Volume 4- (Writings: Poems) To The Awakened India

Volume 4- Writings: Poems

To The Awakened India
(Written to Prabuddha Bharata or Awakened India, in August 1898, when the journal was transferred from Madras to Almora Himalayas, into the hands of the Brotherhood founded by Swami Vivekananda.)

Once more awake!
         For sleep it was, not death, to bring thee life
         Anew, and rest to lotus-eyes for visions
         Daring yet. The world in need awaits, O Truth!
         No death for thee!

Resume thy march,
         With gentle feet that would not break the
         Peaceful rest even of the roadside dust
         That lies so low. Yet strong and steady,
         Blissful, bold, and free. Awakener, ever
         Forward! Speak thy stirring words.

Thy home is gone,
        Where loving hearts had brought thee up and
        Watched with joy thy growth. But Fate is strong —
         This is the law — all things come back to the source
         They sprung, their strength to renew.

Then start afresh
         From the land of thy birth, where vast cloud-belted
         For working wonders new. The heavenly
         River tune thy voice to her own immortal song;
         Deodar shades give thee eternal peace.

And all above,
         Himala’s daughter Umâ, gentle, pure,
         The Mother that resides in all as Power
         And Life, who works all works and
         Makes of One the world, whose mercy
         Opens the gate to Truth and shows
         The One in All, give thee untiring
         Strength, which is Infinite Love.

They bless thee all,
         The seers great, whom age nor clime
          Can claim their own, the fathers of the
          Race, who felt the heart of Truth the same,
          And bravely taught to man ill-voiced or
          Well. Their servant, thou hast got
           The secret — ’tis but One.

Then speak, O Love!
           Before thy gentle voice serene, behold how
           Visions melt and fold on fold of dreams
           Departs to void, till Truth and Truth alone
           In all its glory shines —

And tell the world —
          Awake, arise, and dream no more!
          This is the land of dreams, where Karma
          Weaves unthreaded garlands with our thoughts
          Of flowers sweet or noxious, and none
          Has root or stem, being born in naught, which
          The softest breath of Truth drives back to
          Primal nothingness. Be bold, and face
          The Truth! Be one with it! Let visions cease,
          Or, if you cannot, dream but truer dreams,
          Which are Eternal Love and Service Free.

You May Also Like