The Hindu wife and the hymns By Sir William Jones ... Second edition [by William Jones] |
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THE ENCHANTED FRUIT;
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 | The Hindu wife and the hymns |  |
1
THE ENCHANTED FRUIT;
OR, THE HINDU WIFE.
‘O lovely age
, by Brahmens fam'd
Pure Setye Yug in Sanscrit nam'd!
Delightful! Not for cups of gold,
Or wives a thousand centuries old;
Or men, degenerate now and small,
Then one and twenty cubits tall:
Not that plump cows full udders bore,
And bowls with holy curd ran o'er;
Not that, by Deities defended
Fish, Boar, Snake, Lion , heav'n-descended,
learn'd Pendits, now grown sticks and clods,
Redde fast the Nagry of the Gods
And laymen, faithful to Narayn
Believ'd in Brahmás mystic strain
Not that all Subjects spoke plain truth,
While Rajas cherish'd eld and youth,
No—yet delightful times! because
Nature then reign'd, and Nature's Laws;
When females of the softest kind
Were unaffected, unconfin'd;
And this grand rule from none was hidden ;
What pleaseth, hath no law forbidden.’
Pure Setye Yug in Sanscrit nam'd!
Delightful! Not for cups of gold,
Or wives a thousand centuries old;
Or men, degenerate now and small,
Then one and twenty cubits tall:
Not that plump cows full udders bore,
And bowls with holy curd ran o'er;
Not that, by Deities defended
Fish, Boar, Snake, Lion , heav'n-descended,
learn'd Pendits, now grown sticks and clods,
Redde fast the Nagry of the Gods
And laymen, faithful to Narayn
Believ'd in Brahmás mystic strain
2
While Rajas cherish'd eld and youth,
No—yet delightful times! because
Nature then reign'd, and Nature's Laws;
When females of the softest kind
Were unaffected, unconfin'd;
And this grand rule from none was hidden ;
What pleaseth, hath no law forbidden.’
Thus, with a lyre in India strung,
Aminta's poet would have sung;
And thus too, in a modest way,
All virtuous males will sing or say:
But swarthy nymphs of Hindustan
Look deeper than short-sighted man,
And thus, in some poetic chime,
Would speak with reason, as with rhyme:
‘O lovelier age, by Brahmens fam'd,
Gay Dwápar Yug in Sanscrit nam'd!
Delightful! though impure with brass
In many a green ill-scented mass;
Though husbands, but sev'n cubits high,
Must in a thousand summers die;
Though, in the lives of dwindled men,
Ten parts were Sin; Religion, ten;
Though cows would rarely fill the pail,
But made th' expected creambowl fail;
Though lazy Pendits ill could read
(No care of ours) their Yejar Veid;
Though Rajas look'd a little proud,
And Ranies rather spoke too loud;
Though Gods, display'd to mortal view
In mortal forms, were only two;
(Yet Crishna
, sweetest youth, was one,
Crishna, whose cheeks outblaz'd the sun)
Delightful, ne'ertheless! because
Not bound by vile unnatural laws,
Which curse this age from Cáley nam'd,
By some base woman-hater fram'd.
Prepost'rous! that one biped vain
Should drag ten house-wives in his train,
And stuff them in a gaudy cage,
Slaves to weak lust or potent rage!
Not such the Dwáper Yug! oh then
One buxom dame might wed five men.’
Aminta's poet would have sung;
And thus too, in a modest way,
All virtuous males will sing or say:
But swarthy nymphs of Hindustan
Look deeper than short-sighted man,
And thus, in some poetic chime,
Would speak with reason, as with rhyme:
‘O lovelier age, by Brahmens fam'd,
Gay Dwápar Yug in Sanscrit nam'd!
Delightful! though impure with brass
In many a green ill-scented mass;
Though husbands, but sev'n cubits high,
Must in a thousand summers die;
Though, in the lives of dwindled men,
Ten parts were Sin; Religion, ten;
Though cows would rarely fill the pail,
But made th' expected creambowl fail;
Though lazy Pendits ill could read
(No care of ours) their Yejar Veid;
Though Rajas look'd a little proud,
And Ranies rather spoke too loud;
Though Gods, display'd to mortal view
In mortal forms, were only two;
3
Crishna, whose cheeks outblaz'd the sun)
Delightful, ne'ertheless! because
Not bound by vile unnatural laws,
Which curse this age from Cáley nam'd,
By some base woman-hater fram'd.
Prepost'rous! that one biped vain
Should drag ten house-wives in his train,
And stuff them in a gaudy cage,
Slaves to weak lust or potent rage!
Not such the Dwáper Yug! oh then
One buxom dame might wed five men.’
True History, in solemn terms,
This Philosophic lore confirms;
For India once, as now cold Tibet ,
A groupe unusual might exhibit,
Of sev'ral husbands, free from strife,
Link'd fairly to a single wife!
Thus Botanists, with eyes acute
To see prolific dust minute,
Taught by their learned northern Brahmen
To class by pistil and by stamen,
Produce from nature's rich dominion
Flow'rs Polyandrian Monogynian,
Where embryon blossoms, fruits, and leaves
Twenty prepare, and one receives.
This Philosophic lore confirms;
For India once, as now cold Tibet ,
A groupe unusual might exhibit,
Of sev'ral husbands, free from strife,
Link'd fairly to a single wife!
