Labouring for the good of all mankind.Sri Aurobindo
Translations
CWSA.- Volume 5
Part One. Translations from Sanskrit
Section One. The Ramayana
1. Speech of Dussaruth to the assembled States-General of his Empire
Then with a far reverberating sound
As of a cloud in heaven or war-drum’s call
Deep-voiced to battle and with echoings
In the wide roof of his majestic voice
That like the resonant surges onward rolled
Moving men’s hearts to joy, a King to Kings
He spoke and all they heard him.
To you, O princes, how this noblest realm
Was by my fathers ruled, the kings of old
Who went before me, even as one dearest son
Is by his parents cherished; therefore I too
Would happier leave than when my youth assumed
Their burden, mankind, my subjects, and this vast
World-empire of the old Ixvaacou1 kings.
Lo I have trod in those imperial steps
My fathers left, guarding with sleepless toil
The people while strength was patient in this frame
O’erburdened with the large majestic world.
But now my body broken is and old,
Ageing2 beneath the shadow of the white
Canopy imperial and outworn with long
Labouring for the good of all mankind.
My people, Nature fails me! I have lived
Thousands of years and many lives of men
And all my worn heart wearies for repose.
Weary am I of bearing up this heavy
Burden austere of the great world, duties
Not sufferable by souls undisciplined:
O folk, to rest from greatness I desire.
Therefore with your august, assembled will,
O powers and O twice-born nations, I
Would share with Rama this great kingdom’s crown,
Rama, my warrior son, by3 kingly birth
And gifts4 inherited confessed my son,
Rama, a mighty nation’s joy. Less fair
Yoked with his favouring constellation bright
The regent moon shall be than Rama’s face
When morn upon his crowning smiles. O folk,
Say then shall Luxman’s brother be your lord,
Glory’s high favourite who empire breathes?
Yea, if the whole vast universe should own
My son for king, it would be kinged indeed
And regal: Lords, of such desirable
Fortune I would possess the5 mother of men;
Then would I be at peace, at last repose
Transferring to such shoulders Earth. Pronounce
If I have nobly planned, if counselled well;
Grant me your high permissive voices, People,
But if my narrower pleasure, private hope,
Of welfare general the smooth disguise
Have in your censure donned, then let the folk
Themselves advise their monarch or command.
For other is disinterested thought
And by the clash of minds dissimilar
Counsel increases.”
As when a cloud with rain and thunder armed
Invades the skies, the jewelled peacocks loud
Clamour, assembled monarchs praised their king.
And like a moving echo came the voice
Of the great commons answering them, a thunder
And one exultant roar. Earth seemed to rock
Beneath the noise. Thus by their Emperor high
Admitted to his will great conclave was
Of clergy and of captains and of kings
And of the people of the provinces
And of the people metropolitan. All these
Deliberated and became one mind.
Resolved, they answered then their aged King.
1 1972 ed. SABCL, volume 8: Ikshwacou
2 1972 ed. SABCL, volume 8: Aging
3 1972 ed. SABCL, volume 8: son, son by
4 1972 ed. SABCL, volume 8: And by gifts
5 1972 ed. SABCL, volume 8: this