Charvaka, The Rational Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

What the modern world pursues in their life
Is what the Caharvaka philosophy had taught,
At the time when the Vedic faith prevailed,
As an antidote, three thousand years ago.
Ajivika took a leaf out of its birth;
Jainism took a leaf out of its notes;
Buddhism modelled after its thoughts;
Socrates had such thoughts the same period.

No hard rules to abide by.
No prophesies to head to.
No commandments to adhere to.
No sastras or gods to follow.
To believe what is seen.
No merit and no sin to threaten.
No karma and no moksha to work for.
Eat, drink and be merry.

There is no soul eternal.
There is no soul independent.
There is no soul to reenter.
There is no soul for worship.
Soul is an accidental birth
From earth, air, fire and water
As redness is in a combination
Of betal leaves, betal nuts and the lime

Charvaka professes materialism.
Charvaka suggests consumerism.
Charvaka is as good as empiricism.
It admits conditional inference.
It aims to get pleasure and avoid pain,
And forget about the post-death status.
Ordinance and chastity are the work
Of the cleaver weaklings to rein the mass.
26.02.2023