The
Line of Raghu*
For mastery
of word and sense I bow to the Pair close-wedded as word and sense, the
parents of the world, the Mountain's child and the Mighty Lord.
Wide is the
gulf between the race born of the Sun and a mind thus scantily stored! I am
one that in his infatuation would cross in a raft the difficult ocean.
Dull of wit,
yet aspiring to poetic glory I shall expose myself to mockery like a dwarf
who in his greed lifts up his arms to a fruit meant only for the giant's
grasp.
Yet into the
story of this race a door of speech has been made by the inspired minds of
old and through which I can enter as a thread can pass through a gem which
the diamond's point has bored.
Therefore
this tale of the Raghus, the kings pure from
their birth, they who left not work till work's fruit appeared, they who
were masters of earth to the ocean's bound and their chariot journeyed even
to the heavens.
Ever
according to the ordinance they offered to the sacrificial flames and
honoured ever the suppliant with his whole
desire, they meted the punishment of the guilty by his offence, they were
wakeful to the hour.
They
gathered riches only to give and spoke little that they might speak
nought but truth and conquered only for glory
and were householders only to prolong the race.
In childhood
students of knowledge, in youth seekers after enjoyment, in old age pursuers
of the sage's path and in their end left by Yoga their bodies,—
The tale of
their line I will tell though meagre my wealth
of speech, for 1 am impelled to this rashness by their virtues that have
touched my ear.
The wise
should lend ear to it who are cause that good is discerned from bad, for it
is by fire that the purity of gold is marked or else the darkness of its
alloy.¹
(Incomplete)
* A translation of the
first ten verses from the Raghuvamsha of
Kalidasa.
¹dullness of hue.
Page - 155