Thus Botanists, with eyes acute
To see prolific dust minute,
Taught by their learned northern Brahmen
To class by pistil and by stamen,
Produce from nature's rich dominion
Flow'rs Polyandrian Monogynian,
Where embryon blossoms, fruits, and leaves
Twenty prepare, and one receives.
But, lest my word should nought avail,
Ye Fair to no unholy tale
Attend.
Five thousand years
ago,
As annals in Benares show,
When Pándu chiefs with Curus fought
And each the throne imperial sought,
Five brothers of the regal line
Blaz'd high with qualities divine.
The first a prince without his peer,
Just, pious, lib'ral Yudhishteir ;
Then Erjun, to the base a rod,
An Hero favour'd by a God
Bheima, like mountain-leopard strong,
Unrival'd in th' embattled throng,
Bold Nacul, fir'd by noble shame
To emulate fraternal fame;
And Sehdeo, flush'd with manly grace,
Bright virtue dawning in his face:
To these a dame devoid of care,
Blythe Draupady, the debonair,
Renown'd for beauty, and for wit,
In wedlock's pleasing chain was knit
Ye Fair to no unholy tale
4
As annals in Benares show,
When Pándu chiefs with Curus fought
And each the throne imperial sought,
Five brothers of the regal line
Blaz'd high with qualities divine.
The first a prince without his peer,
Just, pious, lib'ral Yudhishteir ;
Then Erjun, to the base a rod,
An Hero favour'd by a God
Bheima, like mountain-leopard strong,
Unrival'd in th' embattled throng,
Bold Nacul, fir'd by noble shame
To emulate fraternal fame;
And Sehdeo, flush'd with manly grace,
Bright virtue dawning in his face:
To these a dame devoid of care,
Blythe Draupady, the debonair,
Renown'd for beauty, and for wit,
In wedlock's pleasing chain was knit
5
It fortun'd, at an idle hour,
This five-mal'd single-femal'd flow'r
One balmy morn of fruitful May
Through vales and meadows took its way.
A low thatch'd mansion met their eye
In trees umbrageous bosom'd high;
Near it (no sight, young maids, for you)
A temple rose to Mahadew .
A thorny hedge and reedy gate
Enclos'd the garden's homely state;
Plain in its neatness: thither wend
The princes and their lovely friend.
Light-pinion'd gales, to charm the sense,
Their odorif'rous breath dispense;
From Béla's pearl'd, or pointed, bloom,
And Málty rich, they steal perfume:
There honey-scented Singarhár,
And Júhy, like a rising star,
Strong Chempá, darted by Cámdew,
And Mulsery of paler hue,
Cayora , which the Ranies wear
In tangles of their silken hair,
Round Bábul-flow'rs, and Gulachein
Dyed like the shell of Beauty's Queen,
Sweet Mindy press'd for crimson stains,
And sacred Tulsy , pride of plains,
With Séwty, small unblushing rose,
Their odours mix, their tints disclose,
And, as a gemm'd tiara, bright,
Paint the fresh branches with delight.
This five-mal'd single-femal'd flow'r
One balmy morn of fruitful May
Through vales and meadows took its way.
A low thatch'd mansion met their eye
In trees umbrageous bosom'd high;
Near it (no sight, young maids, for you)
A temple rose to Mahadew .
A thorny hedge and reedy gate
Enclos'd the garden's homely state;
Plain in its neatness: thither wend
The princes and their lovely friend.
Light-pinion'd gales, to charm the sense,
Their odorif'rous breath dispense;
From Béla's pearl'd, or pointed, bloom,
And Málty rich, they steal perfume:
There honey-scented Singarhár,
And Júhy, like a rising star,
Strong Chempá, darted by Cámdew,
And Mulsery of paler hue,
Cayora , which the Ranies wear
In tangles of their silken hair,
Round Bábul-flow'rs, and Gulachein
Dyed like the shell of Beauty's Queen,
Sweet Mindy press'd for crimson stains,
And sacred Tulsy , pride of plains,
With Séwty, small unblushing rose,
Their odours mix, their tints disclose,
6
Paint the fresh branches with delight.
One tree above all others tower'd
With shrubs and saplings close imbower'd,
For every blooming child of Spring
Paid homage to the verdant King:
Aloft a solitary fruit,
Full sixty cubits from the root,
Kiss'd by the breeze, luxuriant hung,
Soft chrysolite with em'ralds strung.
‘Try we, said Erjun indiscreet,
If yon proud fruit be sharp or sweet;
My shaft its parent stalk shall wound:
Receive it, ere it reach the ground.’
With shrubs and saplings close imbower'd,
For every blooming child of Spring
Paid homage to the verdant King:
Aloft a solitary fruit,
Full sixty cubits from the root,
Kiss'd by the breeze, luxuriant hung,
Soft chrysolite with em'ralds strung.
‘Try we, said Erjun indiscreet,
If yon proud fruit be sharp or sweet;
My shaft its parent stalk shall wound:
Receive it, ere it reach the ground.’
Swift as his word, an arrow flew:
The dropping prize besprent with dew
The brothers, in contention gay,
Catch, and on gather'd herbage lay.
The dropping prize besprent with dew
The brothers, in contention gay,
Catch, and on gather'd herbage lay.
