All in self are sunk
Birds fruitless trees forsake,
Swans and cranes leave dried lake,
Courtesans scarce to wealth-less cling,
Counsellors leave a corrupt king,
Honey bees flee from lifeless flower,
Beasts forsake a forest on fire,
Motive-dunk men in self are sunk,
In this world, who to whom is dear?
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Translation |17.08.2024| free verse, love, self-interest
The Sanskrit verse:
vrksham ksheena-phalam tyajanti vihagaah, shushkam sarah saarasaah
nir-dravyam purusham tyajanti ganikaah, bhrashtam nrpam mantrinah |
pushpam paryuam tyajanti madhupaah, dagdham vana-antam mrgaah
sarvah kaarya-vashaat-janah abhi-ramate, tat kasya Kah vallabhah ||
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