of Jnanadas<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The soul, as yet divided from the Eternal,
\nyet having caught a glimpse of his intoxicating beauty grows passionate in
\nremem\u00adbrance and swoons with the. sensuous expectation of union.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

0 beauty meant
\nall hearts to move! <\/span><\/p>\n

0 body made for
\ngirls to kiss! <\/span><\/p>\n

In every limb an
\nidol of love, <\/span><\/p>\n

A spring of
\npassion and of bliss.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The eyes that
\nonce his beauty see,<\/span><\/p>\n

Poor eyes! can
\nnever turn away, <\/span><\/p>\n

The heart follows
\nhim ceaselessly <\/span><\/p>\n

Like a wild beast
\nbehind its prey.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Not to be touched
\nthose limbs, alas!<\/span><\/p>\n

They are another\u2019s
\nnest of joy.<\/span><\/p>\n

But ah their
\nnatural loveliness!<\/span><\/p>\n

Ah God, the dark, the wonderful boy?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

His graceful
\nsportive motion sweet <\/span><\/p>\n

Is as an ornament
\nto earth, <\/span><\/p>\n

And from his
\nlovely pacing feet <\/span><\/p>\n

Beauties
\nimpossible take birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Catching one look
\nnot long nor sure, <\/span><\/p>\n

One look of
\ncasual glory shed, <\/span><\/p>\n

How many noble
\nmaidens pure <\/span><\/p>\n

Lay down on love
\nas ,on a bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The heart within the heart deep hid <\/span><\/p>\n

He ravishes; almost in play <\/span><\/p>\n

One looks, \u2014 ere falling of the lid, <\/span><\/p>\n

Her heart has gone with him away! <\/span><\/p>\n

\nPage\u2013 289<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

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

\n

Oh if his eyes
\n\twake such sweet pain <\/span><\/p>\n

That even sleep
\n\twill not forget, <\/span><\/p>\n

What dreadful
\n\tsweetness waits me when <\/span><\/p>\n

Body and
\n\tpassionate body meet.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tPage\u2013 290<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

 <\/span>II<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n\tThe human Spirit has
\n\tundertaken with Nature its nurse to cross the deep river of life in the
\n\tfrail and ragged boat of the human mind and senses\u2019, storms arising, it
\n\tflings itself in terror at the feet of the divine boatman and offers itself
\n\tto him as the price of safety.   <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Ah nurse, what
\n\twill become of us? This old<\/span><\/p>\n

      And weary,
\n\tbattered boat, <\/span><\/p>\n

No iron its
\n\tdecrepit planks to hold,<\/span><\/p>\n

      Hardly it
\n\tkeeps afloat.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The solemn deep
\n\tunquiet awful river<\/span><\/p>\n

     
\n\tFathomless, secret, past <\/span><\/p>\n

All plummet with
\n\ta wind begins to quiver;<\/span><\/p>\n

      The storm
\n\tarises fast.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Jamouna leaps
\n\tinto the boat uplifting<\/span><\/p>\n

      A cry of
\n\tconquering waves;<\/span><\/p>\n

The boat is
\n\ttossed, the boat is whirled; the shifting <\/span><\/p>\n

      Large
\n\tbillows part like graves.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The boat hurls
\n\tdown with the mad current fleeing,<\/span><\/p>\n

      Ah pity,
\n\toarsman sweet, <\/span><\/p>\n

I lay myself for
\n\tpayment, body and being<\/span><\/p>\n

      Abandoned
\n\tat thy feet.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tPage\u2013 291<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n


\n\tIII<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tThe Eternal replies that the beauty of human souls
\n\thas driven out all care for or art of guidance in the phenomenal world and
\n\tunless the latter reveal themselves naked of earthly desires and gratify his
\n\tpassion, they must sink in the Ocean of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

In vain my hands
\n\tbale out the waves inleaping,<\/span><\/p>\n

      The boat
\n\tis drowning, drowning;<\/span><\/p>\n

A storm comes
\n\tover the great river sweeping;<\/span><\/p>\n

      Huge
\n\tbillows rise up frowning.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The rudder from
\n\tmy hand is wrenched in shivers,<\/span><\/p>\n

      Death
\n\tstares in all his starkness. <\/span><\/p>\n

The boat is
\n\ttossed and whirled, and the great river\u2019s<\/span><\/p>\n

      Far banks
\n\tplunge into darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

What can I do?
\n\tJamouna\u2019s rising, surging<\/span><\/p>\n

      To take us
\n\tto her clasp, <\/span><\/p>\n

And the fierce
\n\trush of waters hurries urging<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tThe rudder from my grasp.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Never I knew
\n\ttill now, nor any word in<\/span><\/p>\n

      The mouths
\n\tof men foretold <\/span><\/p>\n

That a girl\u2019s
\n\tbeauty was too great a burden<\/span><\/p>\n

      For one
\n\tpoor boat to hold.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Come, make you
\n\tbare, throw off your robes, each maiden;<\/span><\/p>\n