That instant scarlet lightnings flash,
And Jemna's waves her borders lash,
Crishna from Swerga's height descends,
Observant of his mortal friends:
Not such, as in his earliest years,
Among his wanton cowherd peers,
In Gocul or Brindáben's glades,
He sported with the dairy-maids;
Or, having pip'd and danc'd enough,
Clos'd the brisk night with blindman's-buff ;
(List, antiquaries, and record
This pastime of the Gopia's Lord )
But radiant with ethereal fire:
Nared alone could bards inspire
In lofty Slokes his mien to trace,
And unimaginable grace.
With human voice, in human form,
He mildly spake, and hush'd the storm:
‘O mortals, ever prone to ill!
Too rashly Erjun prov'd his skill.
Yon fruit a pious Muny owns,
Assistant of our heav'nly thrones.
The golden pulp, each month renew'd,
Supplies him with ambrosial food,
Should he the daring archer curse,
Not Mentra deep, nor magic verse,
Your gorgeous palaces could save
From flames, your embers, from the wave .’
And Jemna's waves her borders lash,
Crishna from Swerga's height descends,
Observant of his mortal friends:
Not such, as in his earliest years,
Among his wanton cowherd peers,
In Gocul or Brindáben's glades,
He sported with the dairy-maids;
Or, having pip'd and danc'd enough,
Clos'd the brisk night with blindman's-buff ;
(List, antiquaries, and record
This pastime of the Gopia's Lord )
7
Nared alone could bards inspire
In lofty Slokes his mien to trace,
And unimaginable grace.
With human voice, in human form,
He mildly spake, and hush'd the storm:
‘O mortals, ever prone to ill!
Too rashly Erjun prov'd his skill.
Yon fruit a pious Muny owns,
Assistant of our heav'nly thrones.
The golden pulp, each month renew'd,
Supplies him with ambrosial food,
Should he the daring archer curse,
Not Mentra deep, nor magic verse,
Your gorgeous palaces could save
From flames, your embers, from the wave .’
The princes, whom th' immod'rate blaze
Forbids their sightless eyes to raise,
With doubled hands his aid implore,
And vow submission to his lore.
‘One remedy, and simply one,
Or take, said he, or be undone:
Let each his crimes or faults confess,
The greatest name, omit the less;
Your actions, words, e'en thoughts reveal;
No part must Draupady conceal:
So shall the fruit, as each applies
The faithful charm, ten cubits rise;
Till, if the dame be frank and true,
It join the branch, where late it grew.’
He smil'd and shed a transient gleam;
Then vanish'd like a morning dream.
Forbids their sightless eyes to raise,
With doubled hands his aid implore,
And vow submission to his lore.
‘One remedy, and simply one,
Or take, said he, or be undone:
Let each his crimes or faults confess,
The greatest name, omit the less;
Your actions, words, e'en thoughts reveal;
No part must Draupady conceal:
So shall the fruit, as each applies
The faithful charm, ten cubits rise;
8
It join the branch, where late it grew.’
He smil'd and shed a transient gleam;
Then vanish'd like a morning dream.
Now, long entranc'd, each waking brother
Star'd with amazement on another,
Their consort's cheek forgot its glow,
And pearly tears began to flow;
When Yudishteir, high-gifted man,
His plain confession thus began.
Star'd with amazement on another,
Their consort's cheek forgot its glow,
And pearly tears began to flow;
When Yudishteir, high-gifted man,
His plain confession thus began.
‘Inconstant fortune's wreathed smiles,
Duryódhen's rage, Duryódhen's wiles,
Fires rais'd for this devoted head,
E'en poison for my brethren spread, c
My wand'rings through wild scenes of wo,
And persecuted life, you know.
Rude wassailers defil'd my halls,
And riot shook my palace-walls,
My treasures wasted. This and more
With resignation calm I bore;
But, when the late-descending god
Gave all I wish'd with soothing nod,
When, by his counsel and his aid,
Our banners danc'd, our clarions bray'd
(Be this my greatest crime confess'd),
Revenge sate ruler in my breast:
I panted for the tug of arms,
For skirmish hot, for fierce alarms;
Then had my shaft Duryódhen rent,
This heart had glow'd with sweet content.’
Duryódhen's rage, Duryódhen's wiles,
Fires rais'd for this devoted head,
E'en poison for my brethren spread, c
My wand'rings through wild scenes of wo,
And persecuted life, you know.
Rude wassailers defil'd my halls,
And riot shook my palace-walls,
My treasures wasted. This and more
With resignation calm I bore;
But, when the late-descending god
Gave all I wish'd with soothing nod,
When, by his counsel and his aid,
Our banners danc'd, our clarions bray'd
(Be this my greatest crime confess'd),
Revenge sate ruler in my breast:
I panted for the tug of arms,
For skirmish hot, for fierce alarms;
Then had my shaft Duryódhen rent,
This heart had glow'd with sweet content.’
He ceas'd: the living gold upsprung,
And from the bank ten cubits hung.
And from the bank ten cubits hung.
Embolden'd by this fair success,
Next Erjun hasten'd to confess:
‘When I with Aswattháma fought;
My noose the fell assassin caught;
My spear transfix'd him to the ground:
His giant limbs firm cordage bound:
His holy thread extorted awe
Spar'd by religion and by law;
But, when his murd'rous hands I view'd
In blameless kindred gore imbued,
Fury my boiling bosom sway'd,
And Rage unsheath'd my willing blade:
Then, had not Crishna's arm divine
With gentle touch suspended mine,
This hand a Brahmen had destroy'd,
And vultures with his blood been cloy'd.’
