SRI AUROBINDO
Translations
from Sanskrit and Other Languages
Kalidasa
Bhartrihari. The Century of Life
On Wisdom
What can the extreme wrath of hostile Fate?
The swan that floats in the cool lotus-wood
She from his pleasant mansion can exclude.
His fame remains, in food adulterate1
Who could the better choose, the worse discern.
Fate cannot touch glory that mind can earn.
1 The swan was supposed to have the power of separating milk from water when the two were mixed.