      Your naked
\n\tbeauties bring,<\/span><\/p>\n

Lighten your
\n\tbodies of their sweets o\u2019erladen;<\/span><\/p>\n

      Then I\u2019ll
\n\tresume rowing.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Girls, you have
\n\tmade me drunk with milk and sweetness,<\/span><\/p>\n

      You have
\n\tbewitched my soul, <\/span><\/p>\n

My eyes can
\n\tjudge no more the wind\u2019s fierce fleetness,<\/span><\/p>\n

      Nor watch
\n\tthe waters roll. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tP<\/span>age\u2013
\n\t292<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

They are fixed
\n\tin you, they are tangled in your tresses,<\/span><\/p>\n

      They will
\n\tnever turn again. <\/span><\/p>\n

Where I should
\n\tsee the waves, I see your faces,<\/span><\/p>\n

      Your
\n\tbosoms, not the rain.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

You will not let
\n\tme live, you are my haters,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t      Your eyes have caused my death. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tI feel the boat sink down in the mad waters,<\/span><\/p>\n

      Down, down
\n\tthe waves beneath,<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tPage\u2013 293<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n

\n\tIV<\/span><\/b> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tShe<\/span><\/i>.          
\n\tFor love of thee I gave all life\u2019s best treasures.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tHe. <\/span><\/i>
\n\t            For love of thee I left my princely pleasures.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tShe.<\/span><\/i>          
\n\tFor love of thee I roam in woodland ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tHe. <\/span><\/i>
\n\t            For love of thee the snow-white kine I graze.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tShe.<\/span><\/i>          
\n\tFor love of thee I don the robe of blue.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tHe. <\/span><\/i>
\n\t            For love of thee I wear thy golden hue.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tShe.<\/span><\/i>          
\n\tFor love of thee my spotless name was stained.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tHe. <\/span><\/i>
\n\t            For love of thee my father was disdained.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tShe.<\/span><\/i>          
\n\tThy love has changed my whole world into thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tHe. <\/span><\/i>
\n\t            Thy love has doomed mine eyes one face to see.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tShe.<\/span><\/i>          
\n\tSave love of thee no thought my sense can move.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tHe. <\/span><\/i>
\n\t            Thee, thee I worship,1<\/sup> and thy perfect love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n\t1<\/span><\/sup> cherish<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tPage\u2013 294<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\n\t <\/span>V<\/span> \n\t<\/p>\n

\n\tThe divine Soul pities, stays
\n\tand comforts the human, which is set to toil in the heat and dust of life by
\n\tits lord the world and Us elders, the laws and ways of the world.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

     
\n\tNeat-herdess, my star!<\/span><\/p>\n

      What has
\n\tled to fields so far <\/span><\/p>\n

The loveliest
\n\tface and limbs ever created!<\/span><\/p>\n

      Love\u2019s
\n\theart cries out beholding all<\/span><\/p>\n

      Thy potent
\n\tbeauty natural;<\/span><\/p>\n

The world is
\n\twith thy robe intoxicated.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

      Rest by me
\n\ta space,<\/span><\/p>\n

      I will fan
\n\tthy lovely face, <\/span><\/p>\n

Lest the sun
\n\tgaze on it with too much nearness.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Alas, thy
\n\tlittle rosy feet,<\/span><\/p>\n

      How canst
\n\tthou walk upon them, sweet. <\/span><\/p>\n

My body aches to
\n\tsee their tired fairness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t
\n\t
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

      Elders
\n\tstone of heart!<\/span><\/p>\n

      They have
\n\tsent to the mart <\/span><\/p>\n

Far-distant in
\n\ttheir callous greed of earning;<\/span><\/p>\n

      How shall
\n\tthy own lord long avoid<\/span><\/p>\n

      Lightning
\n\twhose breast of pity1<\/sup> void <\/span><\/p>\n

Endured to send
\n\tthee through this heat and burning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\t
\n\t
\n <\/span><\/p>\n

      Thy soft
\n\tcheeks that burn<\/span><\/p>\n

      Laughing
\n\tshyly thou dost turn <\/span><\/p>\n

Away still, all
\n\tthy shamefast bosom veiling.<\/span><\/p>\n

      This is no
\n\tway to sell, sweet maid!<\/span><\/p>\n

      When such
\n\tdivine saleswomen trade, <\/span><\/p>\n

Honey-sweet
\n\twords help best their rich retailing.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b9 softness<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tPage\u2013 295<\/span><\/p>\n

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

VI<\/span> <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n\tThe divine Soul besets the
\n\thuman as it fares upon the business of life, adorned and beautiful and
\n\texacts dues of love.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Beautiful Radha,
\n\tCaanou dost thou see not <\/span><\/p>\n

Toll-keeper
\n\there, that thou wouldst pass by stealth;<\/span><\/p>\n

But I have
\n\tcaught thee fast and thou shalt go not <\/span><\/p>\n

Until thou give
\n\tme toll of all thy wealth.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