Next Erjun hasten'd to confess:
9
My noose the fell assassin caught;
My spear transfix'd him to the ground:
His giant limbs firm cordage bound:
His holy thread extorted awe
Spar'd by religion and by law;
But, when his murd'rous hands I view'd
In blameless kindred gore imbued,
Fury my boiling bosom sway'd,
And Rage unsheath'd my willing blade:
Then, had not Crishna's arm divine
With gentle touch suspended mine,
This hand a Brahmen had destroy'd,
And vultures with his blood been cloy'd.’
The fruit, forgiving Erjun's dart,
Ten cubits rose with eager start.
Ten cubits rose with eager start.
Flush'd with some tints of honest shame,
Bheima to his confession came:
Bheima to his confession came:
'Twas at a feast for battles won
From Dhriterashtra's guileful son,
High on the board in vases pil'd
All vegetable nature smil'd:
Proud Anaras his beauties told,
His verdant crown and studs of gold,
To Dallim , whose soft rubies laugh'd
Bursting with juice, that gods have quass'd;
Ripe Kellas here in heaps were seen,
Kellas, the golden and the green,
With Ambas priz'd on distant coasts,
Whose birth the fertile Ganga boasts:
(So me gleam like silver, some outshine
Wrought ingots from Besoara's mine):
Corindas there, too sharp alone,
With honey mix'd, impurpled shone;
Talsans his liquid crystal spread
Pluck'd from high Tara's tufted head;
Round Jamas delicate as fair,
Like rose-water perfum'd the air;
Bright salvers high-rais'd Comlas held
Like topazes, which Amrit swell'd;
While some delicious Attas bore,
And Catels warm, a sugar'd store;
Others with Béla's grains were heap'd,
And mild Papayas honey-steep'd;
Or sweet Ajeírs the red and pale,
Sweet to the taste and in the gale.
Here mark'd we purest basons fraught
With sacred cream and fam'd Joghrat;
Nor saw we not rich bowls contain
The Chawla's light nutritious grain,
Some virgin-like in native pride,
And some with strong Haldea dyed,
Some tasteful to dull palates made
If Merich lend his fervent aid,
Or Langa shap'd like od'rous nails,
Whose scent o'er groves of spice prevails,
Or Adda breathing gentle heat,
Or Joutery both warm and sweet.
Supiary next (in Pana chew'd,
And Gatha , with strong pow'rs endued,
Mix'd with Elachy's glowing seeds,
Which some remoter climate breeds),
Near Jeifel sate, like Jeifel fram'd
Though not for equal fragrance nam'd:
Last, Naryal
, whom all ranks esteem,
Pour'd in full cups his dulcet stream:
Long I survey'd the doubtful board
With each high delicacy stor'd;
Then freely gratified my soul,
From many a dish, and many a bowl,
Till health was lavish'd, as my time:
Intemp'rance was my fatal crime.’
From Dhriterashtra's guileful son,
High on the board in vases pil'd
All vegetable nature smil'd:
Proud Anaras his beauties told,
His verdant crown and studs of gold,
To Dallim , whose soft rubies laugh'd
Bursting with juice, that gods have quass'd;
Ripe Kellas here in heaps were seen,
Kellas, the golden and the green,
With Ambas priz'd on distant coasts,
Whose birth the fertile Ganga boasts:
(So me gleam like silver, some outshine
Wrought ingots from Besoara's mine):
Corindas there, too sharp alone,
10
Talsans his liquid crystal spread
Pluck'd from high Tara's tufted head;
Round Jamas delicate as fair,
Like rose-water perfum'd the air;
Bright salvers high-rais'd Comlas held
Like topazes, which Amrit swell'd;
While some delicious Attas bore,
And Catels warm, a sugar'd store;
Others with Béla's grains were heap'd,
And mild Papayas honey-steep'd;
Or sweet Ajeírs the red and pale,
Sweet to the taste and in the gale.
Here mark'd we purest basons fraught
With sacred cream and fam'd Joghrat;
Nor saw we not rich bowls contain
The Chawla's light nutritious grain,
Some virgin-like in native pride,
And some with strong Haldea dyed,
Some tasteful to dull palates made
If Merich lend his fervent aid,
Or Langa shap'd like od'rous nails,
Whose scent o'er groves of spice prevails,
Or Adda breathing gentle heat,
Or Joutery both warm and sweet.
Supiary next (in Pana chew'd,
And Gatha , with strong pow'rs endued,
Mix'd with Elachy's glowing seeds,
Which some remoter climate breeds),
Near Jeifel sate, like Jeifel fram'd
Though not for equal fragrance nam'd:
11
Pour'd in full cups his dulcet stream:
Long I survey'd the doubtful board
With each high delicacy stor'd;
Then freely gratified my soul,
From many a dish, and many a bowl,
Till health was lavish'd, as my time:
Intemp'rance was my fatal crime.’
Uprose the fruit; and now mid-way
Suspended shone like blazing day.
Suspended shone like blazing day.
Nacal then spoke: (a blush o'erspread
His cheeks, and conscious droop'd his head):
‘Before Duryodhen, ruthless king,
Taught his fierce darts in air to sing,
With bright-arm'd ranks, by Crishna sent,
Elate from Indraprest I went
Through Eastern realms; and vanquish'd all
From rough Almora to Nipal.
Where ev'ry mansion, new or old,
Flam'd with Barbaric gems and gold.
