Triveni Journal

1927 | 11,233,916 words

Triveni is a journal dedicated to ancient Indian culture, history, philosophy, art, spirituality, music and all sorts of literature. Triveni was founded at Madras in 1927 and since that time various authors have donated their creativity in the form of articles, covering many aspects of public life....

Kasi

Purasu Balakrishnan

Kasi, eternal city,
How shall I sing of you?
Kasi, holy city,
Your name awakens
Immortal longings
In India:
From the unreal lead me to the real
From darkness lead me to light
From death lead me to immortality
Asato ma sat gamaya
Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya
Mrityor ma amritam gamaya

Kasi! Varanasi!
They say'
One must see Kasi and die.
I’ve not seen you, Kasi,
I hope I shall not die
Before I see you.

Kasi! Siva’s city
I’ve come to you
In spirit.
I’ve seen your vedic seers
I’ve heard their chants
Rise like incense
In rolling Sanskrit rhythms
Like an ascending softer thunder
On the banks of the Ganga
In the early morning
Incense-breathing air
In the early dawn of humanity:
Om bhur bhuvas suvah
Om tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yonah prachodayat
On the Light divine
That lights Intelligence
Awake, dream or asleep
Let us meditate.

Wanderer, seeker,
Rest awhile here
Before you depart
Into the night.

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