Therefore,
with body bent
And reverent intent,
I praise, and serve, and seek Thee, asking grace.
As father to a son,
As friend to friend, as one
Who loved to his lover, turn Thy face
In gentleness on me!
Good is it I did see
This unknown marvel of Thy Form! But fear
Mingles with joy! Retake,
Dear Lord! for pity's sake
Thine earthly shape, which earthly eyes may bear!
Be merciful, and show
The visage that I know;
Let me regard Thee, as of yore, arrayed
With disc and forehead-gem,
With mace and anadem,
Thou that sustainest all things! Undismayed
Let me once more behold
The form I loved of old,
Thou of the thousand arms and countless eyes!
This frightened heart is fain
To see restored again
My Charioteer, in Krishna's kind disguise.
Krishna. Yea! thou hast seen, Arjuna! because I loved thee well, The
secret countenance of Me, revealed by mystic spell, Shining, and
wonderful, and majestic, manifold, Which none save thou in all the
years had favour to behold; For not by Vedas cometh this, nor
sacrifice, nor alms, Nor works well-done, nor penance long, nor
prayers, nor chanted psalms, That mortal eyes should bear to view
the Immortal Soul unclad, Prince of the Kurus! This was
kept for thee alone! Be glad! Let no more trouble shake thy heart,
because thine eyes have seen My terror with My glory. |