Here shone with pride the regal stores
On iv'ry roofs, and cedrine floors;
There diadems of price unknown
Blaz'd with each all-attracting stone;
Firm diamonds, like fix'd honour true,
Some pink, and some of yellow hue,
Some black, yet not the less esteem'd;
The rest like tranquil Jemna gleam'd,
When in her bed the Gopia lave
Betray'd by the pellucid wave.
Like raging fire the ruby glow'd,
Or soft, but radiant, water show'd;
Pure amethysts, in richest ore
Oft found, a purple vesture wore;
Sapphirs, like yon etherial plain;
Em'ralds, like Peipel fresh with rain;
Gay topazes, translucent gold;
Pale chrysolites of softer mould;
Fam'd beryls, like the surge marine,
Light-azure mix'd with modest green;
Refracted ev'ry varying dye,
Bright as yon bow, that girds the sky.
Here opals, which all hues unite,
Display'd their many-tinctur'd light,
With turcoises divinely blue
(Though doubts arise, where first they grew,
Whether chaste elephantine bone
By min'rals ting'd, or native stone),
And pearls unblemish'd, such as deck
Bhavany's wrist or Lecshmy's neck.
Each castle ras'd, each city storm'd,
Vast loads of pillag'd wealth I form'd,
Not for my coffers; though they bore,
As you decreed, my lot and more.
Too pleas'd the brilliant heap I stor'd,
Too charming seem'd the guarded hoard:
An odious vice this heart assail'd;
Base Av'rice for a time prevail'd.
His cheeks, and conscious droop'd his head):
‘Before Duryodhen, ruthless king,
Taught his fierce darts in air to sing,
With bright-arm'd ranks, by Crishna sent,
Elate from Indraprest I went
Through Eastern realms; and vanquish'd all
From rough Almora to Nipal.
Where ev'ry mansion, new or old,
Flam'd with Barbaric gems and gold.
Here shone with pride the regal stores
On iv'ry roofs, and cedrine floors;
There diadems of price unknown
Blaz'd with each all-attracting stone;
Firm diamonds, like fix'd honour true,
Some pink, and some of yellow hue,
Some black, yet not the less esteem'd;
The rest like tranquil Jemna gleam'd,
When in her bed the Gopia lave
Betray'd by the pellucid wave.
Like raging fire the ruby glow'd,
Or soft, but radiant, water show'd;
12
Oft found, a purple vesture wore;
Sapphirs, like yon etherial plain;
Em'ralds, like Peipel fresh with rain;
Gay topazes, translucent gold;
Pale chrysolites of softer mould;
Fam'd beryls, like the surge marine,
Light-azure mix'd with modest green;
Refracted ev'ry varying dye,
Bright as yon bow, that girds the sky.
Here opals, which all hues unite,
Display'd their many-tinctur'd light,
With turcoises divinely blue
(Though doubts arise, where first they grew,
Whether chaste elephantine bone
By min'rals ting'd, or native stone),
And pearls unblemish'd, such as deck
Bhavany's wrist or Lecshmy's neck.
Each castle ras'd, each city storm'd,
Vast loads of pillag'd wealth I form'd,
Not for my coffers; though they bore,
As you decreed, my lot and more.
Too pleas'd the brilliant heap I stor'd,
Too charming seem'd the guarded hoard:
An odious vice this heart assail'd;
Base Av'rice for a time prevail'd.
Th' enchanted orb ten cubits flew,
Strait as the shaft, which Erjun drew.
Strait as the shaft, which Erjun drew.
Sehdio, with youthful ardour bold,
Thus, penitent, his failings told:
‘From clouds, by folly rais'd, these eyes
Experience clear'd, and made me wise;
For, when the crash of battle roar'd,
When death rain'd blood from spear and sword,
When, in the tempest of alarms,
Horse roll'd on horse, arms clash'd with arms,
Such acts I saw by others done,
Such perils brav'd, such trophies won,
That, while my patriot bosom glow'd,
Though some faint skill, some strength I show'd,
And, no dull gazer on the field,
This hero slew, that forc'd to yield,
Yet, meek humility, to thee,
When Erjun fought, low sank my knee:
But, ere the din of war began,
When black'ning cheeks just mark'd the man,
Myself invincible I deem'd,
And great, without a rival, seem'd.
Whene'er I sought the sportful plain,
No youth of all the martial train
With arm so strong or eye so true
The Checra's pointed circle threw;
None when the polish'd cane we bent,
So far the light-wing'd arrow sent;
None from the broad elastic reed,
Like me, gave Agnyastra speed,
Or spread its flames with nicer art
In many an unextinguish'd dart;
Or, when in imitated fight
We sported till departing light,
None saw me to the ring advance
With falchion keen or quiv'ring lance,
Whose force my rooted seat could shake,
Or on my steed impression make:
No charioteer, no racer fleet
O'ertook my wheels or rapid feet.
Next, when the woody heights we sought,
With madd'ning elephants I fought:
In vain their high-priz'd tusks they gnash'd;
Their trunked heads my Geda mash'd.
No buffalo, with phrensy strong,
Could bear my clatt'ring thunder long:
No pard or tiger, from the wood
Reluctant brought, this arm withstood.
Pride in my heart his mansion fix'd,
And with pure drops black poison mix'd.
