SRI AUROBINDO
Translations
from Sanskrit and Other Languages
Kalidasa
Bhartrihari. The Century of Life
On Wealth
Often she lies, wears sometimes brow of truth,
Kind sometimes, sometimes ravening-merciless;
Now open-handed, full of bounty and grace,
And now a harpy; now sweet honey and ruth
Flows from her tongue, now menace harsh or stern;
This moment with a bottomless desire
She gathers millions in, the next will tire,–
Endless expense takes prodigally its turn.
Thus like a harlot changes momently
In princes the chameleon Policy.