First thine
\n\teyes\u2019 unguent, then thy star vermilion,<\/span><\/p>\n

For these a
\n\tmillion kisses I extort,<\/span><\/p>\n

Upon thy bosom\u2019s
\n\tvest I fix two million<\/span><\/p>\n

And the stringed
\n\tpearls that with thy bosom sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

For bracelets
\n\tfine to these thy small wrists clinging <\/span><\/p>\n

And jewelled
\n\tbelt three million kisses say, <\/span><\/p>\n

This red lac on
\n\tthy feet and anklets bringing <\/span><\/p>\n

Four million
\n\tthou hast doomed thy lips to pay.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

These thy king
\n\tasks nor will one jot recall;<\/span><\/p>\n

These yield me
\n\tpatiently in law\u2019s due course <\/span><\/p>\n

Or here amidst
\n\tthy damsels from thy small <\/span><\/p>\n

Red mouth I will
\n\textort my dues by force.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tPage\u2013 296<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

 <\/span>VII<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t
\n\tThe human soul, in a moment of rapt excitement when the robe of sense has
\n\tfallen from it, is surprised and seized by the vision of the Eternal.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

I will lay bare
\n\tmy heart\u2019s whole flame, <\/span><\/p>\n

To thee, heart\u2019s
\n\tsister, yea the whole. <\/span><\/p>\n

The dark-hued
\n\tlimbs I saw in dream, <\/span><\/p>\n

To these I have
\n\tgiven my body and soul.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

It was a night
\n\tof wildest showers;<\/span><\/p>\n

Ever incessant
\n\tand amain<\/span><\/p>\n

The heavens
\n\tthundered through the hours,<\/span><\/p>\n

Outside was
\n\tpattering of the rain.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Exulting in the
\n\tlightning\u2019s gleams, <\/span><\/p>\n

Joyous, I lay
\n\tdown on my bed;<\/span><\/p>\n

The dress had
\n\tfallen from my limbs, <\/span><\/p>\n

I slept with
\n\trumours overhead.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The peacocks in
\n\tthe treetops high <\/span><\/p>\n

Between their
\n\tgorgeous dances shrilled, <\/span><\/p>\n

The cuckoo cried
\n\texultantly, <\/span><\/p>\n

The frogs were
\n\tclamorous in the field;<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

And ever with
\n\tinsistent chime <\/span><\/p>\n

The bird of
\n\trumour shrieking fled <\/span><\/p>\n

Amidst the rain,
\n\tat such a time <\/span><\/p>\n

A vision stood
\n\tbeside my bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

He moved like
\n\tfire into my soul, <\/span><\/p>\n

The love of him
\n\tbecame a part <\/span><\/p>\n

Of being, and oh
\n\this whispers stole <\/span><\/p>\n

Murmuring in and
\n\tfilled my heart. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tPage\u2013 297<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

His loving ways,
\n\this tender wiles, <\/span><\/p>\n

The hearts that
\n\tfeel, ah me! so burn <\/span><\/p>\n

That maidens
\n\tpure with happy smiles <\/span><\/p>\n

From shame and
\n\tpeace and honour turn.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

The lustre of
\n\this looks effaced <\/span><\/p>\n

The moon, of
\n\tmany lovely moods <\/span><\/p>\n

He is the
\n\tmaster; on his breast\u2019 <\/span><\/p>\n

There was a
\n\twreath of jasmine buds.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Holding my feet,
\n\tdown on the bed <\/span><\/p>\n

He sat; my
\n\tbreasts were fluttering birds;<\/span><\/p>\n

His hands upon
\n\tmy limbs he laid, <\/span><\/p>\n

He bought me for
\n\this slave with words.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

0 me! his
\n\teyebrows curved like bows! <\/span><\/p>\n

0 me! his
\n\tpanther body bright! <\/span><\/p>\n

Love from his
\n\tsidelong glances goes <\/span><\/p>\n

And takes girls
\n\tprisoners at sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

He speaks with
\n\tlittle magic smiles <\/span><\/p>\n

That force a
\n\tgirl\u2019s heart from her breast. <\/span><\/p>\n

How many sweet
\n\tways he beguiles, <\/span><\/p>\n

I know; they
\n\tcannot be expressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Burning he tore
\n\tme from my bed <\/span><\/p>\n

And to his
\n\tpassionate bosom clutched;<\/span><\/p>\n

I could not
\n\tspeak a word; he said <\/span><\/p>\n

Nothing, his
\n\tlips and my lips touched.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

My body almost
\n\tswooned away<\/span><\/p>\n

And from my
\n\theart went fear and shame<\/span><\/p>\n

And maiden
\n\tpride; panting I lay;<\/span><\/p>\n

He was around me
\n\tlike a flame.1<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b9And felt him round me like a flame. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tPage\u2013 298<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n

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

   SELECTED POEMS OF JNANADAS    Selected Poems of Jnanadas   The soul, as yet divided from the Eternal, yet having caught a glimpse of…<\/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-604","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\/604","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=604"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/604\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}