Thus, penitent, his failings told:
‘From clouds, by folly rais'd, these eyes
Experience clear'd, and made me wise;
For, when the crash of battle roar'd,
13
When, in the tempest of alarms,
Horse roll'd on horse, arms clash'd with arms,
Such acts I saw by others done,
Such perils brav'd, such trophies won,
That, while my patriot bosom glow'd,
Though some faint skill, some strength I show'd,
And, no dull gazer on the field,
This hero slew, that forc'd to yield,
Yet, meek humility, to thee,
When Erjun fought, low sank my knee:
But, ere the din of war began,
When black'ning cheeks just mark'd the man,
Myself invincible I deem'd,
And great, without a rival, seem'd.
Whene'er I sought the sportful plain,
No youth of all the martial train
With arm so strong or eye so true
The Checra's pointed circle threw;
None when the polish'd cane we bent,
So far the light-wing'd arrow sent;
None from the broad elastic reed,
Like me, gave Agnyastra speed,
Or spread its flames with nicer art
In many an unextinguish'd dart;
Or, when in imitated fight
We sported till departing light,
None saw me to the ring advance
With falchion keen or quiv'ring lance,
Whose force my rooted seat could shake,
Or on my steed impression make:
No charioteer, no racer fleet
14
Next, when the woody heights we sought,
With madd'ning elephants I fought:
In vain their high-priz'd tusks they gnash'd;
Their trunked heads my Geda mash'd.
No buffalo, with phrensy strong,
Could bear my clatt'ring thunder long:
No pard or tiger, from the wood
Reluctant brought, this arm withstood.
Pride in my heart his mansion fix'd,
And with pure drops black poison mix'd.
Swift rose the fruit, exalted now
Ten cubits from his natal bough.
Ten cubits from his natal bough.
Fair Draupady, with soft delay,
Then spake: ‘Heav'n's mandate I obey;
Though nought, essential to be known,
Has heav'n to learn, or I to own.
When scarce a damsel, scarce a child,
In early bloom your handmaid smil'd,
Love of the World her fancy mov'd,
Vain pageantry her heart approv'd:
Her form, she thought, and lovely mien,
All must admire, when all had seen:
A thirst of pleasure and of praise
(With shame I speak) engross'd my days;
Nor were my night-thoughts, I confess,
Free from solicitude for dress;
How best to bind my flowing hair
With art, yet with an artless air
(My hair, like musk in scent and hue;
Oh! blacker far and sweeter too);
In what nice braid or glossy curl
To fix a diamond or a pearl,
And where to smooth the love-spread toils
With nard or jasmin's fragrant oils;
How to adjust the golden Teic ,
And most adorn my forehead sleek;
What Condals should emblaze my ears,
Like Seita's waves or Seita's tears ;
How elegantly to dispose
Bright circlets for my well-form'd nose;
With strings of rubies how to deck,
Or em'rald rows, my stately neck,
While some that ebon tow'r embrac'd
Some pendent sought my slender waist;
How next my purfled veil to chuse
From silken stores of varied hues;
Which would attract the roving view,
Pink, violet, purple, orange, blue;
The loveliest mantle to select,
Or unembellish'd or bedeck'd;
And how my twisted scarf to place
With most inimitable grace;
(Too thin its warp, too fine its woof,
For eyes of males not beauty-proof);
What skirts the mantle best would suit,
Ornate with stars or tissued fruit,
The flow'r-embroider'd or the plain
With silver or with golden vein;
The Chury bright, which gayly shows
Fair objects, aptly to compose;
How each smooth arm and each soft wrist
By richest Cosecs might be kiss'd;
While some, my taper ankles round,
With sunny radiance ting'd the ground.
O waste of many a precious hour!
O Vanity, how vast thy pow'r!’
Then spake: ‘Heav'n's mandate I obey;
Though nought, essential to be known,
Has heav'n to learn, or I to own.
When scarce a damsel, scarce a child,
In early bloom your handmaid smil'd,
Love of the World her fancy mov'd,
Vain pageantry her heart approv'd:
Her form, she thought, and lovely mien,
All must admire, when all had seen:
A thirst of pleasure and of praise
(With shame I speak) engross'd my days;
Nor were my night-thoughts, I confess,
Free from solicitude for dress;
How best to bind my flowing hair
With art, yet with an artless air
(My hair, like musk in scent and hue;
Oh! blacker far and sweeter too);
In what nice braid or glossy curl
To fix a diamond or a pearl,
15
With nard or jasmin's fragrant oils;
How to adjust the golden Teic ,
And most adorn my forehead sleek;
What Condals should emblaze my ears,
Like Seita's waves or Seita's tears ;
How elegantly to dispose
Bright circlets for my well-form'd nose;
With strings of rubies how to deck,
Or em'rald rows, my stately neck,
While some that ebon tow'r embrac'd
Some pendent sought my slender waist;
How next my purfled veil to chuse
From silken stores of varied hues;
Which would attract the roving view,
Pink, violet, purple, orange, blue;
The loveliest mantle to select,
Or unembellish'd or bedeck'd;
And how my twisted scarf to place
With most inimitable grace;
(Too thin its warp, too fine its woof,
For eyes of males not beauty-proof);
What skirts the mantle best would suit,
Ornate with stars or tissued fruit,
The flow'r-embroider'd or the plain
With silver or with golden vein;
The Chury bright, which gayly shows
Fair objects, aptly to compose;
How each smooth arm and each soft wrist
By richest Cosecs might be kiss'd;
16
With sunny radiance ting'd the ground.
O waste of many a precious hour!
O Vanity, how vast thy pow'r!’
Cubits twice four th' ambrosial flew,
Still from its branch disjoin'd by two.
