Fable-6. Poem by Nabakishore Dash

Palace, position, properties,
enticing wife, handsome son.
None could lure
young Siddhartha Gautama.
Renounced the world
at the dead of the night.
Lived a life of asceticism
to gain knowledge, insight.

Days passed by,
could not reach destination.
Perplexed and despaired,
felt the need for hydration.
Went to the streamlet
to drink some water.
Found a baby squirrel
playing happily with mother.
Marked that the baby suddenly
fell into the streamlet water.
Moved down stream,
very soon went afar.
The shocked mother
reached edge of the rivulet.
Soaked her body in water,
came back, jiggled her shaft.
She repeated the process
in quick successions.
Siddhartha realised that
she is trying for exsiccation.
Is it possible by
such a small animal?
Can she rescue her baby
by such trials?

Even if it looked impossible
on her part to dry the stream.
He was highly motivated by
her relentless optimism.
The scene was an
eye-opener for him,
gave up pessimism
to fulfill dream.
Under the religious Bodhi tree,
sat in deep meditation.
With renewed courage
and firm determination.
Successfully gained
wisdom and insight,
known as ' Buddha,
the enlightened one.'
Never give up trials,
achieve success.
Follow none,
learn from all,
however small,
doggedly progress.
Earth is such a planet,
where sorrow and joy alternate.
Mother's love,
how superb! ! ! .