THE SONG OF THE POPPADUM

[Guest guest]

The brilliant translation by Major Chadwick , an amateur poet, of Bhagavan's

famous Poem

 

The Song of the Poppadum

 

 

No need about the world to roam

And suffer from depression;

Make poppadum within the home

According to the lesson

Of 'Thou art That', without compare,

The Unique Word, unspoken

'Tis not by speech it will declare.

The silence is unbroken

Of Him who is the Adept-Sage,

The great Apotheosis,

With His eternal heritage

That Being-Wisdom-Bliss is.

 

Make poppadum and after making fry,

Eat, so your cravings you may satisfy.

 

The grain which is the black gram's yield,

The so-called self or ego,

Grown in the body's fertile field

Of five-fold sheaths, put into

The roller-mill made out of stone,

Which is the search for Wisdom,

The 'Who am I?'. 'Tis thus alone

The Self will gain its freedom.

This must be crushed to finest dust

And ground up into fragments

As being the non-self, so must

We shatter our attachments.

 

Make poppadum and after making fry,

Eat, so your cravings you may satisfy.

 

Mix the juice of square-stemmed vine,

This association

With Holy Men. With this combine

Within the preparation

Some cummin-seed of mind-control

And pepper for restraining

The wayward senses, with them roll

That salt which is remaining

Indifferent to the world we see,

With condiment of leanings

Towards a virtuous unity.

These are their different meanings.

 

Make poppadum and after making fry,

Eat, so your cravings you may satisfy.

 

The mixture into dough now blend

And on the stone then place it

Of mind, by tendencies hardened,

And without ceasing baste it

With heavy strokes of the 'I-I'

Delivered with the pestle

Of introverted mind. Slowly

The mind will cease to wrestle.

Then roll out with the pin of peace

Upon the slab of Brahman.

Continue effort without cease

With energetic élan.

 

Make poppadum and after making fry,

Eat, so your cravings you may satisfy.

 

The poppadum or soul's now fit

To put into the fry-pan,

The one infinite symbol it

Of the great Silence, which can

Be first prepared by putting in

Some clarified fresh butter

Of the Supreme. And now begin

To heat it till it sputter,

On Wisdom's self-effulgent flame

Fry poppadum, 'I', as That.

Enjoying all alone the same;

Which bliss we ever aim at.

 

Make poppadum of self and after eat;

Of Perfect Peace then you will be replete.

[Guest guest]

The Song of the Poppadum

 

 

 

by Ramana Maharshi(1879 - 1950) Timeline

English version byRamanasramam

Original LanguageTamil

 

 

 

 

Yoga / Hindu : Advaita / Non-Dualist

 

Yoga / Hindu : Shaivite (Shiva)

 

20th Century

No need about the world to roamAnd suffer from depression;Make poppadum within the homeAccording to the lessonOf 'Thou art That', without compare,The Unique Word, unspoken'Tis not by speech it will declare.The silence is unbrokenOf Him who is the Adept-Sage,The great Apotheosis,With His eternal heritageThat Being-Wisdom-Bliss is.Make poppadum and after making fry,Eat, so your cravings you may satisfy. The grain which is the black gram's yield,The so-called self or ego,Grown in the body's fertile fieldOf five-fold sheaths, put intoThe roller-mill made out of stone,Which is the search for Wisdom,The 'Who am I?'. 'Tis thus aloneThe Self will gain its freedom.This must be crushed to finest dustAnd ground up into

fragmentsAs being the non-self, so mustWe shatter our attachments.Make poppadum and after making fry,Eat, so your cravings you may satisfy. Mix the juice of square-stemmed vine,This associationWith Holy Men. With this combineWithin the preparationSome cummin-seed of mind-controlAnd pepper for restrainingThe wayward senses, with them rollThat salt which is remainingIndifferent to the world we see,With condiment of leaningsTowards a virtuous unity.These are their different meanings.Make poppadum and after making fry,Eat, so your cravings you may satisfy. The mixture into dough now blendAnd on the stone then place itOf mind, by tendencies hardened,And without ceasing baste itWith heavy strokes of the 'I-I'Delivered with the pestleOf introverted mind. SlowlyThe mind will cease to

wrestle.Then roll out with the pin of peaceUpon the slab of Brahman.Continue effort without ceaseWith energetic élan.Make poppadum and after making fry,Eat, so your cravings you may satisfy. The poppadum or soul's now fitTo put into the fry-pan,The one infinite symbol itOf the great Silence, which canBe first prepared by putting inSome clarified fresh butterOf the Supreme. And now beginTo heat it till it sputter,On Wisdom's self-effulgent flameFry poppadum, 'I', as That.Enjoying all alone the same;Which bliss we ever aim at.Make poppadum of self and after eat;Of Perfect Peace then you will be replete.

 

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Poem is by Bhagavan- this very successful versification is by Chadwick who was an amateur poet and versified most of Bhagavan's written work AJ