| |
(From The Curse of Kehama)
A STREAM descends on Meru Mountain; | |
| None hath seen its secret fountain; | |
| It had its birth, so sages say, | |
| Upon the memorable day | |
| When Parvati presumed to lay, | 5 |
| In wanton play, | |
| Her hands, too venturous goddess, in her mirth, | |
| On Seeva’s eyes, the light and life of earth. | |
| Thereat the heart of the universe stood still; | |
| The elements ceased their influences; the hours | 10 |
| Stopt on the eternal round; motion and breath, | |
| Time, change, and life and death, | |
| In sudden trance opprest, forgot their powers. | |
| A moment, and the dread eclipse was ended; | |
| But at the thought of Nature thus suspended, | 15 |
| The sweat on Seeva’s forehead stood, | |
| And Ganges thence upon the world descended, | |
| The holy river, the redeeming flood. | |
| |
| None hath seen its secret fountain; | |
| But on the top of Meru Mountain, | 20 |
| Which rises o’er the hills of earth, | |
| In light and clouds, it hath its mortal birth. | |
| Earth seems that pinnacle to rear | |
| Sublime above this worldly sphere, | |
| Its cradle, and its altar, and its throne, | 25 |
| And there the new-born river lies | |
| Outspread beneath its native skies, | |
| As if it there would love to dwell | |
| Alone and unapproachable. | |
| Soon flowing forward, and resigned | 30 |
| To the will of the Creating Mind, | |
| It springs at once, with sudden leap, | |
| Down from the immeasurable steep. | |
| From rock to rock, with shivering force rebounding, | |
| The mighty cataract rushes; heaven around, | 35 |
| Like thunder, with the incessant roar resounding, | |
| And Meru’s summit shaking with the sound. | |
| Wide spreads the snowy foam, the sparkling spray | |
| Dances aloft; and ever there at morning | |
| The earliest sunbeams haste to wing their way, | 40 |
| With rainbow wreaths the holy stream adorning; | |
| And duly the adoring moon at night | |
| Sheds her white glory there, | |
| And in the watery air | |
| Suspends her halo-crowns of silver light. | 45 |
| |
