YOGA SAKTHI
By Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiar
(an attempt by me to render in English at the request of a friend)
the heaven and earth
are ruled!
But is my penance with pain
and heart squeezing
love
bound to drain out like water
poured out on a
desert sand?
Won’t even a thought arise in
your mind
would you so
foolishly lend me this earth?
Proclaiming you as my refuge
and having struck on
that in my mind,
Oh mother I cried out
to give me huge
wealth and
to protect it, great
righteousness.
But do you not hear those
pleadings
and is it fair to let
Truth slip off?
Oh Kali, great Chamundi,
Mistress of Aumkara
and queen of my heart,
Shall I be teased around for
days on end?
art not that the
heart’s desire be achieved
at thine lotus feet
where I surrendered
myself?
If they are granted not, rid me
of this life
For, don’t you know, Oh dark
blue one,
that with sorrow
unending, my life shall not dwell?
Craving and churning food all
day long,
weaving many petty and stupid tales,
weak at heart, embroiled in
sorrow,
tormenting others with one’s own
deeds,
greying and withering with
passing days,
getting taunted by harsh words
and then to die,
would a lot of mean and funny
mortals do,
You thought I shall also fall
away so?
I shall ask some boons of thee,
that thou shall give me
straight away.
All effects of my past ill
deeds
shall perish without arising.
I shall be made into a new life
with all my sorrows vanquished.
Intelligence made sparkling bright
and let me be in bliss for ever.
With the shoulders
strengthened,
physical tire and illness
driven out,
with a firm body that could
withstand
even a slicing by a sword
blade,
with a beaming face for all
time,
like a lotus seeing the rising
Sun;
teaching ways to overcome
narrow sectarian paths,
exalted virtues of penance
shall be granted.
Success in all endeavours
undertaken shall be
granted
There shall be treasures for
great deeds
and there shall be
contributions from all around;
There shall be to the heart’s
content
soothing music with
energetic beats;
My singing and notes shall invigorate
vibrant grand
pleasures of poetry.
To turn just stones to
diamonds;
copper into
glittering gold bars;
ordinary grass into
rice fields;
pigs and boars as
fierce lionesses;
and various ways of
conquering earth
the nation that knew
these techniques
shall have an
unburdened great learning
for intelligent and a virile victory!
And make out of
various alloys
Rich and variant
things by labour;
Towards achieving
these goals and to shine
To make the country
proud
To quell the
lethargy I may be strengthened.
Oh, mother would
that be so daunting?
The dark falsities
enclosing my mind
shall at once vanish
all together.
Doubts shall vanish
Fear shall be vanquished
Repeatedly I seek thee –
That like lord Krishna took
care of Partha,
So shall thee take direct
charge of me
And million times I shall pray
thee
That I shall be granted the
leadership of the universe.
Long live the Mother,
Long live her grace.
Aum Kali, the great Chamundi,
Mistress of Aumkara and queen
of my heart.
