Untended
lies here, dear elders,
Ripe
at the root, the jack-fruit!
The
cool round moon
Alas!
unkempt lies the flower garden
Earned
for its cool southern breeze !
The
garland of fragrant flowers.
Lies
rejected.
They
tabooed as unworthy of being sought
The
supple fruit that savours health,
They
proscribed as vile venom the vibrating notes
Given
by the graceful veena strings.
They
proclaimed as unworthy of being worn
The crown most fit to don the head ;
They
forbade that we should not even touch
The
golden pot of curdled wholesome honey!
Women
in whom are perfected
All
the categories of joy, their status,
Here,
is like this, dear elders,
And
none is ashamed of this!
On
the death of her husband, on the woman’s head,
They
put the onerous burden of widowhood;
And
they forbade her, thereafter,
Never
to seek for her a companion.
Just
as man, on the death of his wife, seeks
A
different spouse, so, too, should women
Seek
a different partner, on the death
Of
her husband. So let’s proclaim to the world.
"As
soon as the shaft is freed, it seeks
Its
target", and so does our love; Tell me
If
there exists anywhere else a race
Alive
that hasn’t shot its arrows of love.
Empty
the space that is void of love
And
the earth moves because of love!
Baulking
the loving hearts of women
Is
like turning life upside down.
Do
not stop with vile widowhood
The
heart where love wells up
Do
not consult the holy scriptures
To
join the shoulders of a handsome mate.
Translated
by S. Raman
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