Index

Book Ten Canto III: The Debate of Love and Death

Savitri replies to almighty Death: "Dark-hued, cunning reasoner, who hidest eternity with thy dance of death, who weavest the ignorant mind into a screen, who turnest sense into a false witness, thou speakest the Truth that slays, I shall answer with the Truth that saves. God made this world of Matter his starting point of a journey in which he discovers himself. He covered his head with the cowl of Matter. Infinity took on the form of a boundless zero. All-Knowledge seemed to be a dark Nescience, All-Bliss an Insentience. The adventure of the spirit into Time started, the pilgrimage of the soul in the cosmos. God's Puissance commenced work, things took shape in the Void; life awoke in Matter, mind in life, thought formed itself in mind and Man stood erect, the first of the creatures on earth to do so. He faced and conquered the powers and laws that rule the world. He has seen the Unknown. A ray of the eternal Sun has touched him. Death, thou lookest on an incomplete world and sayest that there is no God and all is in vain. Material Nature is still in travail and labours through ignorance and imperfection to reach, to change back into God. The body is the chrysalis of a soul. In all there is the secret presence and might of the All-Wonderful. This world is the outer garb of God. All is his passion-play; a transcendent Wisdom seeks to meet her Lord in the darkness of the Night. God plays at being bound by Nature. All leads to a revelation of the One in the Many. Behind the huge masquerade, the Light grows, Wisdom dawns and man's knowledge is lighted by God's ray. The spirit in man communes with the Eternal. Once, Death, all was plunged into the enigmatic Night, but now all is raised to meet the glorious Sun of Truth. This is the mystery of thy reign. In spite of thy mask, the earth has been made for joy and not sorrow. Our spirits breathe a secret air of pure felicity; without it the world would sink in the void. A hidden Bliss is at the root of things. Because of it, in all things, there is a will to live, a joy to be. Danger and difficulty whet the irrepressible joy. Life brings adventure and thrill. The Truth superhuman calls to thinking man and the soul turns to eternal things and at last immortal Bliss looks upon the world, poised on the breast of the Eternal's peace. Love comes into its own and gathers the whole world into its clasp. Death, I have triumphed over thee within myself. I can grieve no more. If I ask for Satyavan, it is for God's work on earth. For that we have come, Satyavan and I, to heal with bliss the unhappiness of the world, to fill with Love the hollow in men's hearts. My will is greater than thy law, Death, my love stronger than Fate. Love is my sanction from God, Love is my strength."

But the God of Death replies with an ironic laughter in his voice: "So do men cheat themselves with splendid thoughts, weave flimsy webs of Ideals. Thy soul is a product of flesh, God is created in dreams. Recognise that thou art a creature of Nature, accept the futility of thy birth. Truth is hard."

Savitri replies: "Yes, I am human, but my humanity is a mask of God. By me shall men conquer thee."

Death cries back: "Thou dwellest in a house of Imagination. How can thy will make one what is true and what is false? Matter and Spirit can never become one. Desist from this vain labour. Take refuge in me, for to all Death is the last felicity."

Savitri: "My heart is wiser than thy Reason, Death. My strength can carry the grief of the Universe and yet never lose the Calm of the Infinite."

Death: "Art thou really so strong, so free? Show me thy strength, thy freedom from my laws."

Savitri: "Surely I shall find the way, with Satyavan's hand in mine."

Death: "Choose earthly joy, I will give thee all that thy soul desires. But my laws are hard and forbid thy dearest wish; Satyavan can never again be thine."

Savitri: "If thou, Death, can look straight at Truth, look at my heart, know what I am and give what thou must. I claim nothing but Satyavan alone."

Death bows in disdain like one who yields a point reluctantly and replies: "I give to thee what the once living Satyavan had desired for Savitri, worthy daughters, hero sons, felicity of days. Love shall bind many hearts to thee. Return, child, to thy abandoned earth."

Savitri refuses and replies: "Earth cannot flower if I return alone."

Death sends forth once more his angry cry: "Should all joy cease on earth because one man is dead? Grief dies soon in the tired human heart. Other guests soon fill the empty room."

Savitri: "Satyavan is my only Lord. Give him back to me."

Death: "Return! Other men of beauty and strength and truth will appease thee and one of them will replace Satyavan who shall soon recede into the past. New love shall push away the old; such is life."

Savitri: "Thou mockest. I know beyond all doubt that he and I are the eternal bridegroom and eternal bride who are to wed before the immortal Fire for the victory of heaven on earth. Why dost thou vainly strive with me, Death?"

The boundless members of the god shudder in silence, as if overpowered by a secret ecstasy. The twilight around trembles like a bursting veil. Thus strive the great opponents with armed speech. Speech fades away in the haze and mist of that glimmering world.

Savitri withdraws her thoughts and turns within into the chambers of her soul.

The procession continues, reversing the order of the world: mortal Satyavan leads, follows the god; Savitri is behind both, leader of their march, with them in front obeying her will.

They journey onward through the drifting ways.

All flees as if perturbed by the clearness of her soul.

Through that enchanted darkness moves her soul; Death walks in front of her and Satyavan in front of Death. Above hangs the unseen balance of his fate.