The Legend of Balaki
1
Bold Balaki was a Brahman
Proud of learning and of lore,
Versed in Veda and in Sastra,
Known in many a distant shore,
In the realm of Usinara
And in Matsya he had been,
Kuruland and broad Panchala,
Kasi and Videha seen.
2
Royal sage Ajata-satru
Ruled in Kasi rich in fame,
Unto him the learned Brahman
As a guest and stranger came.
" Blessed be thy rule, O monarch,
And thy empire rich and fair,
I will speak to thee of BRAHMA,
Ruler of the earth and air! "
3
" Welcome, welcome, learned Brahman,
Handsome be thy learning's meed,
For thy holy speech I offer
Thousand kine of finest breed.
All the priests and sages hasten
To Videha's mightier king,
Come thou to the court of Kasi
And a Brahman's blessings bring! "
4
" Listen, then, O pious monarch,
Mark the sun so fair and bright,
Worship thou the Soul of Radiance
Dwelling in that orb of light! "
" Higher message, priest Balaki,
Deeper lesson must thou state,
For the sun is great and glorious,
But is not the Uncreate! "
5
" Mark the moon, O mighty monarch,
Sailing o'er the silent sky,
Worship thou the Soul of Beauty
Dwelling there serene and high! "
" Higher message, priest Balaki,
Deeper lesson must thou state,
For the moon is bright and beauteous,
But is not the Uncreate! "
6
" Mark, O king, the forked lightning
Leaping through the lurid sky,
Worship thou the Soul of Terror
Flashing there sublime and high! "
" Higher message, priest Balaki,
Deeper lesson must thou state,
For the lightning is terrific,
But is not the Uncreate! "
7
" List, O king, in voice of thunder
Mandate high and law profound,
Worship thou the Soul of Grandeur
Dwelling in that lofty sound! "
" Higher message, priest Balaki,
Deeper lesson thou must state,
Mighty is the peal of thunder,
But is not the Uncreate! "
8
Laboured still the learned Brahman
Nature's secrets to explain,
Quoted from each holy Sastra,
Argued long, but argued vain,
To his reasons, to his learning,
Simply this the monarch said:
Glorious is this wide creation, —
Uncreate the hand that made!
9
Scroll and scripture and tradition,
Proud Balaki quoted oft,
Spoke of fire and viewless ether,
Seas below and skies aloft,
Spoke of shadow and reflection,
Word and echo, voice and sound,
Argued still of dream and slumber,
But solution none he found!
10
Silent was the boastful Brahman,
Bent his humbled head in shame,
Sad at heart in pride of wisdom
To a wiser king he came.
" Thus far, " — spake the monarch gently, —
" Thus far doth your knowledge go? "
" Thus far, " — spake the Brahman humbly, —
" Teach me what you further know? "
11
With the fuel, as a student,
Meekly priest Balaki came,
Seeking knowledge from the monarch
Great in wisdom as in fame.
" He the sun and moon who lighted,
Spread the earth and sky so great,
Hung the star-lamps in the azure, —
He alone is Uncreate! "
1
A LL this universe is B RAHMA , —
All that live and move and die, —
Born in Him, in Him subsisting,
Ending in that Being High.
And the mortal ever reapeth
As he sows upon this earth,
As he lives in sin or virtue
So he takes his future birth!
2
He is Life and highest Knowledge,
He is Truth and holy Light,
And his soul the world pervadeth
But like ether 'scapes our sight.
From Him every deed and action,
Every wish and impulse spring,
Calm and conscious, never speaking,
He embraceth everything!
3
He — the self within my bosom,
Impulse of the heart and brain,
Smaller than the smallest substance,
Kernel of the smallest grain.
He — the self within my bosom,
Greater than the earth and sky,
Vaster than the lands and oceans,
Higher than the heaven on high!
4
From Him every deed and action,
Every wish and impulse spring,
Calm and conscious, never speaking,
He embraceth everything.
He the self within my bosom,
He the universal goal, —
When I leave this world of mortals
Unto Him will wing my soul!