Still from its branch disjoin'd by two.
Each husband now, with wild surprise,
His compeers and his consort eyes;
When Yudishteir: ‘Thy female breast
Some faults, perfidious, hath suppress'd.
Oh! give the close-lock'd secret room,
Unfold its bud, expand its bloom;
Lest, sinking with our crumbled halls,
We see red flames devour their walls.’
Abash'd, yet with a decent pride,
Firm Draupady the fact denied;
Till, through an arched alley green,
The limit of that sacred scene,
She saw the dreaded Muny go
With steps majestically slow;
Then said: (a stifled sigh she stole,
And show'd the conflict of her soul
By broken speech and flutt'ring heart,
One trifle more I must impart:
A Brahmen learn'd, of pure intent
And look demure, one morn you sent,
With me, from Sanscrit old, to read
Each high Purán each holy Veid.
His thread, which Brehmá's lineage show'd’!
O'er his left shoulder graceful flow'd;
Of Crishna and his nymphs he redde,
How with nine maids the dance he led;
How they ador'd, and he repaid
Their homage in the sylvan shade.
While this gay tale my spirits cheer'd,
So keen the Pendit's eyes appear'd,
So sweet his voice—a blameless fire
This bosom could not but inspire.
Bright as a God he seem'd to stand:
The rev'rend volume left his hand,
With mine he press'd’—With deep despair
Brothers on brothers wildly stare:
From Erjun flew a wrathful glance;
Tow'rd them they saw their dread advance;
Then, trembling, breathless, pale with fear,
‘Hear, said the matron, calmly hear!
By Tulsy's leaf the truth I speak—
The Brahmen only kiss'd my cheek.’
His compeers and his consort eyes;
When Yudishteir: ‘Thy female breast
Some faults, perfidious, hath suppress'd.
Oh! give the close-lock'd secret room,
Unfold its bud, expand its bloom;
Lest, sinking with our crumbled halls,
We see red flames devour their walls.’
Abash'd, yet with a decent pride,
Firm Draupady the fact denied;
Till, through an arched alley green,
The limit of that sacred scene,
She saw the dreaded Muny go
With steps majestically slow;
Then said: (a stifled sigh she stole,
And show'd the conflict of her soul
By broken speech and flutt'ring heart,
One trifle more I must impart:
A Brahmen learn'd, of pure intent
And look demure, one morn you sent,
With me, from Sanscrit old, to read
Each high Purán each holy Veid.
His thread, which Brehmá's lineage show'd’!
O'er his left shoulder graceful flow'd;
Of Crishna and his nymphs he redde,
How with nine maids the dance he led;
How they ador'd, and he repaid
17
While this gay tale my spirits cheer'd,
So keen the Pendit's eyes appear'd,
So sweet his voice—a blameless fire
This bosom could not but inspire.
Bright as a God he seem'd to stand:
The rev'rend volume left his hand,
With mine he press'd’—With deep despair
Brothers on brothers wildly stare:
From Erjun flew a wrathful glance;
Tow'rd them they saw their dread advance;
Then, trembling, breathless, pale with fear,
‘Hear, said the matron, calmly hear!
By Tulsy's leaf the truth I speak—
The Brahmen only kiss'd my cheek.’
Strait its full height the wonder rose,
Glad with its native branch to close.
Glad with its native branch to close.
Now to the walk approach'd the Sage
Exulting in his verdant age:
His hands, that touch'd his front, express'd
Due rev'rence to each princely guest,
Whom to his rural board he led
In simple delicacy spread,
With curds their palates to regale,
And cream-cups from the Gopia's pail.
Exulting in his verdant age:
His hands, that touch'd his front, express'd
Due rev'rence to each princely guest,
Whom to his rural board he led
In simple delicacy spread,
With curds their palates to regale,
And cream-cups from the Gopia's pail.
Could you, ye Fair, like this black wife,
Restore us to primeval life,
And bid that apple, pluck'd for Eve
By him, who might all wives deceive,
Hang from its parent bough once more
Divine and perfect, as before,
Would you confess your little faults?
(Great ones were never in your thoughts);
Would you the secret wish unfold,
Or in your heart's full casket hold?
Would you disclose your inmost mind,
And speak plain truth, to bless mankind?
Restore us to primeval life,
And bid that apple, pluck'd for Eve
By him, who might all wives deceive,
Hang from its parent bough once more
Divine and perfect, as before,
Would you confess your little faults?
(Great ones were never in your thoughts);
Would you the secret wish unfold,
18
Would you disclose your inmost mind,
And speak plain truth, to bless mankind?
‘What! said the Guardian of our realm,
With waving crest and fiery helm,
‘What! are the fair, whose heav'nly smiles
Rain glory through my cherish'd isles,
Are they less virtuous or less true
Than Indian dames of sooty hue?
No, by these arms. The cold surmise
And doubt injurious vainly rise.
Yet dares a bard, who better knows,
This point distrustfully propose;
Vain fabler now! though oft before
His harp has cheer'd my sounding shore.’
With waving crest and fiery helm,
‘What! are the fair, whose heav'nly smiles
Rain glory through my cherish'd isles,
Are they less virtuous or less true
Than Indian dames of sooty hue?
No, by these arms. The cold surmise
And doubt injurious vainly rise.
Yet dares a bard, who better knows,
This point distrustfully propose;
Vain fabler now! though oft before
His harp has cheer'd my sounding shore.’
