The Voice of the Mother

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This is an essay from "Kali The Mother" by Sister

Nivedita, written around the turn of the previous

century. Sister Nivedita was one of the earliest

devotees of Shri Sarada Devi, Ramakrishna's wife.

 

The Voice of the Mother

 

 

Arise, My child, and go forth a man!

 

Bear manfully what is thy lot to bear; that which

comes to thy hand to be done, do with full strength

and fear not. Forget not, that I, the giver of

manhood, the giver of womanhood, the holder of

victory, am thy Mother.

 

Think not that life is serious! What is destiny but

thy Mother’s play? Come be my playfellow awhile,-meet

all happenings merrily! Murmurest thou of need of

purpose? Think’st thou the ball purposeless with which

the Mother plays? Know’st thou not that Her toy is a

thunderbolt, charged with power to shatter the worlds,

at the turn of Her wrist? Ask not of plans. Need the

arrow any plan when it is loosed from Her bow? Such

art thou. When the life is lived, the plan shall stand

revealed. Till then, O child of time, know Nothing!

 

My sport is unerring. For that alone set forth on

the day’s journey. Realize it was for My pleasure that

thou camest forth into the world, and for that again,

when night falls, I shall withdraw thee to My rest.

Ask nothing. Plan nothing. Let My will flow through

thee, as the ocean through an empty shell.

 

But this thing understand. Not one effort shall be

in vain. Not one effort shall fail at last. The dream

shall be less, not greater than the deed. Thou shalt

go here and there for some petty reason, and thy Going

shall subserve great ends. Thou shalt meet and speak

with many, but some few shall be Mine from the

beginning. With these thou shalt exchange a secret

sign and they shall follow with thee.

 

And that sign?

 

Deep in the hearts of Mine own flashes the

sacrificial knife of Kali. Worshippers of the Mother

are they from their birth in Her incarnation of the

Sword. Lovers of Death are they---not lovers of

Life—and of storm and stress.

 

Such shall come to thee with torches unlit for

fire. My voice cries out over the teeming Earth for

lives, for the lives and blood of the crowned kings of

men. Remember that I who cry have shown also the way

to answer. For of every kind has the mother been the

first, for protection of her flock, to leap to death.

 

Religion, called by whatever name, has ever been

the love of death. But today, the flame of

renunciation shall be lighted in My lands, and consume

men with a passion beyond control of thought. Then

shall My people thirst for self-sacrifice as others

for enjoyments. Then shall labour and suffering and

service be counted sweet instead of bitter. For this

age is great in time, and I, even I, Kali, am the

Mother of the nations.

 

Shrink not from defeat; embrace despair! Pain is not

different from pleasure, if I will both. Rejoice

therefore, when thou comest to the place of tears, and

see Me smile…at such spots do I keep my tryst with

men, and fold them deep into My heart.

 

Uproot every interest that would conflict with

Mine. Neither love nor friendship, nor comfort nor

home, may make its voice heard when I speak. Pass from

a palace to plunge into the ocean of terror,-from the

chamber of ease to stand guard in a burning city. Know

that as the one is unreal, so also is the other. Meet

fate with a smile.

 

Look for no mercy for thyself, and I will make

thee bearer of great vessels of mercy to others.

Accept bravely thine own darkness and thy lamp shall

cheer many. Fulfill gladly the meanest service, and

leave high places unsought.

 

Be steadfast in the toil I set thee. Weave well the

warp into the woof. Shrink from no demand that the

task makes on thee. Feel no responsibility. Ask for no

reward.

 

Strong, fearless, resolute,--when the sun sets,

and the game is done, thou shalt know well, little

one, that I , Kali, the giver of manhood, the giver of

womanhood, and the withholder of victory, am thy

Mother.

 

 

 

 

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