Bold Balaki was a Brahman
Proud of learning and of lore,
Versed in Veda and in Sastra,
Known in many a distant shore,
In the realm of Usinara
And in Matsya he had been,
Kuruland and broad Panchala,
Kasi and Videha seen.
2
Royal sage Ajata-satru
Ruled in Kasi rich in fame,
Unto him the learned Brahman
As a guest and stranger came.
" Blessed be thy rule, O monarch,
And thy empire rich and fair,
I will speak to thee of BRAHMA,
Ruler of the earth and air! "
3
" Welcome, welcome, learned Brahman,
Handsome be thy learning's meed,
For thy holy speech I offer
Thousand kine of finest breed.
All the priests and sages hasten
To Videha's mightier king,
Come thou to the court of Kasi
And a Brahman's blessings bring! "
4
" Listen, then, O pious monarch,
Mark the sun so fair and bright,
Worship thou the Soul of Radiance
Dwelling in that orb of light! "
" Higher message, priest Balaki,
Deeper lesson must thou state,
For the sun is great and glorious,
But is not the Uncreate! "
5
" Mark the moon, O mighty monarch,
Sailing o'er the silent sky,
Worship thou the Soul of Beauty
Dwelling there serene and high! "
" Higher message, priest Balaki,
Deeper lesson must thou state,
For the moon is bright and beauteous,
But is not the Uncreate! "
6
" Mark, O king, the forked lightning
Leaping through the lurid sky,
Worship thou the Soul of Terror
Flashing there sublime and high! "
" Higher message, priest Balaki,
Deeper lesson must thou state,
For the lightning is terrific,
But is not the Uncreate! "
7
" List, O king, in voice of thunder
Mandate high and law profound,
Worship thou the Soul of Grandeur
Dwelling in that lofty sound! "
" Higher message, priest Balaki,
Deeper lesson thou must state,
Mighty is the peal of thunder,
But is not the Uncreate! "
8
Laboured still the learned Brahman
Nature's secrets to explain,
Quoted from each holy Sastra,
Argued long, but argued vain,
To his reasons, to his learning,
Simply this the monarch said:
Glorious is this wide creation, —
Uncreate the hand that made!
9
Scroll and scripture and tradition,
Proud Balaki quoted oft,
Spoke of fire and viewless ether,
Seas below and skies aloft,
Spoke of shadow and reflection,
Word and echo, voice and sound,
Argued still of dream and slumber,
But solution none he found!
10
Silent was the boastful Brahman,
Bent his humbled head in shame,
Sad at heart in pride of wisdom
To a wiser king he came.
" Thus far, " — spake the monarch gently, —
" Thus far doth your knowledge go? "
" Thus far, " — spake the Brahman humbly, —
" Teach me what you further know? "
11
With the fuel, as a student,
Meekly priest Balaki came,
Seeking knowledge from the monarch
Great in wisdom as in fame.
" He the sun and moon who lighted,
Spread the earth and sky so great,
Hung the star-lamps in the azure, —
He alone is Uncreate! "
1
A LL this universe is B RAHMA , —
All that live and move and die, —
Born in Him, in Him subsisting,
Ending in that Being High.
And the mortal ever reapeth
As he sows upon this earth,
As he lives in sin or virtue
So he takes his future birth!
2
He is Life and highest Knowledge,
He is Truth and holy Light,
And his soul the world pervadeth
But like ether 'scapes our sight.
From Him every deed and action,
Every wish and impulse spring,
Calm and conscious, never speaking,
He embraceth everything!
3
He — the self within my bosom,
Impulse of the heart and brain,
Smaller than the smallest substance,
Kernel of the smallest grain.
He — the self within my bosom,
Greater than the earth and sky,
Vaster than the lands and oceans,
Higher than the heaven on high!
4
From Him every deed and action,
Every wish and impulse spring,
Calm and conscious, never speaking,
He embraceth everything.
He the self within my bosom,
He the universal goal, —
When I leave this world of mortals
Unto Him will wing my soul!
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