With brow austere the martial maid
Spoke, and majestic trod the glade:
To that fell cave her course she held,
Where Scandal, bane of mortals, dwell'd.
Outstretch'd on filth the pest she found,
Black fetid venom streaming round:
A gloomy light just serv'd to show
The darkness of the den below.
Britannia with resistless might
Soon dragg'd him from his darling night:
The snakes, that o'er his body curl'd,
And flung his poison through the world,
Confounded with the flash of day,
Hiss'd horribly a hellish lay.
His eyes with flames and blood suffus'd,
Long to th' ethereal beam unus'd,
Fierce in their gory sockets roll'd;
And desperation made him bold:
Pleas'd with the thought of human woes,
On scaly dragon feet he rose.
Thus, when Asúrs with impious rage,
Durst horrid war with Dévta's wage,
And darted many a burning mass
E'en on the brow of gemm'd Cailas,
High o'er the rest, on serpents rear'd,
The grisly king of Deits appear'd.
Spoke, and majestic trod the glade:
To that fell cave her course she held,
Where Scandal, bane of mortals, dwell'd.
Outstretch'd on filth the pest she found,
Black fetid venom streaming round:
A gloomy light just serv'd to show
The darkness of the den below.
Britannia with resistless might
Soon dragg'd him from his darling night:
The snakes, that o'er his body curl'd,
And flung his poison through the world,
Confounded with the flash of day,
Hiss'd horribly a hellish lay.
His eyes with flames and blood suffus'd,
Long to th' ethereal beam unus'd,
Fierce in their gory sockets roll'd;
And desperation made him bold:
Pleas'd with the thought of human woes,
19
Thus, when Asúrs with impious rage,
Durst horrid war with Dévta's wage,
And darted many a burning mass
E'en on the brow of gemm'd Cailas,
High o'er the rest, on serpents rear'd,
The grisly king of Deits appear'd.
The nymph beheld the fiend advance,
And couch'd her far-extending lance:
Dire drops he threw; th' infernal tide
Her helm and silver hauberk dyed:
Her moonlike shield before her hung;
The monster struck, the monster stung:
Her spear with many a griding wound
Fast nail'd him to the groaning ground.
The wretch, from juster vengeance free,
Immortal born by heav'n's decree,
With chains of adamant secur'd,
Deep in cold gloom she left immur'd.
And couch'd her far-extending lance:
Dire drops he threw; th' infernal tide
Her helm and silver hauberk dyed:
Her moonlike shield before her hung;
The monster struck, the monster stung:
Her spear with many a griding wound
Fast nail'd him to the groaning ground.
The wretch, from juster vengeance free,
Immortal born by heav'n's decree,
With chains of adamant secur'd,
Deep in cold gloom she left immur'd.
Now reign at will, victorious Fair,
In British, or in Indian, air!
Still with each envying flow'r adorn
Your tresses radiant as the morn;
Still let each Asiatic dye
Rich tints for your gay robes supply;
Still through the dance's laby'rinth float,
And swell the sweetly-lengthen'd note;
Still, on proud steeds or glitt'ring cars,
Rise on the course like beamy stars;
And, when charm'd circles round you close
Of rhyming bards and smiling beaux,
Whilst all with eager looks contend
Their wit or worth to recommend,
Still let your mild, yet piercing, eyes
Impartially adjudge the prize.
In British, or in Indian, air!
Still with each envying flow'r adorn
Your tresses radiant as the morn;
Still let each Asiatic dye
Rich tints for your gay robes supply;
Still through the dance's laby'rinth float,
And swell the sweetly-lengthen'd note;
Still, on proud steeds or glitt'ring cars,
Rise on the course like beamy stars;
And, when charm'd circles round you close
Of rhyming bards and smiling beaux,
Whilst all with eager looks contend
Their wit or worth to recommend,
20
Impartially adjudge the prize.
The Vayds, or Sacred Writings of Brahma, called Rig, Sam, and Yeiar: doubts have been raised concerning the authority of the fourth, or At'herven, Vayd.
The Earthen Age, or that of Caly or Impurity: this verse alludes to Cáley, the Hecate of the Indians.
A round number is chosen; but the Caly Yug, a little before which Crishna disappeared from this world, began four thousand, eight hundred, and eighty-four years ago, that is, according to our Chronologists, seven hundred and forty seven before the flood; and by the calculation of M. Bailly, but four hundred and fifty-four after the foundation of the Indian empire.
This war, which Crishna fomented in favour of the Pandu Prince, Yudhishtir, supplied Vyas with the subject of his noble Epic Poem, Mahabharat.
This word is commonly pronounced with a strong accent on the last letter, but the preceding vowel is short in Sengscrit. The Prince is called on the Coast Dherme Raj, or Chief Magistrate.
The Geita, containing Instructions to Erjun, was composed by Crishna who peculiarly distinguished him.
Yudhishtir and Draupady, called Drobada by M. Sonnerat, are deified on the Coast; and their feast, of which that writer exhibits an engraving, is named the Procession of Fire, because she passed every year from one of her five husbands to another, after a solemn purification by that element. In the Bhasha language, her name is written, Dropty.
This will receive illustration from a passage in the Ramayen: ‘Even he, who cannot be slain by the ponderous arms of Indra, nor by those of Caly, nor by the terrible Checra (or Discus), of Vishnu, shall be destroyed, if a Brahmen execrate him, as if he were consumed by fire.’
| The Hindu wife and the hymns | |