History of Indian Philosophy

SR No.: 007593
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Surendranath Dasgupta
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication Year: 1922
Total Pages: 2517
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 125 MB

Page 1264

xv11] The Philosophy of the Arvārs
75 The Arvār then laments that the clouds will not take his message. He speaks of the resemblance between the clouds and the Lord:
Tell me, ye clouds, how have ye won the means That we are thus like Tirumāl’s blest form? Bearing good water for protecting life, Ye range through all the sky. Such penance, sure,
As makes your bodies ache, has won this grace! The friend speaks of the callousness of the lord:
E'en in this age-long time of so-called night When men must grope, he pities not that she Stands in her deep immitigable grief.... The jungle traversed by the fawn-eyed girl With fragile waist, whom sinful I brought forth After long praise of Kannan's lotus feet....
The Arvār sees a likeness of his lord in the blue water-lily, and sees the lord's form everywhere:
All places, shining like great lotus pools On a blue mountain broad, to me are but The beauties of his eye—the lord of earth Girt by the roaring sea, heaven's lord, the lord Of other good souls, black-hued lord-and mine!
The Arvār speaks of the greatness of the lord:
Sages with wisdom won by virtuous toil Assert“His colour, glorious beauty, name, His form-are such and such." But all their toil Has measured not the greatness of my lord: Their wisdom's light is but a wretched lamp.
The foster-mother pities the mistress unable to endure the length of the night:
This child of sinful me, with well-formed teeth, Round breasts and rosy mouth, keeps saying, “These Fair nights eternal are as my desire For tulasi!"...
Again the foster-mother pities the girl as too young for such ardent love:
Breasts not yet full, and short her tresses soft; Skirt loose about the waist; with prattling tongue And innocent eyes....