SRI AUROBINDO

Translations

from Sanskrit and Other Languages

II. From Bengali

Chittaranjan Das

Songs of the Sea (Sagar Sangit)

XVI

This is not now the lyre’s melodious stream,

These are not now the blossoming groves of dream,

But Rudra’s torrent comes with pitiless play:

The world sinks down as on its last wild day.

The fathomless depths leap up to mix the sky;

Winds of destruction’s sport walk tenebrously.

Masses of driving death go chanting by,

The dreadful laughters of eternity.

No lightning cleaves the night thy thunders fill;

Thy wounded bosom pours out clamour and wail;

The myriad serpents of infinitude

Their countless hoods above thy waves extrude.

I hear mid the loud stormwinds and the night

A voice arise of terror infinite;

Death’s shoutings in a darkness without shore

Join like a million Titans’ hungry roar.