Sri Arunachala Ashtakam - 8

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The waters rise up from the sea as clouds, then fall as rain and run back to the

sea in streams; nothing can keep them from returning to their source. Likewise

the soul rising up from Thee cannot be kept from joining Thee again, although

it turns in many eddies on its way. A bird which rises from the earth and soars

into the sky can find no place of rest in mid-air, but must return again to

earth. So indeed must all retrace their path, and when the soul finds the way

back to its source, it will sink and be merged in Thee, O Arunachala, Thou

Ocean of Bliss!

(Trans. Sri Munagala Venkataramiah, included in 'The Collected Works of Ramana

Maharshi; edited by Arthur Osborne)