7. Poem No: 18 of the book Sesh Saptak, written in 1935.
Translator’s note: The following quote from the Poet’s essay Dukkha (Sorrow) from his book Santiniketan will explain well the implication of this poem – “The hymns of our prayer include – ‘I bow down to the Euphoric and the Benevolent’. But, our homage is to the former and not always to the latter. Because, the Benevolent is not necessarily euphoric always, but also grievous. We accept only happiness as His gift and count our sorrows as the result of ill luck.
So, we, the grief fearing , like to hide in various shells of our creation to save ourselves. But, the result of it is, we deprive ourselves of a full exposure to Truth.
If we always coddle our mind from the blows of grief, our living on this earth is then incomplete which never nourishes our health and vigour. The man who on this earth never had a grief, has not received his total dues from God, and his subsistence for his journey remains deficient.
Our dues of grief is not necessarily justified always. We shall have to accept also whatever we call wrong or unjustified. Man cannot develop himself on a refined calculation of his legitimate due and even if one can, it is not to one’s ultimate welfare. We should be capable of gracefully accepting even wrongs and injustices.
But, are all the advantages that come to us are calculated ones? There are occasions when we get more than the price we pay. At that time we don’t think that we don’t deserve it, but usurp the undue advantage without hesitation. Only in case of sorrow we try to balance justice and injustice. The fact is, our recompense is never based on refined calculation.
Process of life is based on acceptance and rejection centripetal and centrifugal, both the instincts are equally glorious to us. Our faculties of intellect, aesthetics, welfare and all that comprise human superiority, go on the maxim that we should accept as well as sacrifice..Those who accept all injustices, pain and grief without hesitation, not only strengthen themselves but also become serene, fully exposed to the abrasions of this world, all unchaste in them wear out.
So, be prepared heart and soul“ bow down to Him who causes sorrow only then you will gain health and strength that will mean bowing down to Shiva (Lord of Destruction) and the neo-Shiva.”
To strive for such a mental male up is the way out of the distress which we tend to cherish when we feel that we have been wronged.
Do we desire our grief to terminate?
Is it our pride or hate?
But our pain most intense
Carries not Truth’s permanence“
Such a confession true though,
Only hurts our Grief’s ego.
Life scatters all its hoard
On Time’s charioting road
Under its ceaseless wheel
Faint out the severest woe or weal.
Death of our dearest,
Leaves only demand earnest“
“Forget me not”“
While passing into naught.
But countless are demands of life
Which put our minds in strife
Amidst the present day babel,
That past appeal rings not a bell.
Though the words might remain,
Gone is the pain,
Yet, the pride of Grief
Denies Life its leave“
In its impertinent ardour
Bolts door to Life’s messenger
In the sprouting soil of Life
Distressed Grief in its hype
To precinct the benefice will assert
To coddle its beloved desert.
With Death’s hoard piled,
His suit against Time filed
Only to compound frustration
In this futile petition
Burial in self dug sepulcher
Becomes its intense desire.
All ego is serfdom
Grief’s is a hard one
Society, wealth and fame,
In love of these is addiction same,
But it is deepest indeed
In our grief morbid.
