KASI
PURASU BALAKRISHNAN
Kasi, eternal city,
How shall I sing of you?
Kasi, holy city,
Your name awakens
Immortal longings
In
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!
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
In the early morning
Incense-breathing air
In the early dawn of
humanity:
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.