Satyawati -32 Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon
Satyawati -32
32. Vanaprastha- Retiring to the Forests
Retiring to the forests
Is a practice followed
In the old age by members
Of the royal family.
Some people welcome death
By totally abstaining from food
Living just on water alone,
While others await a natural death.
When I took the decision
Ambika and Ambalika confided
They had already decided
To join me on Vanaprastha.
Devabrata, Dhritarashtra
The ministers and citizens
Even the young princes
Wanted us to stay back.
Vidura, with his eyes moist
Accepted whole-heartedly
His mother having joined us
Asked his wife to accompany.
He was privy to the conflict
Betwixt the Dhartarashtrans
And the Pandavas; the fire
His wisdom could not douse.
Renouncing all royal comforts
Devoid of the coterie of servants
Living on roots, fruit and leaves
We now await the inevitable,
Totally distanced from this world
And the horrible war in the offing
Without disturbing the peace,
Sanity and sanctity of the forest.
Retiring from the battlefield- -should we or shouldn't we? Weary of life, weary from aging, should our wise old heads remove themselves or stay and hope by their hard-earned wisdom to guide and protect the peoples from themselves? A very difficult question that in the end they alone can decide.... this epic story has led me down many difficult paths- this might be the hardest. 10+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Thank you Susie for reading this pretty long series and staying with me. Obliged. Obliged for your kindness in favouring me with the invaluable remarks.
Sir, How do I thank you for following this series. Obliged. Obliged for your appreciation of my attempt.
I have been reading all 32 poems of Satyawati Series.out standing are the all. The poetic project will highlight our literary heriatge in a modern form before the world. I loved them.
Hi Binay, Thank you for following this series. The story should be well known to you. My narrative, you have been able to put up with! Obliged.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/12/2024 3:31:20 AM # 1.0.0.1119
Oh wow, ever so heart moving and beautifully told! .. Deeply enchanting, through every page that did unfold! .. :) Reminds me of some of the storybooks my Dad would read to me! .. Thank you ever so much for sharing these! .. Ever so many 10S! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! +++++
Hi Becca, This series draws from the story thread of epic Mahabharata. The story narrated here is the background on which the entire epic is built. Hope you have read the story of Mahabharata in some form....