Indian Antiquary Vol 61

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 147

JULY, 1932]
LIFE OF ROPA BHAWAN
133
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The
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(6) My holy light pervades the universe,
But every one observes it who has become fond of us. There is no distance between us and thee,
Though there are many stages intervening between us. (8) The status of him who is fond of us is high ;
Whoever became fond of us is fortunate. (9) My effulgence is brighter than that of the moon and the sun;
My effulgence is of greater lustre than any pearl. (10) In reality, from us has become renowned
The name, the person, the colour and the appearance of all mankind. (11) Self-praise is not the gate of this market;
Those who indulge in self-praise have no access to this road. The life of the conceited is a heavy burden; Selfishness is a great pain. The selfish has no admittance into my apartment :
That person will be united with me who is selfless. (14) Ostentation is not the habit of the godly;
Bo far from self, and thou art united with us. (15) Selflessness is the sign of the selfless;
Bow down at the door of the selfless. (16) The selfless are of the highest authority
The kings of the time and the wearers of the crest and crown. (17) The selfless are the seers of God;
The selfless are merged in the Almighty. (18) Be the ruler of the city of selflessness,
The possessor of lands and oceans of selflessness, (19) Very much from the effect of our love
The secrets of saints have dominated thy mind. (20) Thou thyself art aware of the secrets of the advantages of union
Therefore thou art inclined from the false towards the truc. (21) Dear, whatever I have said, in reality
Was to remind [thee) of the way of religion. From Sadanand, the old well-wisher,
Who is resolute at the door of thy friendship, (23) Until the centre of the six sides (of the universe) endures,
Until the stability of the world lasts, (24) A hundred prayers be connected with thee in thy vicissitudes,
As his prayers are granted (by God). (25) O soul of life I be, by my affection,
Successful in this world and the world to come. Rûpa Bhawani's paternal female cousins often indulged in gibes, sneers and whispers against her for her ill-luok so far as conjugal happiness was concerned. Naturally the reproaches struok home, and she would heave a deep sigh and knit her brow in distress, her soul labouring under a sickly sensibility of the miseries not of herself alone for the time being, but also of others like herself in the family in the future, which she could foresee. On the other hand, her paternal male cousins' wives showed sincere sympathy with her and admired her magnanimity in patiently and nobly bearing misfortunes hatched by her cranky motherin-law, and them she used to bless. And it does so happen that daughters-in-law in the Dhar family are, together with their husbands, invariably prosperous and happy.
Rûpa Bhawani introdaced a very important social reform, which is still in vogue, and has rendered her name immortal. She tabooed bigamy and polygamy, both in respect of daughters and daughters-in-law, in the Dhar family. This reform has greater force and higher sanction than a statutory law, solemnized as it is by an oath administered by her against its infringement, and it is, therefore, respetad by all and strictly adhered to.
Rûpa Bhawani's mind was always fixed on things heavenly. Her verses, composed in mixed Sanskrit and Kashmiri, which number 96, have a profound mystic significance. They
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