Who boldest in Thy hands dread Karma's rope.

Is it inherent nature? Something uncreate?

Or Destiny? Some unforeseen result? -

Who lacking nothing, is accountable,

Whose chain of will, untrammelled, grasps the laws, May She, the Primal Guide, my shelter be!

Manifestations of Her glory show

In power of immeasurable might,

Throughout the universe, powers that swell The sea of birth and death, forces that change And break up the Unchanged and changed again. Lo! Where shall we seek refuge, save in Her?

To friend and foe Thy lotus-eyes are even; Ever Thine animating touch brings fruit To fortunate and unfortunate alike;

The shade of death and immortality -

Both these, O mother, are Thy grace Supreme! Mother Supreme! Oh, may Thy gracious face Never be turned away from me, Thy child!

What Thou art, the Mother! the All. How praise? My understanding is so little worth.

'Twere like desire to seize with hands of mine The sole Supporter of the universe!

So, at Thy blessed feet - contemplated By the Goddess of Fortune Herself - the abode Of fearlessness, worshipped by service true - There, at those blessed feet, I take refuge!

She who, since birth, has ever led me on Through paths of trouble to perfection's goal, Mother-wise, in Her own sweet playful ways, She, who has always through my life inspired My understanding, She, my Mother, She, The All, is my resort, whether my work O'erdow with full fruition or with none.

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A HYMN TO SHIVA.

Salutation to Shiva! whose glory

Is immeasurable, who resembles sky

In clearness, to whom are attributed

The phenomena of all creation,

The preservation and dissolution

Of the universe! May the devotion,

The burning devotion of this my life

Attach itself to Him, to Shiva, who,

While being Lord of all, transcends Himself.

In whom Lordship is ever established,

Who causes annihilation of delusion,

Whose most surpassing love, made manifest, Has crowned Him with a name above all names, The name of "Mahdeva", the Great God! Whose warm embrace, of Love personified, Displays, within man's heart, that all power Is but a semblance and a passing show,

In which the tempest of the whole past blows, Past Samskras, (The accumulated effects of past desires and actions) stirring the energies

With violence, like water lashed to waves;

In which the dual consciousness of "I" and "Thou" Plays on: I salute that mind unstable,

Centred in Shiva, the abode of calm!