Chapter (অধ্যায়): CHAPTER I : THE HOUSE ON THE GANGES PAGE-339Page: 339 of 548

For Shiva and the Mother made the great workers. Yet I have sometimes wondered if he knew at this time how the end of every theme was Bhakti. Much as he dreaded the luxury of spir­itual emotion for those who might be enervated by it, he could not help giving glimpses of what it meant to be consumed with the intoxication of God. And so he would chant for us such poems as:

 

They have made Radha queen, in the beautiful

          groves of Vrindaban.

At her gate stands Krishna, on guard.

His flute is singing all the time:

"Radha is about to distribute infinite wealth of love.

Though I am guard, all the world may enter.

Come all ye who thirst! Say only 'Glory unto Radha!'

Enter the region of love!"

 

Or he would give us the great antiphonal Chorus of the Cowherds, written by his friend:1

 

Men:  Thou art the Soul of souls,

                   Thou yellow‑garbed,

                   With thy blue eyes.

Women:      Thou dark One! Thou

                   Shepherd of Vrindaban!

                   Kneeling at the feet of the Shepherdesses.

Men:  My soul sings the praise of the glory

                             of the Lord,

                   Who took the human form.

Women:      Thy beauty for us, the Gopis.

Men:  Thou Lord of Sacrifice.

                   Saviour of the weak.

Women:      Who lovest Radha and thy body floats on its

                             own tears.

. . . . . .



Foot Note:

1     The Bengali dramatist Girish Chandra Ghosh.